Report: Red Sox Expressing Interest in Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez

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Jul 23, 2012

Report: Red Sox Expressing Interest in Josh Johnson, Anibal SanchezThe Red Sox could use all the pitching help they can get right now, and they've reportedly got their eyes on a pair of right-handers in South Beach.

ESPN.com reports that the Red Sox have shown interest in Miami Marlins pitchers Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez. The team also reportedly showed interest in Cubs right-hander Matt Garza, but according to the ESPN.com report, the club has cooled on him after he suffered an arm strain.

Johnson is a two-time All-Star who, when healthy, is one of the better right-handers in the game. He features a fastball that can get into the mid-90s as well as a slider and a changeup. He is 5-7 with a 3.84 ERA this season. He missed most of the 2011 season with shoulder inflammation and also had Tommy John surgery in 2007.

Sanchez is a name that is familiar to Red Sox fans, as the 28-year-old righty was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox in 2001. He was traded to the Marlins in 2005 along with Hanley Ramirez as part of the deal that brought Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Boston. He's also 5-7 this season while posting a 3.94 ERA in 19 starts.

The Red Sox and Marlins were reportedly engaged in trade talks last week in a deal that reportedly surrounded players such as Carl Crawford, Heath Bell and Ramirez. However, those rumors were eventually dismissed.

Interest in any sort of pitching help should come as no surprise, just a day removed from Jon Lester's 11-run outing on Sunday afternoon. The disastrous outing was just the latest in a season full of disappointing setbacks on the mound for a starting rotation that has a 4.84 ERA.

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