The Boston Red Sox acquired Rajai Davis from the Oakland Athletics for Minor League outfielder Rafael Rincones on Wednesday.
The Red Sox made the move just hours after placing Jackie Bradley, Jr. on the disabled list.
Davis has swiped 26 bases in 32 attempts this season and has 391 career steals. Even if Bradley hadn't injured his thumb on a slide on Tuesday night, the Red Sox were interested in picking up Davis before Sept. 1 as a pinch runner down the stretch and possibly in the playoffs.
"It's important for a club that has a chance, you want to add every little dimension you can, but it's not always easy," Dave Dombrowski said.
"It's a situation to have that type of person that you can put on first base and they can steal a big base at a time when other people know they're going to steal. It's a nice situation to have."