For those wondering how the Sox might get any fresh arm(s) to Anaheim in time for today's game (3:35 pm EDT start time), Pawtucket is playing in Charlotte this weekend so any selected player(s) would have easy access to non-stop flights. Among PawSox pitchers already on the 40-man roster:
Anthony Ranaudo - Started Friday night (99 pitches)
Drake Britton - Relieved Friday night (21 pitches)
Steven Wright - Started Thursday night (95 pitches), slated to start Tuesday @ Gwinnett
Alex Wilson - Relieved Thursday night (20 pitches)
Edwin Escobar - Started Tuesday night (92 pitches), slated to start Monday @ Gwinnett
The Red Sox have two vacancies on their 40-man in the event they decide to add another arm, but it would really need to be a pitcher they'd be comfortable losing on waivers between now and November 20, the deadline for setting rosters in advance of the
Rule 5 Draft. That's because any roster slot taken up now will need to be vacated by then in order to protect draft-eligible players (i.e. some of their best prospects). That makes it highly unlikely they'd purchase the contract of Henry Owens, since he doesn't require Rule 5 protection until next season. Other PawSox arms:
Chris Hernandez (LH) - Relieved Saturday night (19 pitches)
Brayan Villareal (RH) - Relieved Saturday night (17 pitches)
Ryan Verdugo (LH) - Relieved Saturday night (28 pitches)
John Ely (RH) - Relieved Friday night (26 pitches)
Miguel Celestino (RH) - Relieved Friday night (12 pitches)
If they can't get any sufficiently-rested, current-40-man arms out there, and they don't want to risk losing any other system arms, there's the remote possibility of dealing for a fungible minor league arm from a club with its AAA team out west, allowing the player to get to Anaheim on time. They could also claim someone like Jerome Williams (DFAd by the Rangers on Friday) and hustle his ass from Texas to LAX this morning. In either case, they could dump the player at any time with no regrets or guilty conscience.
As for creating 25-man space, optioning Hembree is the obvious move to add one arm. Bringing a 2nd pitcher in gets a bit dicier. Corey Brown is out of options, so he'd need to be DFAd. Kelly Johnson, who we all know is superfluous, could also be DFAd.
Getting Escobar out there ASAP seems the most logical move (Pawtucket can fill his start by committee, with Hernandez & Ely eating most of the innings). I suspect he's already aboard
US Airways Flight 1993.