Report: Aaron Cook Signs With Red Sox

By Al Yellon - Editor

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Jan 9, 2012 - Aaron Cook used to be a pretty good pitcher, especially considering Coors Field was his home park. In 2008, he made the NL All-Star team while posting a 3.96 ERA and 1.344 WHIP, decent numbers for a Rockies pitcher (although he led the league in hits allowed).

Since then, he's had a succession of injuries including a broken right index finger suffered during spring training in 2011, which ruined his season; he made just 17 starts and his 6.03 ERA was the third-worst in the majors among all pitchers who made that many starts.

One of those pitchers was John Lackey, and now, according to WEEI radio in Boston, Cook will become Lackey's Red Sox teammate:

According to multiple industry sources, the Red Sox have agreed to terms with free agent starting pitcher Aaron Cook on a minor league deal, pending a physical. The 32-year-old right-hander is expected to compete for one of the final spots in the Sox' rotation in 2012. If he is summoned to the big leagues under the contract, he would receive a prorated $1.5 million salary.

Cook has history with some Red Sox team personnel; he played amateur ball with Boston third baseman Kevin Youkilis and new Red Sox pitching coach Bob McClure knows Cook from McClure's days working in the Colorado organization.

Cook will certainly get every chance to make Boston's rotation, as that was one of their trouble spots in 2011. If he's healthy, he could be a good, inexpensive addition.

Read More: Kevin Youkilis (3B - BOS), Aaron Cook (P - BOS), John Lackey (P - BOS), Colorado Rockies

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