Red Sox sign Kyle Keller to a Minor League deal

The Red Sox agree with the reliever Kyle Keller about a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. Nello Gamberdino’s client would receive a base salary of $1.9 million if drafted into the MLB.

Chris Cotillo of MassLive adds that the deal contains multiple assignment clauses, the first of which has a mid-April date. At that point, the Red Sox would have to make Keller available to other teams if they didn’t draft him. If another team wants to add him to the MLB roster, Boston would have to call him up or let him go.

It’s a stronger-than-average minor league deal for the 6-foot-1 right-hander. Keller returns to affiliated ball after pitching in Japan for four seasons. He spent the first two seasons with the Hanshin Tigers and the most recent two years as a member of the Yomiuri Giants. Keller posted a 2.42 ERA over 152 1/3 innings during his NPB career. It comes out a 3.11 in 46 1/3 frames. He faced an above-average 26.3% of the batters he faced, but walked at a nearly 12% clip.

Keller hasn’t secured a guaranteed roster spot, but he does have a shot at solid earnings if he can work his way into the big leagues early this year. He appeared at the MLB level every season between 2019 and 2021. Keller saw time with the Marlins, Angels and Pirates, combining for a 5.83 average over 46 1/3 innings. He had a decent curveball in the mid-90s, but didn’t consistently throw enough strikes to stay in a big league bullpen.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has assembled a decent roster of non-roster relief workers who can compete for jobs in camp. Keller agrees Vinny Nittoli, Seth Martinez, Devin Sweet, Tayron Guerrero And Hobie Harris as minor league signees.