Tag: minor league contract

Red Sox sign veteran righty Sal Romano to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have signed free agent right-hander Sal Romano to a minor-league contract, per the club’s MLB.com transactions log. He has been assigned to Triple-A Worcester.

Romano, 30, is a veteran of five big-league seasons who last pitched in the majors for the Yankees in 2021. The righty was originally selected by the Reds in the 23rd round of the 2011 amateur draft out of Southington High School in Connecticut.

Signed for $450,000, Romano established himself as one of the top pitching prospects in Cincinnati’s farm system before making his major-league debut at the age of 23 in 2017. He posted a 4.45 ERA in 16 starts (87 innings) as a rookie and then struggled to a 5.31 ERA over 39 appearances (25 starts) spanning a career-high 145 2/3 innings in 2018.

After allowing 14 earned runs over just 16 1/3 innings pitched in 2019, Romano was designated for assignment by the Reds the following February. He cleared waivers and stuck in the organization without occupying a spot on the 40-man roster until he was summoned from the alternate training site in September. He made two scoreless — albeit brief — relief appearances towards the end of the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign and then made Cincinnati’s Opening Day roster the following spring.

To begin what would become a raucous 2021 season, Romano pitched to a 5.23 ERA in 20 2/3 innings out of the Reds bullpen before again being designated for assignment that May. He elected free agency shortly thereafter and quickly latched on with the Yankees on a minor-league deal. He made it up to New York in late July but appeared in just two games (including one against the Red Sox) before hitting waivers once more.

Romano was claimed by the Brewers in early August but spent less than two weeks (and got into one game at the big-league level) before being designated for assignment and outrighted off Milwaukee’s 40-man roster. He again opted for free agency and was scooped up by the Yankees. He appeared in two more games for New York before getting released in September.

Romano inked a minors pact with the Mariners before the start of the 2022 season but briefly retired from baseball. He returned to action in the 2022/2023 Venezuelan Winter League and then signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the independent Atlantic League last April. In 28 outings (15 starts) for Gastonia, he went 4-5 with a 4.91 ERA and 75 strikeouts to 37 walks over 84 1/3 innings pitched.

Altogether, Romano owns a lifetime 5.23 ERA in 88 career appearances (41 starts, 275 1/3 innings) at the big-league level and a 4.91 ERA in Indy Ball. In 78 career outings (15 starts) at the Triple-A level, he has gone 6-13 with a 3.87 ERA and 133 strikeouts to 48 walks across 149 total innings of work.

Romano, who does not turn 31 until October, is listed at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds. When he last pitched in the majors in 2021, he averaged 93.6 mph with his sinker, and 87.3 mph with his slider, per Baseball Savant. Throughout his career, those two offerings have more or less served as his bread and butter.

As of now, it is unclear if the Red Sox plan on deploying Romano as a starter or reliever in Worcester. Regardless of his role, he should provide the WooSox with experienced pitching depth moving forward.

(Picture of Sal Romano: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Red Sox sign former Brewers righty Jason Alexander to minor-league deal

The Red Sox signed free agent right-hander Jason Alexander to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Worcester last week, per the club’s MLB.com transactions log. Alexander will head to Boston’s minor-league camp in Fort Myers, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

Alexander, who turns 31 on Friday, has one season of major-league experience under his belt after breaking in with the Brewers in 2022. In 18 appearances (11 starts) for Milwaukee, the righty posted a 5.40 ERA and 5.34 FIP with 46 strikeouts to 28 walks over 71 2/3 innings of work.

Not to be confused with the actor who played George Costanza in Seinfeld, this Jason Alexander is the younger brother of veteran reliever Scott Alexander. He originally went undrafted out of Menlo College (Atherton, Calif.) in 2017 and instead began his professional career by signing with the Angels that summer.

After nearly three years in the Angels organization, Alexander was cut loose by Los Angeles in June 2020. He then latched on with the Marlins the following April and pitched at three different levels in 2021 before joining the Brewers that November. He made his major-league debut in June 2022 as part of being called up by Milwaukee on three separate occasions that season.

Because of a strained right rotator cuff, Alexander opened the 2023 campaign on the 60-day injured list. He began rehabbing in the Arizona Complex League last June and worked his way back up to Triple-A Nashville prior to losing his spot on the Brewers’ 40-man roster in late July. He subsequently cleared outright waivers and spent the rest of the year with Milwaukee’s top affiliate, finishing with a 5.86 ERA in 16 outings (55 1/3 innings) for the Sounds before reaching free agency in November.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and 227 pounds, Alexander is known for his ability to keep the ball on the ground, as evidenced by his 46.1 percent groundball rate with Nashville last year. He could potentially provide the Red Sox with experienced rotational depth in Worcester alongside the likes of lefty Brandon Walter and righties Cooper Criswell, Richard Fitts, Grant Gambrell, and Brian Van Belle, among others.

Alexander also has plenty of experience when it comes to pitching out of the bullpen, so he could be utilized in a relief role as well. Regardless of how the Red Sox plan on using him, Alexander does have minor-league options remaining if he were to be added to the major-league roster at some point down the line.

 (Picture of Jason Alexander: John Fisher/Getty Images)

Red Sox bring back Joely Rodriguez on minor-league deal

The Red Sox have brought back veteran reliever Joely Rodriguez on a minor-league contract, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. The deal comes with an invite to major-league spring training.

Rodriguez, who was present at the Fenway South complex in Fort Myers on Thursday morning, will not count against Boston’s 40-man roster but will have the opportunity to make the club’s Opening Day roster out of camp next month.

“Excited for him. We know health is a priority for him,” said Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey, who confirmed the pending signing of Rodriguez to MassLive.com’s Sean McAdam. “He’s got electric stuff. He’s around here getting his physical done. Excited to meet him. I know he’s a loud, boisterous personality and a good guy to have around so we’re excited to have him back here.”

Rodriguez, 32, returns to the Red Sox after originally signing a one-year, $2 million contract with an option for 2024 in November 2022. The left-hander was Boston’s first free agent addition that winter, though the contract he ultimately signed was “a re-worked version of a previously agreed-upon deal that was revised once balky medicals came back,” according to Cotillo.

Like trade addition Richard Bleier, who came over from the Marlins in January, Rodrigue was supposed to provide manager Alex Cora with an experienced left-handed option out of the bullpen. He was instead plagued by injury issues throughout the year and posted a career-worst 6.55 ERA (4.71 FIP) with 14 strikeouts to six walks over 11 appearances spanning just 11 innings of relief.

Rodriguez began the 2023 campaign on the injured list after suffering a right oblique strain in a Grapefruit League outing. As a result, he did not make his Red Sox debut until May 17 and struggled immensely out of the gate, surrendering nine runs (eight earned) in his first five appearances (four innings) of the season. He then hit the injured list again because of left shoulder inflammation in early June and did not return to the big-league mound until July 9.

Upon returning to action with Boston, Rodriguez strung together six straight scoreless outings in which he recorded nine strikeouts and zero walks over seven effective innings. Unfortunately, he sustained a hip injury in late July that wound up ending his season prematurely. The Red Sox then declined the club option they held over Rodriguez in November.

As noted by Cotillo, the Red Sox are thin when it comes to left-handed relief options. Brennan Bernardino, who stood out last season after being claimed off waivers from the Mariners in April, Joe Jacques, Chris Murphy, and Brandon Walter are the only lefties currently on Boston’s 40-man roster.

Externally, Rodriguez is slated to join fellow non-roster invitees Jorge Benitez, Cam Booser, Lucas Luetge, and Helcris Olivarez as lefty relievers competing for a spot in the Sox’ bullpen to begin the 2024 season.

“We’ve got to get lefties out. You can’t ever have enough lefties,” Bailey told McAdam, noting that the Rodriguez signing was about adding depth. “There was an opportunity from the front office to sign him and we jumped at it.”

(Picture of Joely Rodriguez: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Red Sox sign veteran lefty Lucas Luetge to minor-league deal

The Red Sox signed free agent reliever Lucas Luetge to a minor-league contract this past Friday, per the club’s MLB.com transactions log. The deal, which comes with an invite to major-league spring training, will net Luetge a $1 million salary if he cracks Boston’s active roster this season, according to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier.

Luetge, 37 next month, is a veteran of seven big-league seasons who most recently pitched for the Braves in 2023. The left-hander appeared in 12 games for Atlanta, posting a 7.24 ERA and 4.87 FIP with 14 strikeouts to seven walks over 13 2/3 innings of work. He missed time early in the year due to left bicep inflammation and was designated for assignment on three separate occasions before electing free agency in October.

Despite the recent struggles, Luetge has had past success in the American League East. While with the Yankees from 2021-2022, the southpaw forged a 2.71 ERA (2.92 FIP) with 138 strikeouts to 32 walks across 107 outings (one start) spanning 129 2/3 total innings pitched. Following the conclusion of the 2022 campaign, New York dealt Luetge to Atlanta for minor-leaguers Indigo Diaz and Caleb Durbin.

A Texas native, Luetge was originally selected by the Brewers in the 21st round of the 2008 amateur draft out of Rice University. He spent three years in the Milwaukee organization before being scooped up by the Mariners in the major-league phase of the 2011 Rule 5 Draft. Luetge then broke in with Seattle the following April and made at least one appearance for the M’s in each of the next four seasons.

Towards the end of the 2015 season, however, Luetge was outrighted off Seattle’s 40-man roster, which cleared the way for him to become a first-time free agent. For the next five years, though, Luetge was unable to get back to the majors and instead had to settle for minor-league deals with the Angels, Reds, Orioles, Diamondbacks, and Athletics.

After spending all of the COVID-shortened 2020 season at Oakland’s alternate training site, Luetge latched on with the Yankees on another minors pact that winter and then proceeded to earn a spot on New York’s 2021 Opening Day roster. Going nearly six years in between big-league outings, Luetge made the third-most appearances (57) of any pitcher on Aaron Boone’s staff that season. He also ranked in the 94th percentile of all major-league hurlers in both walk rate (5.0 percent) and barrel rate (4.4 percent), the 93rd percentile in chase rate (32.9 percent), and the 92nd percentile in hard-hit rate (31.4 percent), per Baseball Savant.

In 2022, Luetge again finished third on the Yankees in appearances (50) while ranking in the 100th percentile in hard-hit rate (23.5 percent) and the 97th percentile in average exit velocity (85.2 mph). He limited hard contact in his brief time with the Braves last year as well, though he had his fair share of difficulties in other areas.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Luetge operates with a diverse arsenal that primarily consists of a cutter (the offering he has turned to the most the last three seasons), a sweeper, and a curveball as well as a sparingly-used four-seam fastball and slider. He owns a lifetime 3.60 ERA in 230 career appearances (232 1/3 innings) at the major-league level, but has proven to be far more effective against left-handed hitters (.227/.291/.314 slash line in 387 plate appearances) than right-handed hitters (.280/.352/.417 slash line in 619 plate appearances) in that time.

Luetge, who arrived in Fort Myers on Monday after driving in from his home in Houston, has a chance to compete for a spot on Boston’s Opening Day bullpen this spring. The Red Sox, as currently constructed, are extremely thin when it comes to left-handed relief depth with Brennan Bernardino, Joe Jacques, Chris Murphy, and Brandon Walter being the only lefties on the 40-man roster.

In addition to Luetge, the Red Sox are also slated to have fellow southpaws Jorge Benitez, Cam Booser, and Helcris Olivarez in camp as non-roster invitees. Pitchers and catchers get their first workout at the Fenway South complex underway on Wednesday.

(Picture of Lucas Luetge: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox sign former All-Star, Rookie of the Year Michael Fulmer to two-year minor-league deal

The Red Sox signed free agent reliever Michael Fulmer to a minor-league contract last week, per the club’s MLB.com transactions log. According to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, it is a two-year deal that will cover the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

As noted by Cotillo, the contract includes a $1.5 million major-league salary in both years. If Fulmer is selected to the 40-man roster in 2024 or 2025, his salary will be $1.5 million. The right-hander will also have the chance to earn an additional $2 million in incentives next year.

Fulmer, who turns 31 next month, is expected to miss the entirety of the 2024 season after undergoing UCL revision surgery on his right elbow last October. This comes after he previously underwent Tommy John surgery to repair that same ligament in March 2019.

Last year with the Cubs, where he worked with Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, Fulmer posted a 4.42 ERA and 4.15 FIP with 65 strikeouts to 28 walks over 58 appearances (one start) spanning 57 innings of work in which he held opposing hitters to a .235 batting average against. He ranked in the 95th percentile of all big-league pitchers in hard-hit rate (30.3 percent) and the 92nd percentile in both average exit velocity (86.4 mph) and whiff rate (33.5 percent), per Baseball Savant.

A former first-round draft selection of the Mets out of Deer Creek High School (Edmond, Okla.) in 2011, Fulmer first broke in with the Tigers in 2016 after being part of the same trade that sent former Red Sox outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to New York the previous summer. The Oklahoma native got his major-league career with Detroit off to a promising start, as he took home American League Rookie of the Year honors as well as a 10th-place finish in Cy Young voting in 2016 before being named a first-time All-Star in 2017.

From that point forward, though, Fulmer has been hindered by injuries on numerous occasions. After his 2019 was wiped out because of Tommy John, the righty struggled to a 8.78 ERA in 10 starts during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. He then moved to Detroit’s bullpen in 2021 and has primarily worked as a reliever for the Tigers, Twins, and Cubs since then.

Altogether, Fulmer owns a lifetime 3.94 ERA in 262 career big-league outings (94 starts). When operating in a relief role, the 6-foot-3, 224-pound hurler has pitched to a 3.43 ERA with 190 strikeouts to 70 walks across 175 2/3 total innings. He also converted 19 of a possible 30 save opportunities in that stretch.

Before going under the knife while with the Cubs last fall, Fulmer averaged 83.2 mph with his sweeper, 94.2 mph with his four-seam fastball, 89.6 mph with his cutter, 94.8 mph with his sinker, and 89.9 mph with his changeup. He has past experience throwing a curveball as well.

Fulmer will presumably spend most, if not all of the 2024 campaign rehabbing in Fort Myers. Barring a surprise, he should be at Boston’s spring training camp as a non-roster invitee around this time next year.

The Red Sox, for their part, are no strangers when it comes to rehabbing injured free agent pitchers. Most recently, right-hander Wyatt Mills was brought back on a similar two-year minors pact earlier in the offseason after undergoing Tommy John surgery last July.

Like Fulmer, Mills is unlikely to pitch in 2024, though there is always a possibility something could change later in the year. In the meantime, neither Fulmer nor Mills will count against the Sox’ 40-man roster.

(Picture of Michael Fulmer: Matt Dirksen/Getty Images)

Red Sox sign Mount St. Mary’s righty Cooper Adams to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have signed undrafted free agent Cooper Adams out of Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md., per an announcement from the school.

Adams, a 23-year-old right-hander, was passed over in the 2023 amateur draft after going 8-3 and posting a 4.70 ERA with 73 strikeouts to 20 walks in 14 starts (82 1/3 innings) for the Mountaineers as a fifth-year senior last season.

Hailing from the Old Line State himself, Adams spent the first three years of his collegiate career at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and pitched to a 7.09 ERA with 28 strikeouts to 23 walks in 21 total appearances (eight starts) spanning 59 2/3 innings of work for the Retrievers. The Potomac native then transferred to Mount St. Mary’s in 2021 and led his team in both starts (11) and innings pitched (65 1/3 innings) the following spring.

Despite improving across the board in his final year of eligibility, Adams had to wait until just recently to enter the professional ranks. To that end, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound hurler threw at Tread Athletics’ annual pro day weekend in Charlotte, N.C. last month and apparently left a lasting impression on the scouts who were on hand.

“Adams got on the mound on Day 3 and showed up as a new pitcher, not the arm that was at Mount St. Mary’s last spring,” wrote Rylan Domingues, who has since joined the Phillies organization as a pitching development analyst. “He ran his fastball up to 96.8 MPH while averaging 95.1, higher than his previous best of 94.9. Along with that, he showcased a sinker, slider and a kick change, all new or much improved. He has totally reinvented himself post college and deserves a shot.”

That shot will evidently come with the Red Sox, who have worked to overhaul their pitching infrastructure under chief baseball officer Craig Breslow this winter. Since being hired in October, Breslow has made some notable additions to Boston’s pitching department, including Justin Willard (who previously worked for the Twins) as director of pitching and Kyle Boddy (who founded Driveline Baseball) as a special advisor.

It remains to be seen where Adams, who turns 24 in June, will make his professional debut this season. While Low-A Salem or maybe even High-A Greenville are the likely destinations, the Red Sox will presumably evaluate Adams throughout spring training before arriving at a decision.

(Picture of Cooper Adams: Mount St. Mary’s University Athletics)

Former Red Sox catching prospect Ronaldo Hernández agrees to minor-league deal with Diamondbacks

Former Red Sox catching prospect Ronaldo Hernandez has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks, according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel. The deal comes with an invitation to major-league spring training.

Hernandez, 26, spent the last three seasons in the Red Sox organization after originally being acquired from the Rays alongside minor-league infielder Nick Sogard in the February 2021 trade that sent pitchers Chris Mazza and Jeffrey Springs back to Tampa Bay.

At that time, Hernandez was viewed as one of the top catching prospects in baseball. The native Colombian had already been added to the Rays’ 40-man roster in 2019 and maintained that status going into his first spring training with the Sox. He opened the 2021 campaign at Double-A Portland and posted an .825 OPS in 92 games there before earning a promotion to Triple-A Worcester in late September.

Hernandez spent the entirety of the 2022 season with Worcester as well, batting .261/.298/.451 with 27 doubles, 17 home runs, 63 RBIs, 50 runs scored, 21 walks, and 92 strikeouts over 105 games (437 plate appearances) for the WooSox. The right-handed hitter was called up by Boston on two separate occasions last year (once in April and again in August) but never got into a game, so he has yet to officially make his major-league debut.

The Red Sox removed Hernandez from their 40-man roster last December and subsequently outrighted him to the minor-leagues once he cleared waivers. He received an invite to big-league spring training, but was never really in consideration for a call-up this past season. Instead, he slashed .242/.336/.445 with 17 doubles, 17 homers, 70 RBIs, 49 runs scored, two stolen bases, 41 walks, and 69 strikeouts in 99 games (393 plate appearances) for Worcester while splitting time between catcher and designated hitter.

Hernandez, who became a free agent after hitting the open market last month, peaked as the No. 14 prospect in Boston’s farm system, according to SoxProspects.com’s rankings history. He carries with him a lifetime slash line of .279/.333/.461 with 91 home runs and 409 RBIs in 636 career minor-league games (2,616 plate appearances) dating back to 2015. At the Triple-A level specifically, Hernandez has batted .255/.319/.448 with 34 homers and 138 runs driven in across 211 games spanning 860 trips to the plate.

While defense has never been a strong suit for Hernandez, the 6-foot-1, 248-pound backstop should be able to provide the Diamondbacks with some bat-first catching depth in the upper-minors behind the likes of standout Gabriel Moreno and Jose Herrera (both of whom are currently on Arizona’s 40-man roster) heading into the 2024 season.

In the meantime, Hernandez has been playing winter ball for the Gigantes del Cibao of the Dominican Winter League. Coming into play on Wednesday, he has hit .245/.333/.283 with two doubles and three RBIs in 17 games (60 plate appearances) with the San Francisco de Macorís-based club.

(Picture of Ronaldo Hernandez: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox bring back Wyatt Mills on two-year minor-league deal

The Red Sox brought back injured reliever Wyatt Mills on a minor-league contract last week, per the club’s transactions log. It is a two-year deal that will cover the 2024 and 2025 seasons, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

Mills, who turns 29 in January, was non-tendered by Boston earlier this month after not pitching at all this past season. The right-hander was originally acquired from the Royals for relief prospect Jacob Wallace last December and was expected to compete for a spot in the Sox’ Opening Day bullpen out of spring training.

After allowing just one earned run and striking out 10 over six innings his first four appearances of the spring, Mills was shelled for four runs on four hits, one walk, and two hit batsman in the sixth inning of a 16-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Blue Jays in Dunedin on March 13. He was then shut down to to an elbow issue and opened the season on the injured list.

Despite trying to rehab the injury, Mills ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery in early July. As a result, he will miss most — if not all — of the 2024 season, but the structure of his new contract allows the Red Sox to oversee his rehab and the potential benefits that come with it once he is presumably healthy in 2025.

Mills, a former third-round draft pick of the Mariners out of Gonzaga in 2017, first broke in with Seattle in May 2021 and was then traded to Kansas City last June. Between the two stops, the Washington state native owns a 6.21 ERA (but much more encouraging 3.84 FIP) with 37 strikeouts to 20 walks in 38 relief appearances (42 innings) at the big-league level.

As MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith noted earlier this summer, the Red Sox were intrigued by Mills because of how his profile mirrors that of fellow side-winder John Schreiber. Like Schreiber, Mills throws from a lower arm angle and operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a four-seam fastball, a slider, and a sinker. He had also been planning on adding a changeup to his arsenal before going under the knife.

While proceeding with his rehab moving forward, Mills will remain in the Red Sox organization without occupying a spot on the club’s 40-man roster.

(Picture of Wyatt Mills: Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox sign former Mariners pitching prospect Jorge Benitez to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have signed free agent left-hander Jorge Benitez to a minor-league contract, per MiLB Central on X/Twitter. The deal comes with an invitation to major-league spring training.

Benitez, 24, was originally selected by the Mariners in the ninth round of the 2017 amateur draft out of Leadership Christian Academy in Puerto Rico. The San Juan native signed with Seattle for $150,000 and made his professional debut in the rookie-level Arizona League that June.

After splitting the 2022 campaign between Low-A Modesto and High-A Everett, Benitez earned All-Star honors in the Arizona Fall League while forging a 2.08 ERA in nine appearances (13 innings) for the Peoria Javelinas. The lefty then broke camp with Everett this past spring before receiving a promotion to Double-A Arkansas in late April.

With the Travelers, Benitez posted a 2.14 ERA and 4.24 FIP with 74 strikeouts to 39 walks across 40 outings (59 innings) out of the bullpen. He also converted his lone save opportunity on the year while holding opposing hitters to a miniscule .190 batting average against.

Among the 92 Texas League pitchers who accrued 50 or more innings this season, Benitez ranked 17th in strikeouts per nine innings (11.29), 21st in strikeout rate (28.6 percent), fifth in opponents’ batting average, first in line-drive rate (14.4 percent), 16th in groundball rate (47 percent), 20th in swinging-strike rate (14.4 percent), third in ERA, and 29th in FIP, per FanGraphs.

While the punchout numbers and the like are certainly encouraging, Benitez also ranked 86th in walks per nine innings (5.95), 86th in walk rate (15.1 percent), and 59th in xFIP (4.92) when using those same parameters. That in itself suggests that the southpaw has had some issues when it comes to his command of the strike zone.

As Baseball America’s Kyle Glaser noted back in March, Benitez “annihilates left-handed batters with a 90-93 mph fastball from a low arm slot and a high-spin curveball in the mid 70s.” The 6-foot-2 hurler’s “tough angle also plays against righties and gives him a chance to be a low-leverage reliever.”

Benitez, who does not turn 25 until next June, is the second notable young lefty to sign a minors pact with the Red Sox this month, joining ex-Rockies prospect Helcris Olivarez. Like Olivarez, Benitez figures to provide Boston with high-upside pitching depth from the left side at Triple-A Worcester in 2024.

In the meantime, Benitez has been pitching for the Criollos de Caguas of the Puerto Rican Winter League this winter. Coming into play on Friday, he had yet to allow a run through his first six appearances (7 2/3 innings) of the season for the club.

(Picture of Jorge Benitez: John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

Red Sox sign former Twins outfielder Mark Contreras to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have signed free agent outfielder Mark Contreras to a minor-league contract, according to Baseball America’s transactions tracker. It is unclear if the deal comes with an invite to major-league spring training.

Contreras, who turns 29 in January, spent the better part of the last seven seasons in the Twins organization after originally being selected by the club in the ninth round of the 2017 amateur draft out of UC Riverside. The Moreno Valley, Calif. native broke in at the big-league level last May and appeared in 28 games for Minnesota, going 7-for-58 (.121) with one double, three home runs, six RBIs, nine runs scored, one stolen base, one walk, and 21 strikeouts.

In December, Contreras lost his spot on the Twins’ 40-man roster when fellow outfielder Joey Gallo was signed to a one-year deal. He then cleared waivers and remained in the organization through the winter, ultimately breaking camp this past spring with Minnesota’s Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul. With the Saints this season, the left-handed hitter batted .274/.352/.418 to go along with 17 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 54 RBIs, 52 runs scored, 23 stolen bases, 36 walks, and 99 strikeouts over 90 games (381 plate appearances) before being released in early August.

For his career at the Triple-A level dating back to 2021, Contreras is a lifetime .252/.334/.442 hitter with 64 doubles, four triples, 43 homers, 176 runs driven in, 178 runs scored, 58 stolen bases, 107 walks, and 341 strikeouts in 287 total games (1,198 plate appearances). On the other side of the ball, the 6-foot, 195-pounder has past experience at all three outfield spots in both the major- and minor-leagues. He recorded three of his four outfield assists from center while with St. Paul this year.

To that end, Contreras figures to provide the Red Sox with versatile, experienced outfield depth at Triple-A Worcester next season. As things stand now, he slots in behind the likes of Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Rob Refsnyder, Alex Verdugo, and Masataka Yoshida, all of whom are on Boston’s 40-man roster.

(Picture of Mark Contreras: David Berding/Getty Images)