A contract with the Florida Marlins made big news last week.

Another flew well under the radar, but Ryan Reid, a former Deering High pitcher, will remain in affiliated pro baseball.

The Marlins, who signed outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to a $325 million contract last week, also signed Reid, albeit to a minor league deal, presumably with an invitation to Miami’s major league spring training.

Reid, 29, pitched in 2014 for the New York Mets’ Triple-A team in Las Vegas, compiling a 5-2 record and 4.91 ERA.

The Marlins will be Reid’s fourth organization. He was drafted by Tampa Bay out of James Madison University in 2006 and stayed with the Rays until 2013, when he signed with Pittsburgh. He made his major league debut that year, pitching seven games (11 innings) for the Pirates with a 1.64 ERA.

Reid then signed with the Mets last year and stayed in Triple-A all season.

Advertisement

ALEX HASSAN was the one subtraction the Boston Red Sox made as they adjusted their 40-man roster. Hassan, 26, a former Portland Sea Dogs outfielder, was claimed off waivers last week by Oakland. The Athletics then took him off their 40-man roster and Baltimore grabbed him.

Hassan broke out in Portland in 2011, batting .291 with a .404 on-base percentage. Injuries hampered him the next two seasons. He hit .287 (.378 OBP) in Pawtucket this year and made his major league debut (three games).

JUAN FRANCISCO was signed by Boston two days after Hassan left. Waived by Toronto, Francisco, 27, is a left-handed-hitting corner infielder. He batted only .220 in 106 games this year, but with 16 home runs, 15 against right-handed pitching.

Not sure where Francisco fits in; one possibility is a platoon at first base with Allen Craig if Mike Napoli is dealt. He provides insurance if Boston moves other players.

BOSTON’S 40-MAN roster was completed with the addition of four minor leaguers, protecting them from the Rule 5 Draft.

The four, all former Sea Dogs, are pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (obtained from the Orioles in the Andrew Miller trade), catcher Blake Swihart, first baseman Travis Shaw and second baseman Sean Coyle.

Advertisement

The Red Sox maintain control of those players and could keep them in the minors for up to three more years.

Boston has several unprotected players eligible for the Rule 5 draft next month. If another team drafts a player, that player must stay on the 25-man major league roster all season.

One candidate to be drafted is left-handed reliever Robby Scott, who had a breakout year in Portland (1.96 ERA), then shined in the Arizona Fall League (1.38 ERA).

DERRIK GIBSON will join Hassan as another former Sea Dogs player with the Orioles. Baltimore signed the minor league free agent last week.

Gibson, 24, was a second-round draft pick for Boston in 2008 but never really put it together until this season. He batted .302 for Portland while moving from the infield to center field. He eventually was promoted to Triple-A.

The Orioles announced the Gibson signing at the same time they re-signed former Sea Dogs player Michael Almanzar, who was acquired by Baltimore in a trade late last season.

Advertisement

PITCHER CODY KUKUK was expected to see Hadlock Field next summer but is in trouble again. Kukuk, 21, a left-hander, was arrested in connection with a home invasion and armed burglary earlier this month in his hometown of Lawrence, Kansas.

Kukuk received $800,000 after being drafted in 2011. He first got into trouble in 2012 when he was arrested for driving under the influence in Fort Myers, Florida, the spring training home of the Red Sox.

This season Kukuk reached advanced Class A Salem. Over the last two months he was 3-1 with a 3.02 ERA.

SEA DOGS right-hander Mike McCarthy recently returned from a five-day trip to Pretoria, South Africa, with the chartable group Baseball Miracles.

The group solicits donations of baseball gear for impoverished areas. McCarthy held equipment drives at Hadlock Field. He then joined other pro players in South Africa, distributing gloves and baseballs as well as plenty of instruction.

“We worked with youth ministries to provide baseball instruction and equipment to the orphaned children of the region,” McCarthy wrote. “Baseball Miracles is a group of baseball professionals that have … a strong desire to help make the world a better place through the game of baseball.”


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.