Report: Red Sox showing interest in Yates, Giles

The Boston Red Sox are looking to bolster their bullpen and appear to be targeting two of the most coveted closers potentially available at the deadline.

San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates and Toronto Blue Jays relief ace Ken Giles are drawing active interest from the Red Sox, sources told Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Yates has unquestionably been the best closer in the league so far this season, leading MLB in saves and FIP. The 32-year-old right-hander has authored a 1.05 ERA and 1.11 FIP over 43 innings this year while notching 31 saves.

Considering Yates has one year of arbitration remaining, there is some conjecture over whether the Padres plan to trade their closer with key pieces of the future already playing integral roles at the big-league level.

Giles, 28, ranks behind Yates in FIP, sitting second in all of baseball with a 1.47 mark. The right-hander has posted a 1.64 ERA while notching 14 saves and is one of three pitchers in the majors with a K/9 above 15, along with Josh Hader and Matt Barnes.

Like Yates, Giles is under team control for one more season and heading into his final year of arbitration. Unlike the Padres, though, the Blue Jays seem far from contention and more likely to be motivated to sell their closer.

Despite a slow start to the season, the Red Sox sit 54-46, two games back of the second-place Tampa Bay Rays and three games back of the second wild-card spot. Boston's bullpen, though, ranks ninth in the American League by ERA, ahead of only the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, and Baltimore Orioles.