>>Red Sox Trade For All-Star Pomeranz

The Padres traded left-hander Drew Pomeranz to the Red Sox in exchange for top prospect Anderson Espinoza, the team announced on Thursday night.

Pomeranz, 27, has this season pitched to a 2.47 ERA (161 ERA+) in 102 innings for the Padres. He just recently appeared in the All-Star Game at Petco Park. The No. 5 overall pick in 2010, Pomeranz has long been regarded as having front-line stuff but until this season health and performance had never intersected. He's under contract for $1.35 million this season and won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2018 season.

As for the Red Sox, they enter the second half ranking ninth in the AL in rotation ERA and also ninth in rotation FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching).

Espinoza, 18, ranked as the no. 15 overall prospect in the Baseball America midseason top-100 list. He's 5-8 with a 4.38 ERA and 72/27 K/BB ratio in 17 starts with Class A Greenville.

>>MLB Investigating Ortiz For Tampering

Earlier this week, the 2016 All-Star Game turned into The David Ortiz Show as the slugger played in his final Midsummer Classic. Ortiz is retiring after the season.

While speaking to reporters after the All-Star Game, Ortiz said the Red Sox should sign Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion after the season to take over as DH. He also advocated acquiring Marlins ace Jose Fernandez.

Unfortunately for Ortiz, players are not allowed to talk about players under contract with other teams in that way. He can't say he wants the Red Sox to go out and acquire so-and-so. Team executives are not allowed to do that either.

As a result, MLB is expected to investigate Ortiz for tampering.