A major league source confirmed a report in the Fredericksburg Freelance-Star [1] that the Red Sox have agreed to terms with pitcher John Maine on a minor league deal. Contrary to the report, however, the deal does not include an invitation to big league camp.
The team scouted Maine and views him as a good, no-risk bounceback candidate as a starter or reliever. The pitcher's agent, Rex Gary, told the newspaper that the Red Sox are eyeing using the 30-year-old as a reliever despite Maine having made 105 of his 108 major league appearances as a starter with both the Orioles and Mets. Maine hasn't pitched in the major leagues since 2010, when he made nine starts for the Mets. After undergoing shoulder surgery in '10, the righty signed a minor league deal with the Rockies, leading to 11 starts (1-3, 7.43 ERA) with Triple-A Colorado Springs. He would leave team voluntarily in June, with some consideration given to retiring, according to reports.
Maine's best season came in 2007 when he went 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA with the Mets. He was originally a sixth-round draft pick by the Orioles in 2002, eventually being included with reliever Jorge Julio in Baltimore's '06 trade for Kris Benson.
"There were other teams that were interested, but the Red Sox were out front," Gary told the Freelance-Star. "They flew down to meet him and flew him up to Boston to work out. There was a real level of interest."
For more Red Sox news, go to the team page at weei.com/redsox [2].
Links:
[1] http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/sports/2012/01/27/maine-signs-with-red-sox/
[2] http://weei.com/redsox
[3] http://www.weei.com/category/boston/red-sox