Yeah... exactly.
I don't see this as Avila-esque.
I see this as no different than any other team that looks for a back-ender that can pitch in AAA, start, long-relieve, whatever based on circumstances, to fill out a rotation. A recovery play for rotation depth, and we, along with every other team, pretty much does the same. Per Edman's post, it looks like Harris has had some success with this.
Avila not so much. Teheran, Fiers, etc... no different than this Boyd signing. Fiers was his one good job and pretty much miss on all the rest. Hoping Harris is better at this than Avila by taking a shot with Boyd...
And it's after he's already made his health recovery last year and got back to pitching in MLB. And for just 1 year. I can live with it, and expected exactly this type of signing and probably one more recovery project signing for rotation depth...
I don't see this move as deserving of any angst... IMO.