Jesse

Carlson

It’s actually a split contract, and the Sox will give him a spring training invite. Carlson missed most of 2010 and sat out the entire 2011 season while recovering from rotator cuff surgery. He hasn’t been effective since 2008, but perhaps he can rebound in Boston if his shoulder is finally sound.

The Berlin Patch was informed of the signing by Jesse’s brother Cory. Carlson, who turns 31 later this month, underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in May and didn’t throw a pitch in the majors this season. The southpaw was removed from the Jays’ 40-man roster in November. The Red Sox have yet to confirm the signing, but Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com reported earlier this week that the two sides were close to an agreement.

Carlson underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in May and didn’t throw a pitch in the majors this season. He was an obvious non-tender candidate this winter, so the Blue Jays went ahead and removed him from the 40-man roster early.

Carlson signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox in December and made just one appearance at the Double-A level. The 31-year-old left-hander hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2010 as a member of the Blue Jays.

Jesse Carlson was actually the biggest culprit. He relieved Roy Halladay in an 8-3 game to begin the bottom of the eighth and retired one of the six hitters he faced. Downs came into an 8-5 game with the bases loaded and allowed a sac fly, a single and a double to surrender the lead, with the inning only ending when Adam Jones was thrown out at home trying to score. Jason Frasor then pitched scoreless ninth and 10th innings, but the Jays weren’t willing to keep him in after an Aaron Hill homer gave them a two-run lead in the 11th. B.J. Ryan came in and gave up a single to Nick Markakis before getting Aubrey Huff to pop out. Cito Gaston went to Wolfe at that point. Wolfe gave up three straight hits, including Nolan Reimold’s homer to end it.

Carlson was suspended for the last three games for his role in last week’s benches-clearing brawl between the Jays and Yankees. He has a 4.50 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 64 innings out of the ‘pen this season.

He also received a nasty welt on his forehead, but probably didn’t receive much sympathy in that department from the commissioner’s office. It’s unclear as of yet whether or not Carlson plans to appeal.

Brandon League replaced him against the Rangers.

Downs, who injured his foot backing up a base, was on crutches as he left the stadium on Wednesday night. It’s a big loss for Toronto, as Downs had a 0.78 ERA in his last 43 appearances. The team could promote John Parrish to take his spot on the roster, with Jesse Carlson seeing more action in the eighth.

Closer B.J. Ryan looked awful and gave up three runs in an inning yesterday, likely because he was coming off long outings on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. It was surprising to see the club go with Carlson over Scott Downs or Brandon League, but it likely doesn’t mean much. Ryan will surely get the next save opportunity, and even if he’s not able to make it manager Cito Gaston will likely look elsewhere than Carlson.