The Boston Red Sox added some bench depth on Thursday, January 31 when they agreed to terms with first baseman Lyle Overbay. The 36 year old veteran agreed to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. He can opt out of the deal if he doesn't make the big club out of spring training.
In 2012 Overbay split his time between the Atlanta Braves and the Arizona Diamondbacks. He batted .259 in just 131 at bats between the two teams. He had two home runs and ten runs batted in. The 12 year veteran has a career batting average of .270. His best season was back in 2006 while with the Toronto Blue Jays. That season he hit .312 and drove in 92 runs.
Overbay will have a good chance to stick with the Red Sox because they will need an someone to back up newly acquired first baseman Mike Napoli. Napoli's hip problems held up his signing for several weeks and eventually turned what was once a three year agreement to a single year contract.
Overbay is also pretty good with the glove so it wouldn't be surprising to see him work with Napoli, who is relatively new to the position, during taring camp. Overbay would likely be used as a late inning defensive replacement as well.
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