Red Sox sign Scott Atchison

According to Ken Rosenthal on Twitter, the Red Sox have signed reliever Scott Atchison to a one year deal with club options for 2011 and 2012. The 33-year-old right-hander had spent the previous two seasons in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers.

Atchison was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the forty-ninth round of the 1998 Draft. He spent seven years in the Seattle organization, primarily in the minor leagues, only making 31 appearances out of the bullpen for the Mariners in short stints in 2004 and 2005. He signed with the San Francisco Giants in 2007, making 22 appearances out of the bullpen with a 4.11 ERA. Atchison was then signed by the Boston Red Sox to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training in 2008 before being sold to Hanshin. Last season with Hanshin, Atchison posted a 1.70 ERA in 75 games across 90.0 innings, with 81 strikeouts against 20 walks.

In parts of three Major League seasons, Atchison has posted a 4.10 ERA with a 2-3 record over 68.0 innings in 53 appearances, with 70 strikeouts against 25 walks. He has a career 3.83 ERA with 658 strikeouts in 771.1 minor league innings spanning parts of nine seasons.

Update: According to Alex Speier of WEEI, Atchison's deal is non-guaranteed, and pays him $420,000 in 2010 with two team options that would pay him $440,000 in 2011 and $600,000 in 2012 if exercised. Atchison reportedly has one minor league option year remaining, and he will be given the chance to earn a Major League bullpen role in spring training.

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