March 26, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Rocky Cherry signed to minor league deal
According to Art Martone of the Providence Journal, the Red Sox have signed reliever Rocky Cherry to a minor league contract. Last season, Cherry posted an 0-3 record with a 6.35 ERA, 15 strikeouts and 16 walks in 18 appearances out of the Baltimore bullpen. He began the 2008 season at Triple-A Norfolk, where he went 0-1 with a 2.89 ERA in 28 games, striking out 37 and walking only 9 in 37.1 innings. Cherry had been picked in the Rule 5 draft by the Mets in December, but was released on March 17 and became a free agent when Baltimore declined to buy back his contract. He has made 4 appearances so far this spring, allowing 1 earned run on 5 hits and 1 walk in 4.0 innings, striking out 1.The 29-year-old righthander began his career in the Cubs organization after the team made him a 14th round draft pick in 2002, and he made his major league debut for Chicago in 2007. He was then traded, along with third baseman Scott Moore, to the Orioles at the 2007 trading deadline for starter Steve Trachsel. In 40 career major league appearances for the Cubs and Orioles, Cherry is 1-4 with a 5.77 ERA, 38 strikeouts, and 35 walks in 48.1 innings, all out of the bullpen. He will likely do his pitching for the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2009.