January 10, 2012 at 8:57 AM
Red Sox sign RHP Justin Germano
Jon Heyman
of CBS Sports is reporting on Twitter that the Red Sox have signed
right-handed pitcher Justin Germano to a minor league contract. Germano reportedly
had an offer of over $1M to pitch for the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization, but turned it down for
the opportunity to pitch for Boston. He spent the last two seasons in the
Cleveland Indians organization.
Germano, 29, has appeared in 79 games over six major league
seasons, compiling a 8-20 record and 5.20 ERA. While he served primarily as a
starter for the Padres and Reds earlier in his career, 31 of Germano’s
32 appearances for the Indians came out of the bullpen. His best major league
season was 2010. Appearing in 23 games, Germano had a 3.31 ERA over 35.1
innings pitched, striking out 29 with only 8 walks.
Germano split 2011 between Cleveland and the Triple-A
Columbus Clippers. He had a 5.68 ERA in 9 major league appearances, but was
more effective in 16 minor league appearances, of which six came as a starter. With Columbus, Germano had a 1-2 record with a 4.22 ERA, 1.102 WHIP, 39 strikeouts and
4 walks in 49 innings pitched. The highlight of his season came on July 26. While
pitching for Columbus against the Syracuse Chiefs, Germano pitched the fifth
perfect game in International League history. He needed just 95 pitches to
record seven strikeouts on his way to the first IL perfect game since former
Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo’s on August 10, 2003.
Germano will go into spring training looking to win a spot in the Red Sox bullpen. If he fails to make the major league roster, he may be used as either a starter or reliever at Triple-A Pawtucket.