For Immediate Release

August 29, 2009

RED SOX RECALL RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER MARCUS MCBETH FROM TRIPLE-A PAWTUCKET;

OPTION RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER JUNICHI TAZAWA TO GULF COAST LEAGUE RED SOX

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox today recalled right-handed pitcher Marcus McBeth from Triple-A Pawtucket and optioned right-handed pitcher Junichi Tazawa to the Rookie-Level Gulf Coast League Red Sox.  

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

McBeth, 29, had a stint with the Red Sox earlier this season, July 31-August 1, though he did not appear in a game. He is 2-2 with 3 saves and a 2.70 ERA in 42 games (one start) for the PawSox this year. He has fanned 62 and walked 27 and ranks third among qualifying International League relievers with a .199 opponents batting average and sixth with 9.16 strikeouts per 9.0 innings.

Originally selected by Oakland in the fourth round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, McBeth made all 23 of his career Major League appearances for Cincinnati in 2007, going 3-2 with a 5.95 ERA.

Tazawa, 23, went 2-3 with a 6.65 ERA in five games (four starts) for Boston. He combined to 9-7 with a 2.55 ERA in 20 starts between Double-A Portland and Pawtucket earlier this year. He was named an Eastern League All-Star and represented Team World in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game in St. Louis. Tazawa is in his first professional season after signing with the Red Sox as an amateur free agent on December 11, 2008.

— RED SOX —–

For Immediate Release 

August 27, 2009

RED SOX ADD LEFT-HANDED PITCHER BILLY WAGNER TO ACTIVE ROSTER;

RELEASE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER BRAD PENNY

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox today added left-handed pitcher Billy Wagner to the active Major League roster and released right-handed pitcher Brad Penny from the roster.

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

Wagner, who will wear No. 13 (Alex Gonzalez will switch to No. 3) and be available for tonight’s game against the White Sox at Fenway Park, was acquired from the Mets on Tuesday (August 25) in exchange for two players to be named later.  The 38-year-old lefty has appeared in two games for the Mets in 2009, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.  In 45 relief outings with New York last season, Wagner was 0-1 with 27 saves in 34 chances and a 2.30 ERA (12 ER/47.0 IP) before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left elbow on September 10.

A six-time National League All-Star, Wagner is 39-37 with 385 saves and a 2.39 ERA (218 ER/820.0 IP) in 767 career relief appearances over parts of 15 Major League seasons with the Astros (1995-2003), Phillies (2004-05) and Mets (2006-09).  His 385 saves rank second all-time among left-handed pitchers, trailing only John Franco’s 424, and sixth overall on the all-time saves list.  He has recorded 30 or more saves eight times and set a career high with 44 for Houston in 2003.  Wagner’s career .189 opponent batting average is the third-lowest mark among active relievers.

Penny, 31, has gone 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA (82 ER/131.2 IP), 89 strikeouts and 42 walks in 24 starts with the Red Sox this season.  Signed by Boston as a free agent on January 9, 2009, he has a career 101-83 record in 273 Major League games (269 starts) with the Marlins (2000-04), Dodgers (2004-08) and Red Sox (2009). 

— RED SOX —–

For Immediate Release 

August 26, 2009

RED SOX ACTIVATE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER TIM WAKEFIELD FROM THE 15-DAY DISABLED LIST; DESIGNATE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER ENRIQUE GONZALEZ FOR ASSIGNMENT

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox today activated right-handed pitcher Tim Wakefield from the 15-day disabled list.  Wakefield is scheduled to start tonight’s game against the White Sox at Fenway Park.  The club also designated right-handed pitcher Enrique Gonzalez for assignment. 

The announcements were made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

Wakefield, 43, has been on the disabled list since July 21 (retroactive to July 18) with a lower back strain.  He made two rehabilitation starts with Triple-A Pawtucket, going 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA (3 ER/9.1 IP) with seven strikeouts compared to two walks.  In 17 starts for the Red Sox this season, he is 11-3 with a 4.31 ERA (52 ER/108.2 IP) and leads the American League with a .786 winning percentage.  The knuckleballer earned his first career All-Star selection in 2009, the oldest player to do so since Satchel Paige (46 years old) in 1952.

A veteran of 17 Major League seasons, Wakefield has a career 189-160 record with 22 saves and a 4.32 ERA (1,397 ER/2,910.2 IP).  He holds the franchise record with 384 starts with Boston.

Gonzalez, 27, has posted a 4.91 ERA (2 ER/3.2 IP) in two relief appearances over his two stints with the Red Sox this season.  In 23 games (21 starts) with Triple-A Pawtucket in 2009, he is 7-11 with a 5.23 ERA (74 ER/127.1 IP) and 94 strikeouts.  Signed by Boston as a minor league free agent on December 10, 2008, Gonzalez is 4-7 with a 5.93 ERA (76 ER/115.1 IP) in 29 career Major League appearances (18 starts) over parts of four seasons with the Diamondbacks (2006-07), Padres (2008) and Red Sox (2009). 

— RED SOX —–

For Immediate Release 

August 25, 2009

RED SOX ACQUIRE LEFT-HANDED PITCHER BILLY WAGNER

FROM THE NEW YORK METS FOR TWO PLAYERS TO BE NAMED LATER

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox today acquired left-handed pitcher Billy Wagner from the New York Mets in exchange for two players to be named later.

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

Wagner, 38, has appeared in two games for the Mets in 2009, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.  In 45 relief outings with New York last season, the left-hander was 0-1 with a 2.30 ERA (12 ER/47.0 IP) with 27 saves in 34 chances before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left elbow on September 10.

A six-time National League All-Star, Wagner is 39-37 with 385 saves and a 2.39 ERA (218 ER/820.0 IP) in 767 career relief appearances over parts of 15 Major League seasons with the Astros (1995-2003), Phillies (2004-05) and Mets (2006-09).  His 385 saves rank second all-time among left-handed pitchers, trailing only John Franco’s 424, and sixth overall on the all-time saves list.  He has recorded 30 or more saves eight times and set a career high with 44 for Houston in 2003.    

Wagner earned the 1999 National League Rolaids Relief Award and finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting that season.  Since 1954, his 2.39 ERA ranks third among qualifying relievers behind only Mariano Rivera (2.09) and Joe Nathan (2.13).

— RED SOX —–

Batters:

Ellsbury – “Let It Rock”, Kevin Rudolf (f. Lil’ Wayne)

Pedroia – “Dre Day”, Dr. Dre

Ortiz – “Somos De Calle”, Daddy Yankee; three tracks from the album “My Destiny” by Yomo; plus one unknown

Youkilis – “Just A Friend”, Biz Markie

Martinez – (three tracks, all unknown)

Drew – (no music)

Bay – “Alive”, Pearl Jam

Lowell – “Bombtrack”, Rage Against The Machine

Varitek – “Kryptonite”, 3 Doors Down

A. Gonzalez – “Salio Del Sol”, Don Omar

Kotchman – (no music)

Baldelli – “All Along The Watchtower”, Jimi Hendrix; “Strange Times”, Black Keys

Green – “U Can’t”, One Chance

Kottaras – “Going Back To Cali”, The Notorious B.I.G.

Bailey – “Moby Dick”, Led Zeppelin

Lowrie – “The Kids Aren’t Alright”, The Offspring

Carter – “Stronger”, Kanye West

Pitchers:

Beckett – “Living Hard”, Gary Allan

Lester – “I Use What I Got”, Jason Aldean

Wakefield – “How Bad Do You Want It”, Tim McGraw

Penny – “Red Rider”, Lunatic Fringe

Buchholz – “Would?”, Alice In Chains

Delcarmen – “Boston”, MAV Entertainment

R. Ramirez – “Lucha”, Nancy Amancio

Saito – “Bad To The Bone”, George Thorogood & The Destroyers

Bard – “Strangle Hold”, Ted Nugent

Okajima – “The Oki-Doki”, Tatami

Papelbon – “I’m Shipping Up To Boston”, Dropkick Murphys

Undecided:

Tazawa, E. Gonzalez

For Immediate Release

August 18, 2009

RED SOX SIGN 10 DRAFT SELECTIONS

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox announced today that the club has signed 10 players selected in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, including shortstop David Renfroe (3^rd round), right-handed pitchers Madison Younginer (7^th round) and Kendal Volz (9^th round), and outfielder Brandon Jacobs (10^th round).  Red Sox Director of Amateur Scouting Jason McLeod made the announcements.

Renfroe, 18, starred as both a shortstop and pitcher at South Panola (MS) High School, hitting .470 with six doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 35 RBI, 39 runs scored, 20 walks and 18 stolen bases as a senior in 2009.  His father, Laddie Renfroe, appeared in four games in relief for the Cubs in 1991.     

The 18-year-old Younginer was named the 2009 Gatorade South Carolina Baseball Player of the Year, going 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 33 strikeouts for Mauldin High School.

Volz, 21, went 12-15 with a 4.61 ERA in three seasons at Baylor University.  His 228 strikeouts over 224.2 innings rank ninth on the school’s career strikeout list.

Jacobs, 18, hit .507 with six home runs and 31 RBI his season year in 2009 at Parkview (GA) High School where he also starred in football.

Also signing was shortstop Jason Thompson (11^th round), third baseman Miles Head (26^th round), right-handed pitchers Reynolds Parthemore (18^th round), Alex Hassan (20^th round) and Eric Curtis (28^th round), and left-hander Shaughn Webb (31^st round).  Hassan, selected out of Duke University, is a native of Milton, MA and former four-year letter winner at Boston College High School. 

Boston signed 26 of their 50 draft picks overall, including each of its first five selections and 14 of their top 15. 

− RED SOX −

For Immediate Release

August 17, 2009

RED SOX RELEASE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER JOHN SMOLTZ

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox today released right-handed pitcher John Smoltz from the roster.  The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

Smoltz, 42, went 2-5 with an 8.33 ERA (37 ER/40.0 IP) in eight starts for the Red Sox this season.  In 716 career Major League games (474 starts) with Atlanta (1988-2008) and Boston (2009), he is 212-152 with 154 saves and a 3.32 ERA (1,266 ER/3,435.0 IP).

— RED SOX —

For Immediate Release 

August 8, 2009

STATEMENT FROM THE BOSTON RED SOX

BOSTON, MA–The Boston Red Sox issued the following statement today after announcements made by the Major League Baseball Players Association and David Ortiz:

The Players Association made clear in its public statement today that there are substantial uncertainties and ambiguity surrounding the list of 104 names from the 2003 survey test.  Indeed, there is even uncertainty about the number of players on this 2003 government list, whether it is 104, 96, 83, or less.  Many of those uncertainties apparently relate to the use of then-legal nutritional supplements that were not banned by Baseball.

David vigorously denied ever buying or using steroids.  As important, Major League Baseball has informed us that David has been tested every year since the implementation of the MLB/MLBPA program in 2004 and, under the program, he has been tested 15 or more different times.  We have been informed that, during this entire 6-year period (2004-2009), David has never tested positive for a steroid. Also during this period, David voluntarily submitted himself to the Olympic standard of drug tests administered in connection with the World Baseball Classics in 2006 and in 2009.  We are informed he did not test positive for steroids under those tests either, and he participated actively in both international tournaments.

Last week, David said he would keep people informed after he personally looked into reports of his inclusion on the 2003 survey test.  He has done so.  David Ortiz is a team leader, and his contributions on the field and in the community have earned him respect and a special place in the hearts of Red Sox Nation.

Batters:

Ellsbury – “Let It Rock”, Kevin Rudolf (f. Lil’ Wayne)

Pedroia – “Dre Day”, Dr. Dre

Ortiz – “Somos De Calle”, Daddy Yankee; three tracks from the album “My Destiny” by Yomo; plus one unknown

Youkilis – “Just A Friend”, Biz Markie

Drew – (no music)

Bay – “Alive”, Pearl Jam

Lowell – “Bombtrack”, Rage Against The Machine

Varitek – “Kryptonite”, 3 Doors Down

Kottaras – “Going Back To Cali”, The Notorious B.I.G.

Baldelli – “All Along The Watchtower”, Jimi Hendrix; “Strange Times”, Black Keys

Green – “Turn My Swag On”, Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em

Bailey – “Moby Dick”, Led Zeppelin

Lowrie – “The Kids Aren’t Alright”, The Offspring

Carter – “Stronger”, Kanye West

Pitchers:

Beckett – “Living Hard”, Gary Allan

Lester – “I Use What I Got”, Jason Aldean

Wakefield – “How Bad Do You Want It”, Tim McGraw

Penny – “Red Rider”, Lunatic Fringe

Smoltz – “The Fightin’ Side Of Me”, Merle Haggard

Buchholz – “Would?”, Alice In Chains

Delcarmen – “Boston”, MAV Entertainment

Jones – “My Wave”, Soundgarden

R. Ramirez – “Lucha”, Nancy Amancio

Saito – “Bad To The Bone”, George Thorogood & The Destroyers

Bard – “Strangle Hold”, Ted Nugent

Okajima – “The Oki-Doki”, Tatami

Papelbon – “I’m Shipping Up To Boston”, Dropkick Murphys

Matsuzaka – (unknown)

None Yet:

Martinez, Kotchman, Bates