Red Sox sign left-handed pitcher Craig Breslow to two-year contract

The Boston Red Sox today signed left-handed pitcher Craig Breslow to a two-year contract plus a club option for 2015. Breslow had been eligible for salary arbitration. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington.

In 63 combined appearances between the Diamondbacks and Red Sox last season, Breslow, 32, went 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA. Following his July 31 acquisition from Arizona in exchange for Matt Albers and Scott Podsednik, Breslow made 23 appearances for Boston, 20 of which were scoreless. In addition, with the Red Sox, he held opponents to a .206 average (14-for-68), which included a .184 mark (7-for-38) against left-handed hitters. The 2012 season marked the second stint in the Red Sox organization for Breslow, who also pitched for Boston in 2006 and for Triple-A Pawtucket in both 2006 and 2007.

Breslow, a native of New Haven, CT, and a Yale graduate, has made 60 or more appearances in each of the last four seasons for a total of 282, which rank fourth-most among all major league relievers since 2009. Among active major league left-handers with 300.0 innings pitched, he ranks third in opponents batting average (.225) and fourth in ERA (3.00).

Originally selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 26th round of the 2002 June draft, Breslow has a 15-17 record with a 3.00 ERA in 358 career games in the majors with the Padres (2005), Red Sox (2006, 2012), Indians (2008), Twins (2008-09), Athletics (2009-11), and Diamondbacks (2012). For his Red Sox career, he is 1-2 with a 3.09 ERA in 36 appearances.