Red Sox Sign Reliever Casey Janssen To Minor-League Deal
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran reliever Casey Janssen, who will initially report to Single-A Lowell and work his way up.
Janssen, 34, did not make the San Diego Padres out of spring training and struggled with the Washington Nationals in 2015, going 2-5 with a 4.95 ERA in 48 appearances out of the Nats bullpen. Janssen has experienced a sharp decline in velocity over the past three years; he threw his fastball at an average of 88.3 mph in 2015, down from 91.7 with the Blue Jays in 2012 according to Fangraphs.
From 2012-2014 with Toronto, Janssen saved 81 games while posting a 2.94 ERA. The Red Sox have been in need of bullpen depth since losing Carson Smith to Tommy John surgery.
