Red Sox Don’t Have Any Room for Reese

The Boston Red Sox made the signing of free-agent outfielder Johnny Damon official Friday, which might put Pokey Reese on the move again.

Reese, a second baseman, has already been with three teams this week, but he was among six players on Boston’s 40-man roster who were not offered contracts by Thursday’s deadline. Reese, traded Tuesday from Cincinnati to Colorado and dealt to Boston the next day, finds himself on the open market.

“Financially, we didn’t have the capability to fit him in with our structure when we signed Johnny,” said Dan Duquette, whose job is in jeopardy because of the proposed sale of the Red Sox to a group headed by Florida Marlin owner John Henry.

Duquette said the Red Sox still want to sign Reese, but conceded the infielder probably will talk to other clubs.

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The Dodgers acquired outfielder Dave Roberts from the Cleveland Indians for two minor league pitchers.

Roberts split time between the Indians, triple-A Buffalo and double-A Akron last season. He played in 15 games with the Indians, getting four hits in 12 at-bats and driving in two runs.

Roberts has played in 75 big league games, hitting .242 with two homers, 14 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. He has 280 steals in his eight-year minor league career.

The Indians receive left-handers Christian Bridenbaugh and Nial Hughes.

Bridenbaugh, 22, was 3-6 with a 3.68 ERA in 21 games for Class-A Wilmington last season, and Hughes, 24, was 2-4 with a 3.75 ERA in 27 games with Wilmington and the rookie level Gulf Coast League Dodgers.

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The New York Yankees said catcher Jorge Posada had arthroscopic shoulder surgery several weeks ago.

“He had a small labrum tear,” Manager Joe Torre said. “He’s going to be ready by opening day, no question.”

New York wanted to keep the operation secret until it signed another backup catcher. General Manager Brian Cashman announced a one-year deal with Alberto Castillo, who will compete with Todd Greene during spring training.

Castillo gets a $650,000, one-year contract. The Yankees also agreed to a minor league contract with utilityman F.P. Santangelo.

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Free-agent pitcher T.J. Mathews agreed to a $1-million, one-year contract with the Houston Astros, who also signed pitcher C.J. Nitkowski to a minor league deal.

Mathews, 31, has a career record of 32-26 with a 3.84 ERA and 16 saves. He was 1-1 with a 4.30 ERA and one save in 30 relief appearances last season for Oakland and St. Louis.