DETROIT -- Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has nine days to find the right eighth-inning man. But hasn't he been in pursuit of him for three years now?

The non-waiver trade deadline is right around the corner (July 31).

The Red Sox hoped Carson Smith (acquired at the 2015 winter meetings) or Tyler Thornburg (acquired at the 2016 winter meetings) would have assumed the eighth-inning role by this point. Smith struggled early this year, then suffered a right shoulder subluxation throwing his glove in frustration after giving up a homer to Oakland's Khris Davis on May 14, 2016. He underwent season-ending surgery.

Thornburg finally returned earlier this month after a long recovery from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. But he has allowed five runs, all earned, seven hits and one walk in 4 1/3 innings (five outings) since the Red Sox activated him from the DL. The righty gave up three runs, including a two-run homer to Jose Iglesias, in the Red Sox's 5-0 loss to the Tigers here at Comerica Park on Saturday.

"I feel like I'm right there. I feel like I'm just one thing away from clicking and getting on a roll," Thornburg said. "I don't know what that one little thing is yet. I feel like that's why I kind of come in with a little bit of optimism every day. I'm like, 'Is this going to be the day something clicks?' Honestly, I don't really care about the numbers and stuff right now. I want to get back to being the guy that I can be."

Sure, Thornburg might emerge as one of Boston's top relievers by September. But Dombrowski has no way to determine over the next nine days whether this will happen.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he's comfortable with his bullpen personnel.

"Honestly, that's not my job," Cora said when asked if he'd welcome another reliever. "My job is to manage this team. And I trust the guys that we have. We're in a good position. We put ourselves in a position that it's not that you put pressure on ownership or Dave but they understand this is a special group. And that's the only thing that we can control. Obviously we've had conversations about everything that's going on in the league. Teams always try to improve. But I'm comfortable with the guys we have. We've got a lot of options."

A trade is a must.

Cora needs one more option. Heath Hembree is this team's seventh-inning reliever right now.

Dombrowski needs to acquire someone like Zach Britton, preferably Britton himself who could serve as an Andrew Miller-type in the postseason. Britton has the ability to pitch multiple innings and bridge the gap from the starters to closer Craig Kimbrel.

Dombrowski needs to add someone better than Addison Reed, who he acquired at last year's deadline.

Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo noted the Orioles are scouting Double-A Portland where Michael Chavis is playing. He suggested a potential trade involving Britton for Chavis.

If the Red Sox can acquire Britton, a free agent this coming offseason, for Chavis, then they should do it.

Joe Kelly adds more uncertainty to the Red Sox bullpen as the trade deadline approaches. Kelly has posted a 9.22 ERA (14 earned runs, 13 2/3 innings) and 1.90 WHIP in 18 outings since the beginning of June.

Cora went to Matt Barnes instead of Kelly in the eighth inning Friday.

Matt Barnes is enjoying his best major league season with a 2.30 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 2.04 FIP in 43 innings. But he has struggled against the Yankees (2 1/3 innings, 4 earned runs) and Mariners (4 innings, 2 earned runs) who the Red Sox potentially could play in a Wild Card game if New York overtakes them for the AL East title.