The Red Sox are stockpiling MLB-ready assets in the minors in case their depth really gets tested.
Boston on Saturday signed veteran relief pitcher Michael Feliz to a minor league deal. He'll report to Triple-A Worcester.
A big league veteran with 222 Major League appearances, Feliz spent this season with the Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates up until getting designated for assignment Tuesday by Cincinnati and released a day later. He hasn't pitched in a Major League game since June 6 due to a right elbow sprain. All told, he's pitched in 16 games this season, allowing 15 runs (14 earned) over 14 1/3 innings.
He has an impressive ability to punch out batters, posting a career 11.9 strikeouts-per-nine rate. However, health periodically has been an issue (he also missed time with a cracked fingernail this season), and he does have a tendency to walk batters.
If nothing else, he provides some depth, which is pivotal for a Red Sox team gearing up for an intense month of September.
