July 19, 2013 at 7:48 PM
Veteran hurlers Contreras and Lyon sign minor league deals
The Red Sox have announced that they have signed right-handed relievers Brandon Lyon and Jose Contreras to minor league contracts. Both pitchers have been assigned to Triple-A Pawtucket.
The signing marks a second stint in the Red Sox organization for Lyon, 33. He was first claimed off waivers by Boston after the 2002 season, and spent a short stint in 2003 as the team's closer. Lyon posted a 4.12 ERA and nine saves in 59 innings that year before being sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of the deal that brought Curt Schilling to Boston. Since leaving the Red Sox, he has pitched for five different organizations, saving at least 20 games in a season for both Arizona and Houston. Overall, the Utah native has appeared in 572 career games, posting a 4.16 ERA, 1.381 WHIP and 79 saves.
Contreras, 41, was also linked to the 2003 Red Sox. The right-hander was heavily pursued by then-GM Theo Epstein upon his defection from Cuba, but he ended up inking a deal with the New York Yankees. Largely a starting pitcher in his first six major league seasons, Contreras began to transition to the bullpen in 2009. He played a key role on the Philadelphia Phillies 2010 National League East champions, posting a 3.34 ERA and four saves in 67 appearances, and retiring 12 of the 13 batters he faced that year in the postseason.
In another move, Jose De La Torre was recalled to the Red Sox to replace Andrew Bailey, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list. A second spot on Pawtucket's roster was cleared when Alfredo Aceves was placed on the Temporarily Inactive List.