Former New Haven Raven Joel Piñeiro is set to sign a 1 year deal with the Boston Red Sox. The deal is for 1 year with a guaranteed $4 million dollars plus incentives.

The signing of Piñeiro gives the Red Sox 7 potential starters for next season (Schilling, Matsuzaka, Beckett, Wakefield, Papelbon and Lester). If I had to venture a guess, Piñeiro will probably pitch out of the bullpen. Still though, $4 million dollars for a season is awfully high for a guy who will pitch in middle relief. I am sure Piñeiro isn’t happy because his buddy, Gil Meche, signed a 5 yr, $55 million dollar deal. Difference being, Meche had a better season last year as Piñeiro was 8-13 with a 6.36 ERA.

Maybe, just maybe Piñeiro will emerge during spring training as a pitcher who’d be better off starting and the Sox could move Papelbon back to the bullpen.

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