The Red Sox have acquired 28-year old starter/reliever Boof Bonser from the Twins for either a player to be named later or cash. Bonser only pitched in 1 game in A-ball last season working 1 scoreless inning. He missed almost all of last season while rehabbing from surgery. Bonser last pitched in the majors with the Twins in 2008. Bonser has pitched in 96 games (60 starts) in his major league career and he is 18-25 with a 5.12 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Bonser has good stuff so this was a nice little gamble for the Red Sox to take.

UPDATE: The Red Sox have sent 24-year old righty reliever Chris Province to the Twins to complete this trade. Province pitched in 43 games (0 starts) in AA-ball last season and he was 2-4 with 1 save, a 2.60 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. In three years in the minors he has pitched in 88 games (27 starts) in which he was 14-12 with 4 saves, a 4.03 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. This was a small price to pay for a pitcher with the upside of Bonser.

The Red Sox have claimed 27-year old righty reliever/starter Ramon A. Ramirez off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays. Ramirez pitched in 11 games (0 starts) for the Reds last season and he was 0-0 with a 3.65 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. Ramirez has now pitched in 16 games (4 starts) in his two years in the majors and he is 1-1 with a 2.97 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. This was a good pick-up for the Red Sox as Ramirez has been decent every time he has gotten a chance in the majors.

The Red Sox have re-signed 27-year old lefty starter/reliever Kason Gabbard to a minor league deal. Gabbard pitched in 15 games (10 starts) in Rookie+AA+AAA ball last season and he was 2-6 with a 9.60 ERA and a 2.70 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors in 2008 with the Rangers. He has now pitched in 34 games (31 starts) in his three years in the majors and he is 9-7 with a 4.53 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. The Red Sox will just stash Gabbard in the minors and give him a chance to work his way back to the majors.

The Red Sox have signed 24-year old lefty reliever Fabio Castro to a minor league deal. Castro pitched in 29 games (all starts) in AA+AAA ball last season and he was 9-6 with a 4.01 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Castro last pitched in the majors in 2007 with the Phillies. He has now pitched in 30 games (1 start) in his major league career and he is 0-1 with 1 save, a 3.30 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. You can never have to many lefties in the organization so I like this signing for the Red Sox.

The Boston Red Sox have signed 33-year old righty reliever Scott Atchison to a minor league deal. Atchison pitched the last couple of years in Japan. He has pitched in 53 games (0 starts) in his three years in the majors and he is 2-3 with a 4.10 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He has whiffed 70 batters in only 68 innings in his major league career so he has a shot to succeed but he is a long shot to make the Red Sox’ bullpen in 2010.