Major league rosters may be frozen at this time thanks to the MLB lockout, but that doesn't preclude teams from signing non-roster free agents to minor league deals and inviting them to spring training -- whenever that might take place.
The Red Sox revealed four such players Tuesday:
* RHP Michael Feliz
* RHP Zack Kelly
* OF Rob Refsnyder
* OF Christin Stewart
Feliz actually made four relief appearances for the Red Sox last season, when the team was hit by a COVID outbreak and turned to Triple A Worcester for needed bullpen reinforcements. He's 28 and owns a career mark of 17-9 with a 5.33 ERA in 227 major league appearances with Houston, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Oakland.
Feliz compiled a 3.38 ERA in his outings with the Red Sox this past season.
Kelly, 26, split time last year between Double A Portland and Triple A Worcester, making 36 appearances for the two affiliates, with a 2.18 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 45.1 innings. Previously, he had pitched in the minors for Oakland (2017) and the Los Angeles Angels (2018-2019).
Refsnyder, 30, is known to most Red Sox fans after spending time with the New York Yankees from 2015-2017. He later played for Toronto (2017), Tampa Bay (2018), Texas (2020) and Minnesota (2021). Chosen in the fifth round out of the University of Arizona by the Yankees in 2012, Refsnyder owns a .224 lifetime average with six homers and 35 RBI in 232 major league games. He's played first base, third base, left field, right field and center in his career.
Stewart, 28, is a .225 lifetime hitter in 157 games with 15 homers and 59 RBI, all for the Detroit Tigers, for whom he played from 2015-2020. He spent all of last year at Triple A Toldeo, where he hit .254 with 21 homers and knocked in 58 RBI with an .877 OPS.