The Red Sox have signed pitcher Mark Prior to a minor league deal, according to an industry source. The agreement was first reported [1] by Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
The 31-year-old Prior finished third in NL Cy Young balloting for the Cubs in 2003 following a season that saw the right-hander post an 18-6 record with a 2.43 ERA and 245 strikeouts in 211 innings pitched. A series of shoulder injuries quickly followed, however, and Prior hasn't thrown a pitch in the major leagues since 2006. He didn't pitch at any level from 2007 through 2009 and threw only 12 innings in each of the last two seasons while pitching for the Rangers and Yankees at the minor-league level.
Prior worked out for the Red Sox in Fort Myers in April. The pitcher will remain in extended spring training for a few weeks while building arm strength before an assignment to an affiliate would be considered, but the right-hander is healthy and strong and he showed signs that his arm strength may be starting to come back.
For more Red Sox news visit weei.com/redsox [2].
Links:
[1] https://twitter.com/#!/JonHeymanCBS/status/197776267301502976
[2] http://weei.com/redsox
[3] http://www.weei.com/category/boston/red-sox