NEW YORK — The Red Sox officially will add Drew Pomeranz to their roster on Sunday. Rookie righthander William Cuevas was optioned back to Triple A Pawtucket to make room.
That move will be simple. The complicated decisions will come later in the week and one could involve Clay Buchholz.
The Sox will soon run out of spots in their bullpen and that could lead to Buchholz being designated for assignment and eventually traded or released.
Manager John Farrell said last week that Buchholz would be getting another start. But that changed with the acquisition of Pomeranz from the San Diego Padres on Thursday.
“He’ll pitch out of the bullpen,’’ Farrell said before the Red Sox beat the Yankees, 5-2. “Had a chance to talk to Clay [Friday] about this. He’s aware that his spot on this pitching staff is in the bullpen until any potential changes deemed necessary.’’
If that sounds ominous, it should.
The Red Sox expect to have righthander Junichi Tazawa come off the disabled list as soon as Tuesday, the first day he is eligible. Tazawa threw 25 pitches in the bullpen at Yankee Stadium on Friday and is scheduled to repeat that exercise on Sunday.
Barring a setback with his shoulder, Tazawa is about ready.
“Everything is pointing towards that,’’ Farrell said.
The Sox also could be getting close to bringing righthander Joe Kelly back from the minors.
Kelly has made four relief appearances in the minors since July 6, going six innings. He has allowed two earned runs on five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.
With president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski watching in person, Kelly went two scoreless innings for Pawtucket on Friday night. He allowed one hit and struck out three. He also threw 18 of 27 pitches for strikes.
“An encouraging two innings of work,’’ Farrell said. “He was efficient, powerful, lot of strikes.’’
The Red Sox feel Kelly can give their bullpen a power arm with the additional value of being able to pitch multiple innings. That would leave the 31-year-old Buchholz with little role.
“All that is to be reviewed,’’ Farrell said. “In the end, there are a couple of quality arms, and in this case three quality arms when you consider Pomeranz as well, that are coming available to us. The depth is going to be needed.’’
With the team in contention after consecutive last-place finishes, the Red Sox can’t afford sentiment.
“We’re doing whatever we can to create some continuity and consistent performance,’’ Farrell said. “Not just from consistent name but from a consistent performance standpoint. We’ll continue to seek every internal option in that way.’’
Buchholz seems to understand the end could be coming after 10 seasons with the Sox.
“The way I’ve always looked at it is this team is run as a business,’’ he told MLB.com. “They’re going to do everything they can if it’s going to make them better, and if that involves moving me somewhere, that’s what it is. I don’t have any control over that.’’
Buchholz is 3-9 with a 5.91 earned run average and a 1.49 WHIP in 18 games, 13 of them starts.
The Sox took him out of the rotation in late May then gave him another chance in June. But Buchholz allowed 10 earned runs on 18 hits and seven walks over 14⅔ innings. He has not pitched since July 2.
Price next
David Price has a career 3.03 ERA and 1.09 WHIP after the All-Star break. He is eager to face the Yankees on Sunday night.
“Had a good break, rested up,’’ Price said. “Ready to go.’’
In his last two starts, the lefthander allowed three earned runs on 12 hits over 16 innings and struck out 20. Price has not pitched since July 10, the Red Sox having reconfigured their rotation to get him a few extra days of rest.
Keeping it going
Mookie Betts extended his hit streak to 13 games with a single in the third inning . . . Jackie Bradley Jr. was 0 for 11 with seven strikeouts against CC Sabathia. But he was 3 for 3 on Saturday. None of the hits were particularly well struck, not that Bradley cared. “I finally got a hit off him,’’ he said . . . Sox pitchers have allowed six earned runs in the last four games . . . The Sox have won six straight and nine of 11. The six-game win streak is their first since last Sept. 25-30 . . . The Yankees are 10-19 against AL East teams.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.
