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Sox sign lefty Traber

Email|Link|Comments (3) Posted by Chad Finn, Globe Staff December 1, 2008 06:03 PM

The Red Sox have signed lefthander Billy Traber to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Traber, 29, spent last season between the Yankees and their Triple A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In 19 appearances for New York, all in relief, he had no decisions and posted a 7.02 ERA, allowing 23 hits, 7 walks and 3 home runs in 16.2 innings. He struck out 11.

In parts of four major league seasons with Cleveland, Washington and the Yankees, Traber is 12-14 with a 5.54 ERA.

Notably, Traber was a member of the Red Sox organization once before, though he never pitched a game. He was claimed on waivers from the Indians Nov. 10, 2004, but was granted free agency a little more than a month later.

Amalie Benjamin of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

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3 comments so far...

I hope he was signed for very little as he is a Yankee reject. Why would the sox take their time to sign such a poor pitcher? One of the scouts must have seen something that is correctable. Hopefully, the next big signing is Tex, after Tawaza.

Posted by networkdood December 1, 08 07:13 PM

never enough lefties

Posted by Ken December 1, 08 08:18 PM

The book on Billy Traber is that he's quite effective against leff-handed batters, but not at all against right-handers. Maybe the Sox think they remember a way to fix him.

Posted by Rick December 1, 08 08:56 PM