The Red Sox have agreed to terms with veteran first baseman Lyle Overbay on a one-year minor league deal, and he will have a chance to make the team as a lefthanded complement to Mike Napoli, a team official confirmed Thursday.
Overbay, who recently turned 36, has struggled the past couple of years, but he hit 20 homers in 2010 for Arizona. He ended last season with the Braves after being released by the Diamondbacks in August.
Overbay has a career .303 average against the Red Sox with 13 homers and 58 RBIs and an .888 OPS. At Fenway, he has hit .323 with 4 homers and 31 RBIs in 177 plate appearances, with an .895 OPS.
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Overbay is considered a decent first baseman, and he’ll likely start against the tough righthanded pitchers the Sox don’t want Napoli to face. He could also be a late-inning defensive replacement.
The Red Sox had been looking for a lefthanded-hitting first baseman/outfielder but instead signed both Ryan Sweeney and Overbay to minor league deals. Both have a good chance of making the team.
Gregg gets the job
Kevin Gregg has been working for the Red Sox for several weeks now as director of media relations. It became official Thursday. Gregg, 32, spent the last six seasons with the Phillies on their communications staff. The Philadelphia native and James Madison graduate is the son of the late Eric Gregg, an umpire for parts of 23 seasons in the majors. Kevin also worked for the 76ers for four seasons during and after college. Gregg replaces Pam Kenn, who spent four years as media relations director. She is staying with the team as senior director of public affairs. Kenn, 33, is a native of Burlington and a UMass-Amherst graduate. She has been with the Red Sox since 2000 . . . According to Baseball America, the Sox signed knuckeballer Charlie Haeger again. Haeger, 29, has 34 games of major league experience, the last coming in 2010 for the Dodgers. He was with Double A Portland in 2011, going 4-1 with a 3.24 ERA in eight starts after being released by Seattle. He did not pitch last season.
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Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo.