FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Red Sox were already exploring ways to reinforce the bullpen before Opening Day, but that need intensified when left-hander Zach Penrod began experiencing elbow soreness earlier this week.

Penrod, 27, debuted last Sept. 14 when the Red Sox were at Yankee Stadium. He made seven relief appearances totaling four innings, and held 20 batters to one earned run (and one unearned) on three hits, with four walks and three strikeouts.

“We got (Aroldis Chapman), we got (Justin) Wilson, we got (Brennan Bernardino), we got Penrod,” Cora said. “Competition is good, the more the better.”

While the Red Sox await the results of Penrod’s MRI, they’re bringing in veteran Matt Moore to a minor league deal with an invite to big-league camp.

Moore, 35, has 13 years of big-league experience under his belt. Since his first six seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, he’s bounced around between the San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers (two stints), Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels (two stints), Cleveland Guardians, and Miami Marlins. He spent all of last season in Anaheim, where he pitched to a 5.03 ERA over 51 appearances, including 12 games finished.

Moore also occupies a unique place in Red Sox history. David Ortiz hit his 500th and 501st career home runs off him on Sept. 12, 2015.