Sox sign Kolb and Miceli
January 24, 2008 Leave a comment
The Red Sox have signed two former closers to minor league deals, mainly to provide injury insurance in the bullpen. That’s one of the perks of being a World Champion and a competitive club; veterans looking for a ring before they retire are willing to take a shot with you.
Dan Kolb was an All-Star closer for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2004 with 39 saves, but has struggled ever since, in stints with Atlanta, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh. Kolb will be 33 next season, and will never regain that form again, but he is an experienced reliever who could provide depth in the bullpen.
36-year old Dan Miceli has played for a lot of teams over the years, but has proven effective, if somewhat sporadically, in a relief role. Like Kolb, he has spent most of his career in the NL, so it will be interesting to see if he sticks. Anyway, Miceli is unlikely to see Fenway Park unless there are a couple of injuries in the bullpen.
