The Red Sox have signed 31-year old righty starting pitcher Mark Prior to a minor league deal. Prior pitched in 11 games (6 starts) in Rookie+A+AAA-ball last year for the Yankees and he was 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since way back in 2006 for the Cubs. Prior has pitched in 106 games (all starts) in his five years in the majors and he is 42-29 with a 3.51 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. It never hurts to give a guy like this a shot to see if he has anything left in the minors.

The Red Sox have signed 28-year old lefty swinging 1B/OF Jordan Brown to a minor league deal. Brown played in 11 games in the Mexican League so far this year and he was 8 for 42 (.190 avg, .570 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs. His only experience in the majors came back in 2010 with the Cleveland Indians. Brown played in 26 games for the Indians in 2010 and he was 20 for 87 (.230 avg, .582 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 0 homers and 2 RBIs. Brown will likely start out in AAA-ball for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox have signed 29-year old lefty swinging 1B/3B Jeff Larish to a minor league deal. Larish played in 75 games in AAA-ball last year for the Phillies and he was 61 for 254 (.240 avg, .779 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 13 homers, 37 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Larish last played in the majors back in 2010 with the Tigers & A’s. He has played in 101 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 55 for 245 (.224 avg, .688 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 8 homers, 32 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Larish will likely start out in AAA-ball for the Red Sox.

UPDATE: (5/12/2012) - The Red Sox have dealt Jeff Larish to the Pirates for cash considerations. He never got into a game for the Red Sox in the minors.

The Red Sox have recalled 32-year old lefty reliever Rich Hill off his rehab assignment from Tommy John Surgery. Hill pitched in 8 games (5 starts) in A+AA+AAA-ball on his rehab assignment and he was 0-0 with a 2.00 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP. He whiffed a stunning 18 batters in his nine innings on his rehab. Hill has pitched in 15 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Red Sox and he is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP.

The Red Sox have sent 28-year old lefty reliever Justin Thomas to AAA. Thomas pitched in 7 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox this year and he was 0-0 with a 7.71 ERA and a 2.57 WHIP. He gave up 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings for the Red Sox this year as he was pretty much throwing batting practice. Thomas has now pitched in 27 games (0 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 0-2 with a 6.65 ERA and a 2.26 WHIP. I don’t anticipate seeing Thomas back in Boston any time soon.