Red Sox Bolster Bullpen by Acquiring Joe La Sorsa from Pirates

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox have strengthened their bullpen by trading for left-handed pitcher Joe La Sorsa from the Pittsburgh Pirates, a deal finalized on Thursday. In exchange, the Red Sox sent cash considerations to the Pirates.

La Sorsa, 28, is set to join the Red Sox roster on Friday as the team begins a three-game series against the New York Yankees. He will take over the position previously held by Brayan Bello, who was sent down to Triple-A Worcester following a rough outing.

This season, La Sorsa has been performing with the Pirates' Triple-A team in Indianapolis, where he has recorded a 3.46 ERA over 22 appearances, including two starts. In 26 innings, he has struck out 22 batters while issuing six walks, limiting opponents to a .237 batting average.

Throughout his career, La Sorsa has made 46 appearances in Major League Baseball, posting a 5.21 ERA in 57 innings. He has played for the Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals in 2023, as well as the Nationals again in 2024 and the Cincinnati Reds in 2025. The 6-foot-5, 224-pound pitcher also represented Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, allowing two runs over 2 ⅔ innings.

Originally selected in the 18th round of the 2018 draft from St. John’s University, La Sorsa features a diverse pitching arsenal that includes a sinker, four-seam fastball, sweeper, changeup, and cutter, according to his Baseball Savant profile.