The Red Sox today announced the signings of seven free agents to 2010 minor league contracts. In addition, all seven players have been invited to Boston’s Major League Spring Training camp as non-roster players.
The seven free agents are right-handed pitchers Fernando Cabrera, Edwin Moreno and Jorge Sosa, left-hander Brian Shouse, infielders Angel Sanchez and Gil Velazquez, and outfielder Darnell McDonald.
Cabrera, 28, spent the 2009 season in the Boston system, posting an 8.44 ERA (5 ER/5.1 IP) with eight strikeouts and four walks in six relief outings over two stints with the Red Sox. In 43 relief appearances with Triple-A Pawtucket, he recorded a 1.71 ERA (10 ER/52.2 IP) while going 0-3 with 22 saves, the second-highest total in the International League. The right-hander has pitched in eight games out of the bullpen for Leones de Ponce in the Puerto Rican Winter League, going 2-0 with three saves and a 5.14 ERA (4 ER/7.0 IP). Originally selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 10th round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Cabrera is 8-7 with one save, a 5.12 ERA (99 ER/174.0 IP), 193 strikeouts and 96 walks in 131 Major League relief appearances over parts of six seasons with the Indians (2004-07), Baltimore Orioles (2007-08) and Red Sox (2009).
The 29-year-old Moreno made his Major League debut with the San Diego Padres in 2009, going 1-3 with a 4.84 ERA (12 ER/22.1 IP) in 19 games out of the bullpen. He also made 39 relief appearances with the Padres Triple-A Portland affiliate, tallying a 3-3 record with 10 saves, a 4.17 ERA (21 ER/45.1 IP), 40 strikeouts and 20 walks. After the season, Moreno pitched for Leones del Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League and went 1-0 with 12 saves and a 3.12 ERA (6 ER/17.1 IP) over 16 games in relief. Signed by the Texas Rangers as an international free agent on February 13, 1998, he will be in his 12th professional season in 2010.
Sosa, 32, pitched in the Washington Nationals organization during the 2009 season, including 18 games out of the bullpen for the Big League club. He was 2-1 with two saves and a 6.45 ERA (16 ER/22.1 IP) in those outings while going 1-2 with three saves, a 2.79 ERA (15 ER/48.1 IP), 53 strikeouts and 13 walks in 20 appearances (four starts) for Triple-A Syracuse. Following the season, Sosa went 4-2 with a 3.83 ERA (17 ER/40.0 IP) in nine starts for Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Winter League. Signed by the Colorado Rockies as an international free agent on June 23, 1995, he has a career 42-50 Major League record with seven saves and a 4.72 ERA (386 ER/736.0 IP) in 272 games (88 starts) over parts of eight seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays (2002-04), Atlanta Braves (2005-06), St. Louis Cardinals (2006), New York Mets (2007-08) and Nationals (2009).
Shouse, 41, went 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA (14 ER/28.0 IP) in 45 relief outings for the Rays last year. He was on the disabled list from May 25-July 26 with a left elbow strain and made four rehabilitation appearances with Single-A Charlotte, collecting one save and a 2.25 ERA (1 ER/4.0 IP). The left-hander previously pitched for the Red Sox during the 1998 campaign and was 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA (5 ER/8.0 IP) in seven relief appearances. Originally selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 13th round of the 1990 June Draft, Shouse has a career 13-10 Major League record with six saves, a 3.72 ERA (145 ER/350.2 IP), 233 strikeouts and 118 walks in 467 relief appearances over parts of 10 seasons with the Pirates (1993), Red Sox (1998), Kansas City Royals (2002), Rangers (2003-06), Milwaukee Brewers (2006-08) and Rays (2009).
Sanchez, 26, hit .305 (137-for-449) with 29 doubles, four triples, six home runs, 60 RBI and 67 runs scored in 126 games for the Toronto Blue Jays Triple-A Las Vegas affiliate in 2009. He posted a .970 fielding percentage (17 errors/569 total chances) in 116 games at shortstop and also made 10 appearances at second base (0 errors/58 total chances). A native of Puerto Rico, he has hit .318 (41-for-129) in 38 games for the Indios de Mayaguez in the Puerto Rican Winter League. Selected by the Royals in the 11th round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Sanchez played in eight Major League games with Kansas City in 2006 and hit .222 (6-for-27) with an RBI and two runs scored. He appeared in four games at both second base (four starts) and shortstop (one start) without committing an error (46 total chances).
The 30-year-old Velazquez played in six games for Boston last season, making appearances at shortstop (four games) and third base (two games) while going 0-for-2 at the plate. He hit .193 (56-for-290) with three home runs and 18 RBI in 93 games for Triple-A Pawtucket, including appearances at all four infield positions and left field. Originally selected by the New York Mets in the 14th round of the 1998 First-Year Player draft, Velazquez has appeared in nine Major League games with Boston over the 2008-09 seasons, going 1-for-10 with an RBI.
McDonald, 31, hit .267 (28-for-105) with six doubles, one triple, two home runs, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored in 47 games over two stints with the Cincinnati Reds in 2009. In 73 games with Triple-A Louisville, he batted .314 (88-for-280) with 22 doubles, seven triples, nine home runs, 40 RBI, 42 runs scored and eight stolen bases. His seven triples ranked tied for fourth in the International League. Following the season, he hit .378 (28-for-74) with six homers and 20 RBI over 19 games with Naranjeros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Winter League. A first-round selection (26th overall) of Baltimore in the 1997 Draft, McDonald has a .231 average (34-for-147) with seven doubles, one triple, two home runs, 11 RBI and 15 runs scored in 68 career Major League games over parts of three seasons with the Orioles (2004), Twins (2007) and Reds (2009).
All of the free agents are on the Pawtucket roster.
