According to an industry source, the Red Sox signed right-handed pitchers Billy Buckner and Garrett Mock to minor league deals. Both pitchers have been assigned to minor league camp.
Buckner -- who is not related to former Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner -- spent last year pitching in Triple-A in the Rockies' system. He went 4-8 with a 6.03 ERA, 80 strikeouts and 52 walks in 109 innings, making 23 appearances (21 starts).
A second-round pick by the Royals in 2004, Buckner spent parts of four seasons in the majors, most recently in 2010 with the Diamondbacks. In 36 career big league games (21 starts), he is 6-11 with a 6.25 ERA, along with 6.7 strikeouts and 3.5 walks per nine innings. He was signed to compete for a starting job in the Sox system.
Mock, 28, was once considered a top pitching prospect by the Nationals, but he struggled in parts of three big league seasons in Washington. Despite strong strikeout rates (8.0 per nine innings), he went 4-13 with a 5.17 ERA and 4.8 walks per nine innings in 55 big league appearances. After his 2010 season was cut short by neck surgery, the 2004 third-round pick struggled badly in four levels of minor league ball in 2011, going 1-5 with a 6.39 ERA, 51 strikeouts and 29 walks in 49 1/3 innings last year.
After signing a minor league deal with the Blue Jays this winter, he was cut in February, making him available for the Sox to sign. Mock will compete for a relief spot in the Sox system.
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