Red Sox open to trading Edward Mujica

Boston has added a pair of arms this week, and as a result, could be looking to deal another one. According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox have "expressed a willingness" to trade right-handed reliever Edward Mujica in recent days.

Mujica, 30, posted a 3.90 ERA and 3.70 FIP in 60.0 innings out of the Red Sox's bullpen in 2014. He appeared in 64 games, and did see a notable rise in his BB/9, which increased from 0.70 in 2013 to 2.10 last season. Mujica also saved eight games for Boston last year and 37 contests for the Cardinals in 2013. Both Milwaukee and Toronto are interested in Jonathan Papelbon and are seeking a late inning reliever or closer, and both could become interested in Mujica.

The Red Sox have been active this offseason, and as a result, feel Mujica's $4.75 million salary is notably high. Mujica is also entering the last year of his contract, and was inconsistent pitching out of Boston's bullpen in 2014.

While Boston is interested in trading Mujica because of his contract situation, the club was confident in his ability to pitch late in games, and signed him to a two-year deal last offseason. Mujica was an All-Star in 2013, but shoulder injuries kept him out of key games late in the season for St. Louis, and as a result the Red Sox were able to sign him for less than what he would have likely requested had he remained healthy. Mujica was forced to adjust to the American League East, and according to Jason Mastrodonato of MassLive.com, he "tinkered" with his pitch usage throughout the course of the season.

Attempting to trade Mujica would create space in a crowded bullpen. The Red Sox signed Alexi Ogando to a one-year deal on Friday afternoon, and Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa, Edward Mujica, Craig Breslow, and Anthony Varvaro are all expected to compete for bullpen spots.  Zeke Spruill, Drake Britton, Brandon Workman, and Tommy Layne could also see time in Boston's bullpen in the case of an injury.