The Boston Red Sox have signed lefty reliever Jesse Carlson to a split contract for the 2012 season. The Berlin, CT native and former UConn Huskies baseball player, has also been invited to spring training in Ft. Myers.
The signing was first reported by the Berlin Patch and has been since confirmed by other media outlets.
Carlson missed all of the 2011 season after undergoing rotator cuff surgery. He pitched in 20 games in 2010 before suffering the injury.
All 162 career games he’s played in over three seasons have all come with the Toronto Blue Jays. In those 162 games, Carlson was 8-8 with a 3.63 ERA and three saves.
He will be given a chance to make the Red Sox out of spring training. With no lefty specialist in the bullpen right now (Rich Hill won’t return until midseason at the earliest), the opportunity is his for the taking. I’m sure the Red Sox will add other lefty relievers before spring training to compete with him.
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