January 27, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Chip Ambres and Ivan Ochoa signed to minor league deals
The Red Sox today announced the signings of outfielder Chip Ambres and shortstop Ivan Ochoa to minor league deals. Ambres split last season between the San Diego Padres and the team's Triple-A affiliate in Portland, Oregon, batting .279/.368/.539 in the minors with 22 home runs and 77 RBI in 412 at bats and adding .195/.313/.220 totals in 41 major league at bats. He put up impressive .294/.401/.495 totals as a member of the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2005 before being traded to Kansas City as part of a deal for Tony Graffanino. A veteran of ten minor league seasons, the 29-year-old Ambres was the first round selection (27th overall) of the Florida Marlins in 1998. He owns career .259/.359/.440 numbers with 113 home runs and 466 RBI in 3587 minor league at bats playing in the Marlins, Red Sox, Royals, Mets and Padres organizations.Ivan Ochoa spent most of last season at Triple-A Fresno (Giants), putting up a solid .318/.399/.445 line with 6 home runs, 32 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in 292 at bats. He also appeared in 47 games at the major league level with San Francisco in 2008, collecting .200/.244/.267 totals in 120 at bats. Ochoa was originally signed by Cleveland as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2000. He spent six seasons in the Indians system, making it as far as Triple-A Buffalo before moving on to the Giants organization in 2007. In 8 minor league seasons, the 26-year-old switch hitter owns career .255/.331/.325 numbers with 13 home runs and 203 RBI in 2387 at bats. Both players will receive invitations to major league spring training, but will likely begin the year at Triple-A Pawtucket.