The Boston Red Sox gave five players minor league deals with major league invites.
Boston announced Thursday that it signed outfielder Quintin Berry, left-handed pitcher Dana Eveland, first baseman/outfielder Bryan LaHair, right-handed pitcher Felipe Paulino and catcher Humberto Quintero to minor league contracts. All five also received spring training invites.
Berry came to the Red Sox via trade before the 2013 season and stole three bases in postseason pinch-running appearances during Boston’s World Series run. The club released him after the season.
Berry has been successful in all 25 of his stolen base attempts in his major league career (117 games).
Pitchers Eveland and Paulino both will enter spring training as relievers. Eveland had by far the best season of his career in 2014 with the New York Mets. He had a 2.63 ERA with 27 strikeouts over 27 1/3 innings in 30 relief outings. Paulino has been a starter for most of his career, most recently for the Chicago White Sox.
LaHair is two years removed from major league play, having spent 2014 in the Cleveland Indians’ minor league system and 2013 in Japan with the Softbank Hawks. However, the Worcester, Mass., native was an All-Star with the Chicago Cubs in 2012.
Humberto spent most of 2014 in the Seattle Mariners’ system, coming up to the bigs for three games. He’s compiled a .234 average over 12 major league seasons.
Thumbnail photo via Joy R. Absalon/USA TODAY Sports Images
