Left-handed relievers are in high demand. The Boston Red Sox thus added a low-risk option.
The Red Sox agreed to a minor league contract with lefty Dana Eveland, a source told MLB Daily Dish’s Chris Cotillo. The deal reportedly is a split contract and includes an invitation to major league spring training.
Eveland spent 2014 in the New York Mets organization. He posted a 2.63 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 27 1/3 innings over 30 relief appearances. He struck out 8.9 batters per nine innings and walked 2 hitters per nine frames.
It was a promising season for Eveland, who has bounced around since being drafted in 2002. The 31-year-old has played for eight organizations — Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers — over the course of his nine-year career.
Eveland, who didn’t appear in the majors in 2013, owns a 20-26 record and 5.27 ERA in 144 career appearances (61 starts). He’ll likely compete with Tommy Layne and Drake Britton in spring training for the second left-handed reliever spot alongside Craig Breslow.
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