NEW YORK -- Steve Ontiveros, a former AL ERA champion and All-Star, signed with the Boston Red Sox on Monday after a five-year absence from the major leagues.

Ontiveros joined the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, but did not pitch in Boston's 4-0 victory over New York.

Ontiveros made his last appearance in the majors Sept. 29, 1995, with Oakland. The next year, he underwent his second ligament transplant surgery on his right elbow.

"No, I didn't think this day would ever happen," he said. "I was really scratching my head, wondering why I wasn't here before."

Since then, the 39-year-old Ontiveros pitched in the Baltimore, Milwaukee and Colorado organizations -- doing well, too -- but never made it out of the minors.

Ontiveros retired after last season, then signed with Scottsdale of the Western Baseball League this year.

"Bob Welch, who I played with, was the manager there and I knew he would tell me honestly if I could still do it," he said.

Encouraged by Welch, Ontiveros later signed with Triple-A Colorado Springs. After being released, he contacted teams in the big leagues and landed a job with Boston.

Ontiveros figures he'll pitch in different roles for the Red Sox.

"Middle relief and long relief and maybe make an emergency start because we have some doubleheaders coming up," he said.

The Red Sox trail Cleveland by three games in the AL wild-card race. They start a three-game series at Jacobs Field on Tuesday night.

Ontiveros is 33-30 lifetime with a 3.62 ERA in nine seasons with Oakland, Philadelphia and Seattle. He led the AL with a 2.65 ERA in 1994 and made the All-Star team in 1995.

"I'm healthy now and throwing the ball as well as I ever have," he said. "It's not like I've thrown 3,000 innings. I still have a lot left in my arm."