Red Sox sign former Twins outfielder Mark Contreras to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have signed free agent outfielder Mark Contreras to a minor-league contract, according to Baseball America’s transactions tracker. It is unclear if the deal comes with an invite to major-league spring training.

Contreras, who turns 29 in January, spent the better part of the last seven seasons in the Twins organization after originally being selected by the club in the ninth round of the 2017 amateur draft out of UC Riverside. The Moreno Valley, Calif. native broke in at the big-league level last May and appeared in 28 games for Minnesota, going 7-for-58 (.121) with one double, three home runs, six RBIs, nine runs scored, one stolen base, one walk, and 21 strikeouts.

In December, Contreras lost his spot on the Twins’ 40-man roster when fellow outfielder Joey Gallo was signed to a one-year deal. He then cleared waivers and remained in the organization through the winter, ultimately breaking camp this past spring with Minnesota’s Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul. With the Saints this season, the left-handed hitter batted .274/.352/.418 to go along with 17 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 54 RBIs, 52 runs scored, 23 stolen bases, 36 walks, and 99 strikeouts over 90 games (381 plate appearances) before being released in early August.

For his career at the Triple-A level dating back to 2021, Contreras is a lifetime .252/.334/.442 hitter with 64 doubles, four triples, 43 homers, 176 runs driven in, 178 runs scored, 58 stolen bases, 107 walks, and 341 strikeouts in 287 total games (1,198 plate appearances). On the other side of the ball, the 6-foot, 195-pounder has past experience at all three outfield spots in both the major- and minor-leagues. He recorded three of his four outfield assists from center while with St. Paul this year.

To that end, Contreras figures to provide the Red Sox with versatile, experienced outfield depth at Triple-A Worcester next season. As things stand now, he slots in behind the likes of Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Rob Refsnyder, Alex Verdugo, and Masataka Yoshida, all of whom are on Boston’s 40-man roster.