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BOSTON -- When the Boston Red Sox recall right-hander Joe Kelly from Triple-A later this month, they intend to use him as a reliever, a role change that has been speculated about for the past year.Kelly has been exclusively a starter for the Red Sox since being acquired in the 2014 trade-deadline deal that sent John Lackey to the St. Louis Cardinals. But Kelly was a closer at the University of California-Riverside and made 30 relief appearances for the Cardinals in 2012 and 13.Power arm. Hes done it multiple times, whether its been in St. Louis, Red Sox manager John Farrell explained. This would be the first time weve shifted him to that role here. But, and this is for multiple reasons, for the time it would take to stretch him back out, potential of shorter stints, the stuff playing up, [he could be] possibly more productive. Thats the whole goal here -- and to also continue to build depth in our bullpen.Indeed, the move might also signal that the Red Sox are prioritizing finding another starting pitcher before the Aug. 1 trade deadline rather than a late-inning reliever. Last week, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski declined to rank the Red Soxs needs, noting that he would rather not tip your hands to other clubs with what youre trying to do.Kelly was demoted to Triple-A Pawtucket on June 1 after allowing seven runs in only 2? innings against the Baltimore Orioles, the final straw in a six-start run in which he posted an 8.46 ERA and walked 19 batters in 22? innings. He left his first start for the PawSox with a groin injury and has been on the Triple-A disabled list.According to Farrell, Kelly threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Saturday in Pawtucket, an activity hes scheduled to repeat Monday. The Red Sox are hopeful that hell get into Triple-A games by the middle of next week, with an eye toward calling him back up after the All-Star break.Kellys fastball has averaged 95.1 mph this season after clocking in at 95.4 mph last year. The Red Sox are looking for another late-inning reliever to help ease the burden on 41-year-old setup man Koji Uehara, whose splitter has been less consistent this season en route to a 4.75 ERA and six homers allowed in 30? innings.In the past, Kelly has said he prefers starting to relieving, although Farrell said the pitcher was receptive to the switch during their phone conversation Saturday.He understood the reasons for it, the logic behind it, Farrell said. Its something hes done in the past. I think, more importantly, hes feeling good physically, and thats the biggest thing. And the fact he has the potential of putting himself in a position to be a candidate to come up here sooner rather than later because of the role, thats another positive in this one.Chicago White Sox Gear . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. White Sox Jerseys 2020 .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/ . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. White Sox Jerseys China . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Cheap White Sox Jerseys .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday.NEW YORK -- Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia has had surgery on his troublesome right knee.New York head team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad performed the arthroscopic procedure Tuesday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. The team described it as a routine cleanup and said Sabathia is expected to be ready for spring training.A 36-year-oold left-hander, Sabathia pitched with a brace on the knee this year and went 9-12 with a 3.dddddddddddd91 ERA, his lowest ERA since 2012.He is due $25 million next year, the final season of his contract. ' ' '