BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox signed former All-Star second baseman Brandon Phillips to a minor league contract on Wednesday.

A 16-year veteran, Phillips hasn’t played in the majors or minors this season. Last year with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels he hit .285 with 13 homers and 60 RBI.

Phillips will be going to Boston’s spring training base in Fort Myers, Florida, to get into playing shape. The Red Sox said he then would report to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Though primarily a second baseman throughout his career, Phillips has played 25 games at shortstop and six games at third base.

The Red Sox are looking for some insurance for Dustin Pedroia, who underwent a cartilage restoration procedure on his left knee last October and played just three games this season before inflammation forced him back to the disabled list.

Pedroia will meet with his surgeon, Dr. Riley Williams, when the Red Sox are in New York this weekend to make sure his recovery is progressing as it should.

TIGERS: Detroit fired pitching coach Chris Bosio, saying he made insensitive comments to another employee of the team.

“I have to take seriously what the comments were,” Tigers GM Al Avila said, declining to give details. “And, the action we took was appropriate.”

The Tigers promoted bullpen coach Rick Anderson to replace Bosio. Roving pitching instructor A.J. Sager will be the team’s bullpen coach until Triple-A Toledo pitching coach Jeff Pico takes his place next week.

Avila said what Bosio said violated team policy and his contract, though Avila otherwise spoke highly of Bosio’s job performance.

“He definitely was a good pitching coach,” Avila said.

ROYALS: Kansas City placed reliever Justin Grimm on the 10-day disabled list with a right shoulder injury and filled the right-hander’s spot in the bullpen by recalling Jason Adam from Triple-A Omaha.

PIRATES: Pittsburgh selected the contract of right-handed reliever Tanner Anderson from Triple-A Indianapolis and placed infielder Sean Rodriguez on the 10-day disabled list.

Anderson, 25, is 1-1 with a 2.34 ERA over 24 appearances in Indianapolis with 24 strikeouts and six walks.

The Pirates said Rodriguez strained his right quad and backdated the move to Monday. Rodriguez has just two hits in his last 38 at-bats.

ORIOLES: Baltimore placed reliever Darren O’Day and outfielder Craig Gentry on the 10-day disabled list.

O’Day hurt his left hamstring while fielding a bunt on Tuesday night and Gentry sustained a left rib fracture when hit by a pitch in Atlanta on Friday.