The Boston Red Sox signed free agent Jamie Moyer to a one-year deal prior to the 1996 season. He had just come off a three year stint in Baltimore where he saw his ERA balloon annually from 3.43 in 1993, to 4.77 in 1994, and finally to 5.21 in 1995. He took a slight pay cut to come to Boston in hopes of resurrecting his career in a new town.
The Red Sox took a chance on the aging lefty for one-year worth $825,000, including a $225,000 signing bonus. Moyer was getting just a little more than half what he got the previous year as an Oriole.