ANAHEIM -- When the Red Sox activate closer Craig Kimbrel -- which could be as soon as Monday -- there will be the tricky matter of how to best open up a roster spot for him.
The fact that the move will likely be made on the same day as the non-waiver Trade Deadline adds even more intrigue. Not only are the Red Sox welcoming back Kimbrel to the mix, but they could be looking to add another reliever in a deal.
The bullpen currently includes two proven righty setup men in Brad Ziegler and Junichi Tazawa, in addition to the emerging Matt Barnes. Those three relievers are probably going to stick with the club under any circumstances.
There are also two veteran starters who were recently moved to the 'pen in Joe Kelly and Clay Buchholz. Kelly still has Minor League options, but the Red Sox might be leery of sending him back down so soon after he was called up.
Buchholz is in the final season of his contract, and could possibly be moved to a club in need of a starter.
Two lefties fill out the bullpen -- Robbie Ross Jr. and Tommy Layne.
Ross has options, while Layne does not.
Do the Red Sox need two lefties in the bullpen?
"It probably depends on the team we're going up against," said manager John Farrell. "You'd like to have it. Whether or not that becomes a little negated because of the [three] left-handers we have in the rotation now [remains to be seen].
"But Tommy has shown the ability, as he did last night, to get one lefty hitter. Robbie has even been more successful this year against lefties than in year's past, so you'd like to have two if you've got to match up in those middle innings."
Kimbrel, who underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee on July 11, made 17 pitches in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday. He will rejoin the Red Sox in Seattle on Monday.