In search of another arm to contend for rotation spot, the Red Sox reportedly signed right-hander Aaron Cook to a minor league deal late Sunday night.
Cook, who turns 33 next month, will be invited to spring training pending a physical, according to FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal.
Cook made 17 starts for the Rockies in 2011 and went 3-10 with a 6.03 ERA. In recent years, Cook has been plagued by injuries and has been placed on the disabled list at least once in each of the last five seasons. Last season he battled shoulder inflammation and suffered a fractured bone on the ring finger of his throwing hand, which forced him to wait until June 8 to make his season debut.
The hurler’s signing signals a reunion with new Red Sox pitching coach Bob McClure. McClure worked as a pitching coach in the Rockies organization from 1999-2005 and monitored Cook’s early development.
A second-round pick by Colorado in the 1997 draft, Cook pitched 10 seasons for the club, going 72-68 with a 4.53 ERA. Cook’s best season came in 2008, when he notched a 16-9 record with a 3.96 ERA en route to making to collecting his first All-Star nod.
By signing with the Sox, Cook joins the club that prevented him from capturing a World Series championship in 2007. In his lone start against the Red Sox that fall, he surrendered three runs in six frames and received the loss.
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