Red Sox sign outifelder Scott Podsednik; Option outfielder Ryan Kalish to Triple-A Pawtucket

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox today signed outfielder Scott Podsednik, who will be active for tonight’s game against the Indians in Cleveland.  The club also announced that outfielder Ryan Kalish was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket following last night’s game.  To make room for Podsednik on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox transferred outfielder Ryan Sweeney to the 60-day disabled list.

The announcements were made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington. 

Podsednik, 36, was traded by the Red Sox to the Diamondbacks on July 31 and did not appear in a game with the Arizona organization before being released by the club on August 2.  He has played in 19 games with Boston this season, all from May 22-June 17, hitting .387 (24-for-62) with three doubles, a home run, seven RBI, nine runs, two walks, six stolen bases and four sacrifice hits.  The left-handed batter has also hit .281 (25-for-89) with two doubles, a triple, a home run, 11 RBI, 10 runs and four stolen bases in 25 games for Triple-A Pawtucket in 2012, including four rehab games, after beginning the year with 23 games for Philadelphia’s Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley.  Podsednik owns a career .281 average (1,060-for-3,769) with 174 doubles, 41 triples, 42 home runs, 553 runs, 329 walks and 307 stolen bases in 1,035 Major League games with the Mariners (2001-02), Brewers (2003-04), White Sox (2005-07, 2009), Rockies (2008), Royals (2010), Dodgers (2010) and Red Sox (2012).  An All-Star with the White Sox in 2005, he has played 551 games in left field (489 starts), 394 in center (367 starts) and 20 in right (11 starts).

The 24-year-old Kalish had been recalled for his second stint with the Red Sox on July 31.  He has appeared in 25 games overall with Boston in 2012, batting .203 (16-for-79) with three doubles, five RBI, 11 runs scored, five walks and 3 stolen bases while making 19 appearances in center field and five in right.  A left-handed batter, he began the season on the 60-day disabled list recovering from left shoulder surgery and has hit .307 (23-for-75) with five doubles, four homers, 12 RBI, 16 runs and six stolen bases in 17 games with the PawSox this season, including three on rehab, and also played three rehab games each for High-A Salem and Double-A Portland.  Selected by Boston in the ninth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Kalish has appeared in 78 Major League games in his career, all with the Red Sox in 2010 and 2012, over which he is 57-for-242 (.236) with 14 doubles, a triple, four home runs, 29 RBI, 37 runs, 17 walks and 13 stolen bases.

Sweeney, 27, was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 31 with a fractured bone in his left hand.  He has hit .260 (53-for-204) with 19 doubles, two triples, 16 RBI, 22 runs and 12 walks in 63 games for the Red Sox this season and while making 49 appearances in right field (35 starts) and 19 in center (15 starts).  Acquired by Boston from Oakland in December, Sweeney has compiled a .280 average (481-for-1,719) with 102 doubles, 12 triples, 14 home runs, 185 RBI, 224 runs and 151 walks over 535 career Major League games with the White Sox (2006-07), Athletics (2008-11) and Red Sox (2012).