February 9, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Sox add pitcher Steve Green
According to Baseball America, the Red Sox have signed righthanded relief pitcher Steve Green to a minor league contract. The 31-year-old Green pitched last season for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Phillies), posting a 5-1 record with a 3.09 ERA in 35 games (1 start). He struck out 71, walked 29, and gave up only 4 home runs in 67 innings pitched. He also pitched for los Navegantes del Magallanes of the Venezuelan Winter League, putting up an 0-1 record with a 3.38 ERA and a 5/8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 8 innings pitched. A ten-year minor league veteran, Green owns a career record of 51-55 with a 4.66 ERA and 745 strikeouts in 295 career appearances, including 122 starts. He was originally drafted in the tenth round of the 1997 draft by the Angels, and he has also played in the Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore, and Philadelphia systems. Green will likely be thrown into the increasingly large mix of players vying for a bullpen role with the PawSox.In other news, the Red Sox have released Japanese catcher Hayato Doue and announced the voluntary retirement of outfielder Andrew Frezza. Doue, a 26-year-old star in the Japanese independent league, had been signed to a minor league deal in April of 2008, but he was unable to obtain a work visa to play in the U.S. and was subsequently placed on the Restricted List. Frezza was selected by the Red Sox in the 31st round of the 2008 draft and played last season for the GCL Red Sox.