Sox make a minor move

The Red Sox today received righthanded pitcher Virgil Vasquez on a waiver claim from the Detroit Tigers, bringing their major league roster to its 40-man limit.

Vasquez, 26, has spent the majority of the past two seasons with Triple A Toledo. The Tigers named him the Toledo pitcher of the year in 2007, when he ranked third in the International League with 127 strikeouts to go with a 12-5 record and a 3.48 ERA. He regressed this year, going 12-12 with a 4.81 ERA, although he did throw a pair of shutouts and win his final five starts, compiling a 3.63 ERA over that span.

Vasquez made his big league debut in 2007, finding scant success in three starts and two relief appearances. He allowed 16 earned runs in 16 2/3 innings and struck out seven, the same number of home runs he surrendered.

The Red Sox also announced that infielder Gil Velazquez, a late-season call-up who was briefly activated at the end of the ALDS, has opted for free agency. The Sox assigned him outright to Triple A Pawtucket last week.