As the Red Sox continue to build for their 2011 season, they're bulking up their minor league system as well.
The team announced the signing of six free agents to minor league contracts on Thursday, in addition to inviting four pitchers to Major League spring training.
Left-handed pitchers Rich Hill, Andrew Miller, and Randy Williams, along with right-hander Clevelan Santeliz have all received an invitation to play with the Red Sox in Florida this spring. Lefty Lenny DiNardo and righty Ryan Harvey were the other two players officially signed on Thursday.
Hill, who split 2010 between the Red Sox and Cardinals organizations, went 1-0 with four scoreless innings in Boston after his Sept. 13 call-up. He compiled a 7-4 record with a 4.00 ERA between the Red Sox and Cardinals' Triple-A clubs.
DiNardo also has experience with the Red Sox, going 1-3 with a 5.53 ERA during the 2004-06 seasons. He spent last season with Oakland's Triple-A affiliate, where he recorded a 2-5 record in 10 appearances. He posted a 3.40 ERA in that span.
Miller has familiarity with the Red Sox' bullpen, as he is a former college teammate of current reliever Daniel Bard. The righty has seen 54 MLB starts with Detroit and Florida, and he's posted a 15-26 record with a 5.84 ERA over five professional seasons.
Williams and Santeliz come to the Red Sox from the Chicago White Sox' organization. Santeliz went 1-4 in 38 relief appearances with Triple-A Charlotte last season, holding opponents to a .213 average. Williams saw 27 relief outings with Chicago in 2010, where he posted a 5.40 ERA.
Harvey is entering his ninth professional season, but his first as a pitcher. He comes to Boston from the Colorado Double-A affiliate.
All six pitchers have been placed on the Triple-A Pawtucket roster.
