Depth In The Outfield by Jared Carrabis
Sox sign Wilkerson to minor league deal


The Red Sox have added yet another lefty bat to their gang of left-handed hitting outfielders.

Boston.com has reported that the Sox will in fact be adding Brad Wilkerson to their 40-man roster pending a physical. The news that he will be joining the Red Sox organization are certain, however, the terms in which he will be brought on board are still uncertain.

Alex Speier of WEEI.com says that Wilkerson can earn up to $2.5 million in incentives while Tony Massarotti is saying it's only $1.5 million. Whatever the amount, file this under yet another low-risk signing for the Boston Red Sox.

Will Wilkerson crack the Opening Day roster? Not a chance. While the Red Sox were busy winning a World Series in 2004, Wilkerson launched a career best 32 long balls. Between two teams in 2008 --Seattle and Toronto-- Wilkerson hit a grand total of 4 home runs.

After an offensive decline such as the one that Wilkerson has been riding out since 2004, you may be scratching your head as to why the Red Sox would even offer him a contract. I myself was wondering the same thing, aside from the fact that you can never have enough depth. You also have to consider that when you are depending on two guys in JD Drew and Rocco Baldelli who are not particularly known for having injury free seasons, you have to have something up your sleeve "just in case".

With those reasons in mind, the signing made the most sense when Boston.com announced that free agent re-signee, Mark Kotsay, is expected to be out of action at least until the month of May. On January 29, Kotsay underwent surgery to remove a displaced disc fragment in his back.

I know I say this often, but I will say it until it no longer has validity (which is probably a day we will never see). In Theo We Trust.

-Jared Carrabis

Published on February 04, 2009

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