Here is a press release from the Boston Red Sox about the signings of 6 free agents to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training along with the addition of Alex Ochoa to the coaching staff.
BOSTON — The Red Sox today announced the signings of six free agents to 2009 Minor League contracts. In addition, all six players have been invited to Boston’s Major League Spring Training camp as non-roster players.
The six free agents are infielders Angel Chavez, Nick Green and Ivan Ochoa, outfielder Chip Ambres, right-handed pitcher Fernando Cabrera, and catcher Carlos Maldonado.
Chavez, 27, spent 2008 in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization at Triple-A Las Vegas. He batted .292 with 10 home runs and 68 RBIs in 117 games, including 57 appearances at third base, 43 at shortstop, 23 at second base and eight at first base. The right-handed hitter appeared in 10 games for the San Francisco Giants in 2005, going 5-for-19 (.263) with an RBI, his only Major League experience.
Green, 30, joins the Red Sox after a year in the Yankees system at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, his first full season in the Minor Leagues since 2003. He posted a .233 average with 12 homers and 50 RBIs in 112 games, including 63 at shortstop, 33 at second base, six at third base and eight in the outfield. The right-handed hitter has spent parts of four seasons in the Major Leagues with Atlanta (2004), Tampa Bay (2005-06), the Yankees (2006) and Seattle (2007), batting .240 with 10 home runs and 59 RBIs in 275 total games. Green also had in two postseason appearances for the Braves in 2004.
Ochoa, 26, made his Major League debut for the San Francisco Giants last season, batting .200 with three RBI in 47 games, including 35 at shortstop and eight at second base. He spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Fresno where he posted a .318 average, six home runs and 32 RBIs over 84 contests, with 51 appearances at shortstop and a Minor League career-high 28 at second base. The right-handed hitter is entering his 10th professional season having played in the Angels (2000), Indians (2001-06) and Giants (2007-08) systems.
Ambres, 29, played 112 games for San Diego’s Triple-A Portland affiliate last year, batting .279 while setting Minor League career highs with 22 home runs and 77 RBIs. The right-handed hitter also posted a .195 average in 24 big league contests for the Padres in 2008. He owns a career .233 average with four home runs and 10 RBIs in 80 Major League games with the Royals (2005), Mets (2007) and Padres (2008). He hit .294 with 10 round trippers and 50 RBIs in 84 games for Triple-A Pawtucket in 2005 before being traded to Kansas City for infielder Tony Graffanino on June 19.
Cabrera, 27, spent most of last season with the Orioles, going 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 22 relief appearances. The right-hander fanned 31 and walked 17 in 28.1 Major League innings. He began the year on the disabled list while recovering from right elbow surgery but posted a 0.69 ERA over 11 games with Triple-A Norfolk and was activated on June 26. Cabrera is 8-7 with a 5.02 ERA in 125 career relief appearances with Cleveland (2004-07) and Baltimore (2007-08).
Maldonado, 30, was limited to 46 games with Pittsburgh’s Triple-A Indianapolis affiliate due to three stints on the disabled list. He batted .248 with three home runs and 16 RBIs. The right-handed hitter began his professional career in 1996 and owns a .163 batting average with two home runs and four RBIs over 21 career Major League games with the Pirates from 2006-07.
All of the free agents are on the Pawtucket roster.
RED SOX ADD ALEX OCHOA TO MAJOR LEAGUE COACHING STAFF: The Red Sox today named Alex Ochoa as the Major League Coaching Staff Assistant. His duties will include helping the coaching staff in all pregame on-field preparations, assisting in the advance scouting effort, as well as completing special in-game assignments as delegated by manager Terry Francona.
Ochoa is entering his first season as a professional coach after an eight-year Major League career with the Mets (1995-97), Twins (1998), Brewers (1999, 2002), Reds (2000-01), Rockies (2001) and Angels (2002), during which he hit .279 with 46 home runs and 261 RBIs over 807 games. He played for Hiroshima of the Japanese Central League in 2008 after spending part of the 2007 campaign in the Red Sox system, appearing in 24 games for Triple-A Pawtucket.
