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Red Sox claim Jean Machi from Giants to provide bullpen help

Reliever’s last stint was July 17

Jean Machi, claimed off waivers by the Red Sox, had a 5.14 ERA in 33 outings with the Giants. Ben Margot/Associated Press/File

Righthanded reliever Jean Machi, who was designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants amidst a poor season, was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox Tuesday and is expected to join the team on Wednesday.

Machi, 33, has not pitched since July 17. He had a 5.14 earned run average in 33 outings with the Giants. His walk and strikeouts rates are the worst of his four-year career.

The Red Sox are desperate for bullpen help, particularly righthanded. Outside of Junichi Tazawa and closer Koji Uehara, the Sox do not have many trustworthy options.

Righthander Alexi Ogando, who pitched well earlier in the season, has stumbled badly in recent outings. Through Monday he had allowed eight runs on 10 hits — five of them home runs — in his last eight appearances.

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Machi had a 2.49 ERA in 122 games for the Giants from 2013-14. That was 10th among National League relievers with at least 100 innings during that time.

“An opportunity to take a look at a guy who will pitch out of the middle [innings] for us,” Sox manager John Farrell said. “Someone who’s had very strong years prior to this one.”

Machi has reverse splits this season. Righthanders have hit .356 against him and lefthanders .120. That runs counter to previous seasons.

Machi pitched in seven postseason games for the Giants last fall, allowing five runs on nine hits over 5⅔ innings. He was on the disabled list earlier this season with a groin strain.

Waiting, wondering

Mike Napoli has watched the Red Sox trade away eight players from the 2013 championship team, the latest Shane Victorino on Monday. He can’t help but wonder if he’s next.

Napoli is in the final year of his contract and almost certainly won’t be back next season. That makes him a prime trade candidate.

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“It’s out of my control. I come here to work hard every day to get myself better and go out there and play hard and try to help us win that day,” he said.

Given his choice, Napoli said he would prefer to ride out the season with the Sox.

“I love this place. I bought a place here. I love the city and the people here,” he said. “I really enjoy it. If [is is traded], I’ll touch on my thoughts then.”

Buchholz on 60-day DL

To fit Machi onto the 40-man roster, the Red Sox transferred Clay Buchholz to the 60-day disabled list. He is now eligible to return on Sept. 9, at which point there would be 24 games remaining.

Buchholz went on the disabled list on July 11 with a strained flexor muscle in his right elbow.

Farrell said the Red Sox were not expecting Buchholz to return before September regardless. He remains shut down and any throwing program would include a minor league rehabilitation assignment.

Farrell is confident that Buchholz will pitch again this season.

“Still. I think it would be important for all involved to go into the offseason with some game activity under his belt,” he said. “I would think that would give some peace of mind to Clay going into the offseason as well as everyone else.”

Buchholz was 7-7 with a 3.26 ERA in 18 starts before the injury. The Red Sox hold a $13 million option on him for 2016. That is likely to be exercised but seeing Buchholz pitch again would make that an easier decision.

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No decision on Kelly

Farrell said no decision has been reached on whether Joe Kelly will remain in the rotation. The righthander is 2-6 with a 5.94 ERA and on Monday night allowed five runs on seven hits in 3⅓ innings against the White Sox.

Kelly is 6-8 with a 5.16 ERA in 26 starts for the Red Sox since the ill-fated trade with the St. Louis Cardinals a year ago. The Sox demoted him to Triple A Pawtucket earlier this season.

Kelly’s turn would be Saturday against the Rays. Lefthander Brian Johnson started for Pawtucket on Tuesday. Lefthander Henry Owens is scheduled for Wednesday.

Moving up the charts

David Ortiz had 11 RBIs in his last four games leading up to Tuesday. That gave him 1,589 in his career, 38th all-time.

Ortiz needed eight RBIs to pass Hall of Famers Andre Dawson, Mike Schmidt, and George Brett and move into 35th place.

In Red Sox history, Ortiz has moved up to fourth place with 1,351 RBIs, passing Dwight Evans. He trails Hall of Famers Carl Yastrzemski (1,844), Ted Williams (1,839), and Jim Rice (1,451).

Holt improved

Brock Holt, who hyperextended his left knee on Sunday, was out of the lineup for the second straight night. He went through a full pregame workout that including running and should be back at second base on Wednesday. “I think so. It feels better,” Holt said. “I was able to do some stuff today. Should be good.” . . . Josh Rutledge, the infielder obtained from the Angels for Victorino on Monday, is expected to join the team on Wednesday . . . Second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who is on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring, had a platelet-rich plasma injection on Monday. That does not change his timetable, Farrell said. Pedroia is not expected back until sometime in mid-August . . . Hanley Ramirez claimed the corner locker in the clubhouse vacated by Victorino. He’s closer to the small kingdom of lockers occupied by Ortiz now.

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Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.