MINNEAPOLIS -- This time of year, it's difficult to make a lot of trades to address needs.
Perhaps with that in mind, the Red Sox are attempting to find some internal solutions to their bullpen issues. They've converted former Pawtucket starter Alex Wilson to a relief role, effective Tuesday.
"The way I look at it is an opportunity right now," Wilson told Pawtucket radio broadcaster Aaron Goldsmith. "I talked with management and they said that's where they'd like to see me. I'm going to take the opportunity and run with it."
Wilson pitched in relief in his junior season at Texas A&M, so this is not unfamiliar territory for him.
"Outside of my first eight games which were starts," he said, "I came out of the pen and had some real good success. I'm not that far removed from it, I'll be able to remember after a game or two what to do."
If things click quickly for Wilson, it could speed his path to the big leagues, not unlike what happened to Daniel Bard in 2009.
Wilson was the Red Sox' second-round pick in 2009 and has one of the best fastballs in the system. He throws it at 94-96 mph and can occasionally reach back and get it up to 98 mph.