FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox have signed free-agent pitcher Chris Capuano, according to multiple reports.
Capuano, a left-hander from Springfield, Mass., will earn a guaranteed $2.25 million in 2014, according to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman. Capuano’s one-year, major league contract reportedly could reach $5 million based on incentives.
Capuano gives the Red Sox some veteran depth in their rotation. The 35-year-old essentially replaces Ryan Dempster, who announced last week that he will not pitch in 2014.
Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington told reporters in Fort Myers on Thursday that the club was closing in on adding a player — perhaps a pitcher — but did not offer any specifics. MassLive.com was the first to report the news of Capuano’s signing.
Capuano is coming off a 2013 season in which he went 4-7 with a 4.26 ERA in 24 appearances (20 starts) with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The nine-year veteran owns a career 73-83 record and 4.27 ERA in 238 appearances (209 starts), and his best season came with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005, when the lefty went 18-12 with a 3.99 ERA.
The Red Sox’s rotation appears set, with Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey, Felix Doubront and Jake Peavy manning the five spots. Capuano likely will begin the season in the bullpen and then join the rotation on an as-needed basis.
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Photo via Wikipedia/Chris Capuano
