Report: Red Sox sign Lyle Overbay to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have signed first baseman Lyle Overbay to a minor-league contract that includes a spring training invite, according to a source for Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.

Overbay can get out of the deal if he isn’t on the Red Sox major league roster when the team breaks spring training. He reportedly had also received interest from the Brewers.

Overbay will give the Red Sox an additional left-handed bat and provide depth at first base behind free-agent addition Mike Napoli. The Red Sox are expected to give Napoli additional days off after discovering a hip problem during a physical.

Overbay, 36, hit 259/.331/.397 in 131 at-bats for the Diamondbacks and Braves in 2012.

Source: 1B Lyle Overbay has nonroster invite to spring training with #RedSox.—
Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) January 31, 2013

#Brewers talking to free-agent 1B Overbay about minor-league deal. Gamel will be regular 1B with Hart out. Overbay played in MIL 2004-05.—
Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 28, 2013