Bob Nightengale

USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox, determined that the future is now, acquired left-handed All-Star starter Drew Pomeranz from the San Diego Padres for top right-handed prospect Anderson Espinoza, a high-ranking Padres official with direct knowledge of the trade told USA TODAY Sports.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the players have yet to undergo physicals.

It is simply the latest move by Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski, who acquired closer Brad Ziegler from the Arizona Diamondbacks and infielder Aaron Hill from Milwaukee earlier this month.

“Usually if you’re going to acquire somebody,’’ Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski told the Boston Globe last week, “you’re going to trade somebody that you don’t want to trade.

“We want to try to win. We think we have a club that has a chance to win. And we’re going to do everything we can.’’

It was the fourth trade in the last eight days by Dombrowski, who earlier acquired closer Brad Zeigler from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers infielder Aaron Hill and Cleveland Indians infielder Michael Martinez.

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The Red Sox, 49-38, trailing the Baltimore Orioles by two games in the AL East, have been desperate for a starting pitcher the first half.

They have had sensational offensive production, leading the major leagues in runs scored, and their .292 batting average is the third-highest in franchise history at the All-Star break.

Yet, they’ve had difficulty finding help in the rotation after David Price, Steven Wright and Rick Porcello. The trio is a combined 30-13 with a 3.49 ERA, going 34-20 in their starts. The Red Sox are only 15-18 in games started by others.

Pomeranz, 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA, is expected to replace Eduardo Rodriguez (1-3, 8.59 ERA) or Clay Buchholz (3-9, 5.91 ERA) in the rotation.

Pomeranz emerged as the ace of the Padres staff in the first half with a 2.47 ERA and 115 strikeouts over a career-high 102 innings, for a 10.1 strikeout-per-nine innings rate. He entered the year with a career 14-24 record and 4.07 ERA.

The Padres originally acquired him last December from the Oakland Athletics. The A’s received first baseman Yonder Alonso and left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski from the Padres for Pomeranz and prospects Jose Torres and Jabari Blash.



Pomeranz, who’s earning $1.3 million this season, is under club control through 2018.

Still, the price was steep for the Red Sox. Espinoza, 18, was the considered the 19th-best prospect in the minors by Baseball America, drawing comparisons to Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez. The Venezuelan leads Class A Greenville this season with 72 strikeouts in 76 innings.

The Sox simply believed they couldn’t wait any longer for help, particularly with their demanding schedule the rest of the season. They have just 31 remaining home games, compared to 44 on the road, including three trips of at least 10 games.

“It’s going to be difficult because we have a lineup built for Fenway,” Red Sox DH David Ortiz said during his All-Star press briefing. “But I think the team we have, we can handle that.”

The news of Pomeranz being traded to Boston was first reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, while the Boston Herald first identified Espinoza.