Red Sox sign more minor-league depth

As the Red Sox wait to make their final move on their active roster, they’ve continued to add more depth to the upper levels of the minor-league system and to their spring training roster. Over the last few days, they’ve added two more players with major-league experience to their minor-league roster with minor-league deals. One is an old friend who has spent many, many years with the organization and the other has never played with Boston.

We start with Bryce Brentz, which is of course a name that most everyone around these parts will already be familiar with. According to Rob Bradford of WEEI, the Red Sox are “on the verge” of signing the longtime PawSox outfielder to a minor-league deal. Brentz, of course, had spent years with the Red Sox organization prior to 2018. He was drafted way back in 2010 and made it to Triple-A for the first time in 2012. Unfortunately, he sort of stalled out after that, making it onto the 40-man roster but never being able to advance beyond a few short stints in the major. He was traded to the Pirates last offseason before being claimed off waivers by the Mets. Brentz hit well at Triple-A for 57 games before his season ended prematurely with injury.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox also added another relief pitcher to the mix by signing the right-handed Ryan Weber to a minor-league deal of his own. That news comes from Masslive’s Chris Cotillo. Weber has been bouncing around the league for the last few years after spending most of his early professional career with the Braves. Last season, he spent the year with the Rays organization, pitching mostly in Triple-A. The righty split time between the rotation and bullpen, pitching to a 2.73 ERA over 115 innings with a 3.73 FIP and a 4.05 DRA. The 28-year-old does have some major-league experience, though not a ton. In total, he has 73 ²⁄₃ innings at the highest level between four years, pitching to a 5.01 ERA with a 4.50 FIP and a 4.55 DRA.

In terms of fit, both of these players will presumably be invited to major-league spring training, with that being official for Weber. Brentz gives the Red Sox something they don’t have a lot of in the minors: Extra outfield depth. Boston signed Gorkys Hernandez earlier this winter to help with this, and now they have a power hitting option on the corners as well. Weber, meanwhile, gives Boston another arm to try out in spring training and potentially give them innings in Pawtucket.