Mark

Malaska

Boston plans on demoting right-handed reliever Jamie Brown.

Malaska is now officially the charter member of the New England shuttle. He will no doubt be back.

Another pointless Devil Rays transaction. Malaska might be a bit of an upgrade over Bobby Seay as a lefty specialist, but he also might not be, and Seay deserved to stick around with the way he has pitched in the majors and the minors this year. Malaska won’t have any fantasy value.

Malaska pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings last month, but he had given up six runs in 5 1/3 innings during May. He still figures to be considered next time there’s an opening in the Boston pen.

Malaska allowed three runs in six innings this spring. He’ll probably spend some time in the Red Sox bullpen this year.

Malaska, who becomes the third lefty in the Boston pen, figures to be used primarily as a specialist.

Malaska, a 25-year-old reliever, had a 2.16 ERA in 19 appearances for Triple-A Durham and a 2.81 ERA in 22 appearances for Tampa Bay last season, so it’s surprising to see the Rays let him go. If the Red Sox drop Scott Sauerbeck, Malaska will compete with Tim Hamulack and maybe a lesser free agent or two to become the second lefty in the team’s bullpen.

Agent Tom O’Connell said the reliever had to return to his home in Youngstown, Ohio to deal with a family issue. Malaska was a long shot to make the team prior to leaving camp.

Malaska’s father told the team that “the next time he picks up a baseball will be to play catch with his kids, and he doesn’t have any.”

Malaska is returning to Tampa Bay two years after the Red Sox claimed him off waivers. He had a 4.14 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 87 innings for Triple-A Pawtucket last season. Command has always been a problem, but he still figures to have some decent seasons as a lefty specialist.