Red Sox sign Alan Embree to minor league contract

The Red Sox announced the signing of left-handed pitcher Alan Embree to a 2010 minor league contract. In addition, Embree has been invited to Boston's Major League Spring Training camp as a non-roster player. Embree will wear No. 43.

The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

Embree, 40, spent 2009 with the Colorado Rockies, going 2-2 with a 5.84 ERA (16 ER/24.2 IP) in 36 relief appearances. His season was cut short when a batted ball fractured his right tibia on July 10.

The 16-year Major League veteran owns a 39-45 record with 25 saves and a 4.59 ERA (395 ER/774.0 IP) in 882 career games/four starts with the Indians (1992, 1995-96), Braves (1997-98), Diamondbacks (1998), Giants (1999-2001), White Sox (2001), Padres (2002, 2006), Red Sox (2002-05), Yankees (2005), Athletics (2007-08) and Rockies (2009). He ranks ninth all-time among Major League left-handers and second among active southpaws with 878 career relief outings.

He returns for a second stint in the Red Sox organization after going 8-9 with four saves and a 4.69 ERA (93 ER/178.1 IP) in 211 relief appearances with the club from 2002-05. He allowed earned runs in just one of his 19 postseason games with Boston, going 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA (2 ER/14.0 IP). Embree induced a ground ball by Ruben Sierra for the final out of Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS in Yankee Stadium.