Aaron

Bates

Bates, 28, was batting just .238/.379/.286 for Rochester to earn the pink slip. He’ll try to latch on elsewhere.

The deal includes a spring training invite. Bates, who turned 28 in March, batted .316/.408/.439 with seven home runs, 37 RBI and an .847 OPS last season with Triple-A Pawtucket in the Red Sox organization. He hasn’t played in the big leagues since 2009 and will likely function as depth at the Triple-A level again in 2012.

Bates, who played in a handful of games with the Red Sox back in 2009, latched on with the Cardinals last month after being released by the Twins. However, the 28-year-old is now looking for a new home after batting just .164 (9-for-55) in 21 games.

Bates batted .306/.397/.411 with seven home runs and 57 RBI in 126 games last season for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters. He’ll be depth at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Just a crazy place to play baseball. Lancaster bounced back from Friday’s 30-0 debacle to beat Lake Elsinore 14-12 at home tonight. The 23-year-old Bates is up to 13 homers and is hitting .294/.436/.634 overall. However, that drops to .253/.436/.453 in road games. A 2006 third-round pick, he is something of a prospect. However, the Red Sox have higher hopes for their first baseman in low-A, Lars Anderson.

Bates was destroying the ball at Double-A Portland (.340/.405/.505) earlier this season prior to a promotion to Pawtucket. At Triple-A, he hit just .182/.273/.295 in 99 plate appearances. But with Jeff Bailey hitting the disabled list and Mike Lowell already shelved, the Red Sox weren’t in a position to be picky. Bates, a former third-round pick, will make his major league debut on Monday, playing first base and batting ninth.

Earlier reports stated that Lowell would be activated on Friday, but the Red Sox may opt to wait an additional day. Aaron Bates is likely to be sent down to make room for Lowell on the roster.

Lowell took batting practice again Saturday, and his hip responded well. Aaron Bates will likely be sent down when Lowell returns, and Mark Kotsay’s role will be reduced.

Bates was a spare part, and the Sox needed room for Mike Lowell. Bates needs to hit more like he did at Double-A while playing in Triple-A to merit another call.

It’s the first time we’ve had cause to write about Bailey since his four-homer game for Single-A Lancaster two years ago. Sort of a younger version of Jeff Bailey, Bates is hitting .333/.403/.527 as a Double-A repeater this year. He’s 25, so he’s going to need to catch a break or two in order to have a career in the majors.