Red Sox Sign Lefty Reliever Alan Embree to Minor League Deal

The big lefty is heading back in Boston.

The Red Sox have signed 40-year-old reliever Alan Embree to a minor league deal with a major league spring training invitation, the team announced on Saturday.

Embree spent parts of four seasons with the Red Sox from 2002-2005, going 8-9 with four saves and a 4.69 ERA in 211 relief appearances. He allowed earned runs in just one of his 19 postseason games with Boston, going 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA.

Embree's 2009 campaign was cut short after a line drive fractured his tibia on July 10 against the Braves.

The 16-year veteran owns a 39-45 career record with 25 saves and a 4.59 ERA in 882 career games with the Indians (1992, 1995-96), Braves (1997-98), Diamondbacks (1998), Giants (1999-2001), White Sox (2001), Padres (2002, 2006), Red Sox (2002-05), Yankees (2005), Athletics (2007-08) and Rockies (2009). He ranks ninth all-time among major league left-handers and second among active southpaws with 878 career relief outings.