The Boston Red Sox focused on improving their bullpen at the 2024 Major League Baseball trade deadline, but those improvements haven’t exactly paid off on paper.

Since the All-Star break, the Red Sox have had the worst bullpen in MLB, measured by ERA and home runs allowed. They’ve blown an incredible 12 saves and made just four successful saves in the same time period. And the trade deadline seemed to be their last chance to improve that part of the roster.

However, until late August, the waiver list is always a place where a team can stumble upon a valuable addition, and the Los Angeles Dodgers may have given the Red Sox a chance to sign a pitcher who could help in an area where the Red Sox suffer the most.

The Dodgers announced on X that they have designated right-handed pitcher Brent Honeywell for assignment on Sunday to make room on the roster for rookie Ben Casparius. Honeywell now goes on the waivers list, where any team can claim him over the next seven days.

Honeywell, 29, was once a top-100 prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays, but four arm surgeries over the past decade have left him a wandering prospect, and he has been released by six teams in the past three years.

With a 2.28 ERA in 23 2/3 innings this season, Honeywell could help several teams with bullpen needs. But there is one trait that stands out about Honeywell and makes him a perfect fit for the Red Sox.

Because he throws a screwball rarely seen in today’s MLB, Honeywell is more effective against left-handed hitters than right-handed hitters. Left-handed hitters have hit just .205 against Honeywell this season, while right-handed hitters are hitting a whopping .326 batting average.

Traditional left-handers have come and gone in Boston’s bullpen all season. Currently, Bailey Horn and Brennan Bernardino are the pitchers Alex Cora typically uses in relief situations against a group of left-handers. But perhaps Honeywell could be the unorthodox solution Boston needs.

Filing a waiver is no guarantee that the Red Sox will get Honeywell, but the fact that their record is worse than most other playoff contenders is at least somewhat of an advantage. Within a week, we’ll know where Honeywell will pitch next.

More MLB: Why this ‘biggest red flag’ could keep the Red Sox out of the MLB playoffs