Nick Punto

By Chad Finn, Globe Staff The Red Sox have signed veteran utilityman Nick Punto to a two-year contract, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman. Heyman reported Punto, who turned 34 in November, is guaranteed $3 million with another $500,000 possible in incentives. The Red Sox had a vacancy for a utility player with this morning's trade of Jed Lowrie to the Astros. Punto played 66 games for the champion Cardinals last year, hitting .278 with an .809 OPS in 166 plate appearances.

Red Sox rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks left Tuesday night's game against the Kansas City Royals with tightness in his left hamstring. Middlebrooks doubled in the second inning and advanced to third on a single by Marlon Byrd, but he appeared to wince when he pulled up rounding the bag. Boston manager Bobby Valentine came out to check on him, but Middlebrooks remained in the game. He scored moments later on a base hit by Kelly Shoppach, and was replaced by Nick Punto when the Red Sox took the field for the bottom half of the inning.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Nick Punto was a one-man receiving line on Thursday afternoon, standing behind the batting cage at JetBlue Park and exchanging handshakes or hugs with nearly every member of the St. Louis Cardinals who passed by on the way to their dugout. Punto spent only one season with St. Louis but left a deep impression with his versatility on the field and the ability to fit in comfortably in every corner of the clubhouse. In a game where talent can be measured by precise statistical metrics, Punto is a player whose value is harder to calculate but can't be denied.

Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis has been scratched from the lineup against Oakland because of lower back tightness. Youkilis was pulled about an hour before Monday night's game. He also missed Sunday's series finale against the Chicago White Sox with the same injury. Boston manager Bobby Valentine said before the game Monday that he thought Youkilis would be ready to play. He was listed as the cleanup hitter and was slated to start at third base. Nick Punto took his place at third and hit ninth, with Cody Ross moved up to the cleanup spot.

Red Sox rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks left Tuesday night's game against the Kansas City Royals with tightness in his left hamstring. Middlebrooks doubled in the second inning and advanced to third on a single by Marlon Byrd, but he appeared to wince when he pulled up rounding the bag. Boston manager Bobby Valentine came out to check on him, but Middlebrooks remained in the game. He scored moments later on a base hit by Kelly Shoppach, and was replaced by Nick Punto when the Red Sox took the field for the bottom half of the inning.

Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis has been scratched from the lineup against Oakland because of lower back tightness. Youkilis was pulled about an hour before Monday night's game. He also missed Sunday's series finale against the Chicago White Sox with the same injury. Boston manager Bobby Valentine said before the game Monday that he thought Youkilis would be ready to play. He was listed as the cleanup hitter and was slated to start at third base. Nick Punto took his place at third and hit ninth, with Cody Ross moved up to the cleanup spot.

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff FORT MYERS, Fla — Infielders are taking ground balls endlessly at Red Sox camp. There will be no shortage of practice reps, that's for sure. Sox infielders will be prepared. "It's different than any camp I've ever been in," said Nick Punto, the former Twins and Cardinals infielder. "This is fabulous. Everybody is getting a lot of work in. I've been able to move around and not stay in one place. The pace is really good. It's a lot of fun. " Punto said even with the grounders his body doesn't feel as beat up because manager...

Tony Cruz became the second Cardinals catcher to leave with an injury Thursday night after a foul ball bounced up and hit his right hand. St. Louis catcher Gerald Laird and second baseman Nick Punto also left the game against Houston with injuries. Laird came out in the second inning after hurting his hand sliding into home plate. He has a mild strain of his left ring finger. He appeared to hook his hand on the foot of Astros catcher Carlos Corporan. Laird, who started a two-run rally in the second with a single, was replaced by Cruz.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff Ben Cherington has been refreshingly honest in his tenure as general manager of the Red Sox. So when he says there is no deal with the Rockies involving Marco Scutaro, it's not a smokescreen. The Sox and Rox did talk about a deal. Colorado wanted Scutaro to play second base while the Red Sox were looking to free up $6 million. That money would then presumably be used to bolster the rotation. Roy Oswalt might not bite at $6 million but he probably would at $8 million.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff FORT MYERS, Fla. — Jon Lester, who starts Opening Day for the Red Sox, threw four scoreless innings in a Triple-A game against the Twins today at Fenway South. With Jarrod Saltalamacchia catching, Lester allowed three hits (all singles) without a walk and struck out six. Of his 57 pitches, 41 were strikes. "I was able to work on a lot of different things and throw some changeups and curveballs," Lester said. "I had a good feel for everything.

Game over: Tigers 13, Red Sox 12 Unreal. Alex Avila belted a two-run homer with two outs to win the game as the Tigers scored three runs off Mark Melancon. Boesch grounded to second. Cabrera singled to right. Fielder was next and the Red Sox shifted their infield to the right side, moving Punto near second base. Fielder, of course, bounced a ground ball right to where Punto would have been standing at third base. A wild pitch pushed Cabrera to third. Young flied to center and Cabrera scored.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff FORT MYERS, Fla. — Jon Lester, who starts Opening Day for the Red Sox, threw four scoreless innings in a Triple-A game against the Twins today at Fenway South. With Jarrod Saltalamacchia catching, Lester allowed three hits (all singles) without a walk and struck out six. Of his 57 pitches, 41 were strikes. "I was able to work on a lot of different things and throw some changeups and curveballs," Lester said. "I had a good feel for everything.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Nick Punto was a one-man receiving line on Thursday afternoon, standing behind the batting cage at JetBlue Park and exchanging handshakes or hugs with nearly every member of the St. Louis Cardinals who passed by on the way to their dugout. Punto spent only one season with St. Louis but left a deep impression with his versatility on the field and the ability to fit in comfortably in every corner of the clubhouse. In a game where talent can be measured by precise statistical metrics, Punto is a player whose value is harder to...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Clay Buchholz has taken the mound on Field 1 at the minor league complex vs an assortment of major and minor leaguers. Kelly Shoppach is catching him. We'll take you inning-by-inning: Top First: Buchholz went 2-2 to Nick Punto, who reached his bat and singled to the opposite field. Catcher Max St. Pierre doubled down the third base line. Runners at second and third, Buchholz faced Dustin Pedroia-clone Sean Coyle, who flew out to right. Punto was thrown out at home, actually avoiding the tag all together.

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff FORT MYERS, Fla — Infielders are taking ground balls endlessly at Red Sox camp. There will be no shortage of practice reps, that's for sure. Sox infielders will be prepared. "It's different than any camp I've ever been in," said Nick Punto, the former Twins and Cardinals infielder. "This is fabulous. Everybody is getting a lot of work in. I've been able to move around and not stay in one place. The pace is really good. It's a lot of fun. " Punto said even with the grounders his body doesn't feel as beat up because...

No matter what kind of numbers shortstop Nick Punto puts up for the Boston Red Sox this season, none will be bigger than the one on his back. Punto is wearing No. 5 this season, which carries a lot of weight in Red Sox lore. It's the number that fan favorite Nomar Garciaparra wore at shortstop for the Red Sox for nine years. Garciaparra was a five-time All-Star and the AL Rookie of the Year in 1997. Punto, who signed a two-year, $3 million deal with Boston in the winter after winning the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals last season, is a...

Game over: Tigers 13, Red Sox 12 Unreal. Alex Avila belted a two-run homer with two outs to win the game as the Tigers scored three runs off Mark Melancon. Boesch grounded to second. Cabrera singled to right. Fielder was next and the Red Sox shifted their infield to the right side, moving Punto near second base. Fielder, of course, bounced a ground ball right to where Punto would have been standing at third base. A wild pitch pushed Cabrera to third. Young flied to center and Cabrera scored.

No matter what kind of numbers shortstop Nick Punto puts up for the Boston Red Sox this season, none will be bigger than the one on his back. Punto is wearing No. 5 this season, which carries a lot of weight in Red Sox lore. It's the number that fan favorite Nomar Garciaparra wore at shortstop for the Red Sox for nine years. Garciaparra was a five-time All-Star and the AL Rookie of the Year in 1997. Punto, who signed a two-year, $3 million deal with Boston in the winter after winning the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals last season, is a student...

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff Ben Cherington has been refreshingly honest in his tenure as general manager of the Red Sox. So when he says there is no deal with the Rockies involving Marco Scutaro, it's not a smokescreen. The Sox and Rox did talk about a deal. Colorado wanted Scutaro to play second base while the Red Sox were looking to free up $6 million. That money would then presumably be used to bolster the rotation. Roy Oswalt might not bite at $6 million but he probably would at $8 million.

The Boston Red Sox tweaked their bullpen and bench with a pair of moves Wednesday, acquiring reliever Mark Melancon and utility infielder Nick Punto in separate deals. After losing closer Jonathan Papelbon in free agency last month, the Red Sox obtained Melancon from the Houston Astros in a trade for infielder Jed Lowrie and right-hander Kyle Weiland. Hours later, the team announced it had signed Punto to a two-year contract. He replaces Lowrie — both are switch-hitters who can play all over the infield.