Red Sox sign reliever Chris Resop to minor league deal

The Red Sox have signed right-handed pitcher Chris Resop to a minor league contract, reports Matt Eddy of Baseball America. Resop is something of a journeyman, as the eight-year major league veteran joins his sixth professional organization. Eddy also reported that infielder Tony Thomas, who spent the last three years in the Red Sox system, has inked a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins. 

Resop, 31, has 235 major league appearances in his career, all coming out of the bullpen. A fourth-round pick in the 2001 draft, Resop reached the majors with the Florida Marlins in 2005. The bulk of his major league success was as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, when he posted a 3.88 ERA in 162 1/3 innings between 2010 and 2012, striking out 149. 

Traded to Oakland before the 2013 season, Resop struggled mightily, allowing 12 earned runs in 18 innings while walking 10 and striking out 13. He was designated for assignment on May 17 to make room on the Athletics roster for Hideki Okajima, and spent the rest of 2013 at Triple-A Sacramento. Resop's fortunes did not improve in the minors, as the Pacific Coast League scored 27 runs in 35 2/3 innings off the right-hander. 

It is unknown at this time whether Resop's deal includes an invitation to major league spring training. 

Photo Credit: Chris Resop from milb.com

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