Boston Red Sox sign Grady Sizemore

It’s hard to know what to expect from Grady Sizemore anymore. The spectacularly talented but injury-prone outfielder has not played in the big leagues since 2o11 due to knee microfracture surgery . Each year teams explore signing him, gambling on the talent he still has and hoping he can show those same flashes of brilliance.

This far removed from game action and 31 years old, how much of that promise does Sizemore have left? The Boston Red Sox will take the chance to find out, signing Sizemore to a one-year deal on Wednesday.

Rob Bradford and Alex Speier of WEEI reported the deal. It is a Major League contract worth only $750,000. So it is low-risk in that reward, but the costs only stay low if Sizemore struggles or doesn’t end up playing much.

"Sizemore will earn a $750,000 base salary with incentives that could increase the value of the deal to $6 million.”"

So if Sizemore were to seize the job and be a productive player, it will cost the Red Sox more, probably a salary closer to the cost of any other capable outfielder.

Linked in trade rumors to Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier after Jacoby Ellsbury left town, the Red Sox now turn to Sizemore and Jackie Bradley Jr. to fill their spot in center field.

Sizemore is a career .269 hitter with 139 career home runs in what is the equivalent of approximately five full seasons in the big leagues.