The Red Sox are beginning their annual stockpiling of free agent minor league pitchers, signing two lefties, Jon Switzer and for Sea Dog Michael Tejera.

They will be invited to major league spring training camp and will likely end up in Pawtucket.

Switzer, 28, spent seven season in the Tampa Bay organization. Last year, he posted an 8.05 ERA over 21 games in the majors.

Tejera, 31, was originally with the Marlins organization, and pitched for the Sea Dogs in 1998, '99 and '01 (68 starts, 31-17 record).

He pitched for the Marlins in 2002 and '03 but has since bounced around. He has stayed in Triple-A the past two years.

And here is the Red Sox press release on the 12 players participating in the 2008 Rookie Program, which started today:

The Red Sox 2008 Rookie Program will take place in Boston from January 6-18. Twelve of Boston’s top upper level prospects are taking part in the program, which is designed to expose the players to the expectations of being major leaguers for the Red Sox.

The participants in the Rookie Program include two players who saw at least some major league action with the Red Sox in 2007: pitchers Clay Buchholz and Devern Hansack. Eight attendees spent all of 2007 in Boston’s minor league system: pitchers Michael Bowden, Hunter Jones, Justin Masterson, and Dustin Richardson; catcher Dusty Brown; infielders Aaron Bates and Jed Lowrie; and outfielder Bubba Bell. Also participating will be infielder Chris Carter, who was acquired from Washington via Arizona on August 21, 2007 and outfielder Jonathan Van Every, who was signed as a free agent after playing the Cleveland organization last season.

The program includes two workouts daily that emphasize conditioning and strength training as well as concentration on fundamentals. In addition, the players are attending a number of seminars that will focus on the assimilation into major league life off the field. A number of individuals from both in and outside the Red Sox organization will speak to the group, including President/CEO Larry Lucchino, General Manager Theo Epstein, Vice President/International Scouting Craig Shipley, manager Terry Francona, major league coaches John Farrell and Dave Magadan, infielder Dustin Pedroia, former Red Sox pitcher Bruce Hurst, University of Connecticut men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun, and longtime baseball writer and ESPN reporter Peter Gammons.

There will also be a public autograph signing with the Rookie Program participants at the Official Red Sox Team Store, located across from Fenway Park on Yawkey Way, on Monday, January 14 from 4:30 until 5:45 p.m. Fans making a $20.00 donation to the Red Sox Foundation will be able to take part in the signing on a first come, first served basis.

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