Josh Beckett is good to go Sunday night, and reports are that Jon Lester will come off the DL on July 26, but that doesn't mean the Red Sox aren't looking for another starting pitcher to throw into the mix.
Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated reports that the Sox have had talks with the Colorado Rockies about Ubaldo Jimenez and with the Los Angeles Dodgers about Hiroki Kuroda.
While the Ubaldo talk seems rather light at this stage, he's most likely the best pitcher available at this year's trading deadline -- assuming the Rockies are willing to deal him.
Heyman also reports that the Yankees may be in the best position to land Jimenez, and have been in talks with the Rockies as well, as have the Tigers and Reds.
Jimenez, 5-8 with a 4.08 ERA and 1.31 WHIP has 99 strikeouts and 43 walks on the year in 110.1 innings pitched.
Last year he went 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 214 strikeouts in 221.2 innings pitched, earning him a third place finish in the NL Cy Young voting.
There could be more to the Kuroda talk, as it appears more likely that Kuroda would be dealt than Jimenez.
Boston Red Sox
Kuroda is 6-11 on the year with a 3.13 ERA, 1.20 WHIP 90 strikeouts and 30 walks in 120.2 innings.
Heyman also reports that the Yankees and Tigers are interested in Kuroda.