Projo Sox Blog

The Boston Red Sox today received righthanded pitcher Virgil Vasquez on a waiver claim from the Detroit Tigers.

With the addition of Vasquez, Boston's major league roster is at the limit of 40 players.

In addition, the Red Sox announced that infielder Gil Velazquez, who was assigned outright to Triple-A Pawtucket last week, has elected free agency.

Vasquez, 26, spent all of 2008 at Detroit's Triple-A Toledo club, compiling a 12-12 record with a 4.81 ERA in 27 starts. He tied for the International League lead with two shutouts and finished among the league leaders in complete games (T4th, 2), innings (6th, 159.0), and wins (T6th). Vasquez won his final five starts of the season with a 3.63 ERA in that span.

Detroit's 7th round selection in the 2003 First Year Player Draft, Vasquez was Toledo's Pitcher of the Year in 2007, when he ranked 3rd in the International League in strikeouts (127). He made his major league debut in 2007, going 0-1, 8.64 in 5 games/3 starts with the Tigers.

Velazquez batted .260 with 10 homers and 46 RBI in 101 games at Pawtucket and was 1-for-8 with one RBI in three games with Boston in 2008.

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