The Boston Red Sox have signed 38-year-old right-handed starter Paul Byrd to a minor league contract.
Byrd is expected to join the Red Sox around Sept. 1. Because he hasn't pitched at all this year, it is thought that he will pitch in the minor leagues until then.
The Red Sox picked up Byrd last season from the Cleveland Indians. In eight starts for the Sox, he went 4-2 with a 4.78 ERA. He also pitched in one postseason game for Boston last season against the Rays in the ALCS, giving up four runs in 3 1/3 innings. Overall, he went 11-12 with a 4.60 ERA.
According to MLB.com, Byrd chose to not to sign with anyone last offseason and sat out spring training to spend more time with his wife and two sons. He told Yahoo Sports this past spring that he would need just two weeks in the minor leagues to be ready to start in the majors again.
"I am ready to make a move," Byrd told Yahoo.
"Right now, I'm good for 30 to 40 pitches at full strength," he added at the time. "Physically, I am in great shape, although I do have a few more gray hairs in my beard. I will be the pitcher in the second half last year who didn't tip pitches and got the job done. I will just be arriving a little late for the season, which, come playoff time, might be a good thing."
With the Red Sox' recent pitching woes, it couldn't hurt.
