"The Red Sox' quest for pitching depth continues.

The Sox have signed right-hander John Maine to a minor league contract that does not include an invitation to spring training, according to a major league source.

Maine has not pitched since 2010 thanks to shoulder surgery. The 30-year-old is 41-36 lifetime with a 4.35 ERA over seven seasons with the Orioles and Mets.

Maine signed with the Rockies last season but never made it out of Triple A, going 1-3 with a 7.43 ERA in 11 starts for Colorado Springs.

His best season came in 2007 with New York, when he went 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA. He memorably took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Marlins in the next-to-last game of that season, striking out 14, but lost it on an infield single by backup catcher Paul Hoover with two outs.

Maine has made just three relief appearances in his career against 105 starts, but his agent, Rex Gary, told the Fredericksburg (Va.) Freelance-Star that Maine is excited at the possibility."