Ex-Red Sox Infielder Signs Minor League Deal With AL East Rival

Jamie Westbrook debuted with the Boston Red Sox last season and the 29-year-old found his next opportunity within the American League East.

Westbrook signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, according to MLB.com’s player transactions, and is set to join the club for big league camp. The primary second baseman with outfield experience will compete for a spot with the club, in hopes Westbrook can showcase his utility defensive skills capable of carving out a depth role.

It took 11 seasons in the minor leagues for Westbrook to receive the long-awaited call-up to the major leagues. The Red Sox promoted Westbrook to fill their second base void, initially in July, and played him for 21 games before designating him for assignment in August. Westbrook elected for free agency in November in search of what’s now become the 2013 fifth-round draft selection’s sixth organization in the last seven seasons.

“You spend that long in the minor leagues, you start to believe that it’s not going to happen,” Westbrook said Monday, per MLB.com’s Adam Berry. “(It) just kind of validates what I’ve always thought of myself. I feel like I can come in and just, like, be me. I know my good is good enough now, so just do that. And I definitely have a new perspective on playing ball. I’m not necessarily trying to get to the big leagues so hard. I’ve kind of loosened the grip, and I can just enjoy the game now.”

Westbrook, a Massachusetts native, recorded his first MLB hit, home run, and RBI during his brief stint with the Red Sox. He hit .150/.234/.350 across the big league run, albeit on a limited 48-plate-appearance sample size. Westbrook spent most of 2024 with Triple-A Worcester and batted .277 with 12 home runs, 24 doubles and 71 RBIs, logging appearances at first base, second base, third base and right field across 102 games.

The Red Sox upgraded their infield this offseason, most notably by signing Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal in free agency. Plus the team has rising prospect infielders Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer eager to sink their teeth into the big leagues, so with the excess amount of infield options working to Boston’s advantage, there wasn’t any room for Westbrook to return for a second season with the organization.