Red Sox release Lyle Overbay

The Boston Red Sox have released first baseman Lyle Overbay, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com.

Overbay signed a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training with the Red Sox in January. Prior to his release, he hit .220/.327/.341 with two doubles over 49 plate appearances this spring.

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Overbay appeared to be an early favorite to break camp with the Red Sox, but he became expendable after Boston acquired outfielder/first baseman Mike Carp from the Seattle Mariners. By releasing Overbay, the Red Sox avoid paying him a $100k retention bonus if he would have accepted a minor league assignment.

Overbay spent the 2012 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves. After hitting .292/.367/.448 over 110 plate appearances for Arizona, he was released. Atlanta signed him two weeks later, and the veteran went on to collect two hits over 21 plate appearances for the Braves.

Over 12 seasons in the majors, Overbay owns a career batting line of .270/.353/.438.

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