SEATTLE — The Red Sox did not make a splashy move before the non-waiver trade deadline on Monday afternoon. But they did improve their bullpen with the addition of lefthander Fernando Abad.
Triple A righthanded reliever Pat Light went to the Twins in the deal.
“We were looking to get better any way we could,’’ president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. “In Abad’s case, we think he’s one of the best lefthanded relievers in the league. He’s pitched very well so far.’’
The 30-year-old Abad has seven seasons of major league experience and the Sox will be his fifth team. He has held lefthanded hitters to a .163 batting average and .458 OPS this season.
Of the 52 lefthanded hitters Abad has faced, only three have had extra-base hits and two walked.
“What we tried to do is fortify the back end as much a possible to give us as many options as we can,’’ manager John Farrell said.
Abad has appeared in 39 games this season, going 1-4 with a 2.65 earned run average. A native of the Dominican Republic, he has a 3.58 ERA in 297 career appearances since making his debut in 2010.
Abad is under contract through this season, but the Sox could retain his rights through arbitration for 2017.
“He’s going to give us depth from the lefthanded side. He’s had a very strong year,’’ Farrell said.
In December, the Twins signed Abad to a minor-league contract that included an invitation to spring training. He earned a spot on the roster and now he will be inserted into a pennant race.
Abad represents a significant upgrade over current lefthanded specialist Tommy Layne. Lefthanded hitters are hitting .259 against Layne this season with .688 OPS.
Abad, who will wear No. 43, is expected to join the team Tuesday. Farrell said it was “likely’’ the Sox would drop a relief pitcher to make room on the roster. Layne would seem to be the only candidate. He is out of options and would be designated for assignment.
Abad has one pitch of playoff experience. But it was a big pitch.
Abad was with the Oakland Athletics for the 2014 American League wild card game at Kansas City. He entered an 8-8 game in the 12th inning with a runner on first base and one out and got Alex Gordon to foul to third base.
The Athletics then lost the game when Jason Hammel replaced Abad and allowed an RBI single by Salvador Perez.
The Red Sox bullpen needed some depth. Righthander Koji Uehara is on the disabled list with a strained pectoral muscle and may not return this season. Closer Craig Kimbrel returned from the DL on Monday after knee surgery. Righthander Junichi Tazawa spent time on the DL last month with a sore shoulder.
“This is big for us,’’ righthander Matt Barnes said. “Another lefty gives us another look out there. Everybody in the clubhouse was happy with what the front office has been doing.’’
The Sox made five acquisitions over a span of 25 days, trading for infielder Aaron Hill, utility player Michael Martinez, righthander Brad Ziegler, lefthander Drew Pomeranz, and now Abad.
“If we had walked in today and said, ‘OK, we acquired Pomeranz, Hill, Ziegler and Abad,’ people would say, ‘Wow, I can’t believe how much they did.’ ’’ said Dombrowski. “But we spaced it over a time period.’’
Said Farrell: “The deadline is over. We like the team that is here.’’
Light, 25, was a supplemental first-round draft pick in 2012. Hit hard as a starter, he was converted to the bullpen in 2015 and had some success. He has a 2.32 ERA in 25 games for Pawtucket this season but in two games for the Red Sox allowed eight runs on seven hits over 2⅔ innings.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.
