March 11, 2014 at 1:23 PM
Red Sox re-sign reliever Michael Olmsted
According to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish, the Red Sox have signed reliever Michael Olmsted to a minor league deal, pending a physical. The right-hander was released on Monday by the Milwaukee Brewers with whom he spent the entire 2013 season.
Olmsted last pitched for the Red Sox in 2012 when he had his career season going 59 1/3 innings with a 1.52 ERA and .860 WHIP split between Salem and Portland. In 2011, his first season with the Red Sox, he also put up impressive numbers with the GCL Red Sox and Greenville, finishing the year with a similar .866 WHIP and even better 1.38 ERA. However, at 24 years-old, he was dramatically older than his competition.
Despite two strong years of statistical performances, the Red Sox declined to add Olmsted to their 40-man roster, and that led to him signing with the Brewers in November of 2012. Unfortunately he was unable to repeat the numbers he posted with the Red Sox and finished the 2013 season with a 5.88 ERA and 1.659 WHIP over 59 2/3 innings split between Milwaukee's Double-A and Triple-A affiliates.
Another transition should not bother the 6-foot-7 Olmsted who has been through it all already, including Tommy John, a stint in Japan, and the death of his mother as MLB.com's Peter Gammons chronicled back in 2012. The Red Sox bring him back hoping he can regain the form that lead to his earlier success.
Photo Credit: Michael Olmsted by Kelly O'Connor