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Boston.com is reporting that Chris Carter, baring a waiver claim, is going to break camp with the Red Sox.  Carter, who seems to have lost a bunch of weight since 2008's conclusion, has had a great spring with the bat.

As expected, Nick Green will also make the club.  Having played outfield a few times this spring, Green has made Carter's lack of defensive skills a lesser issue.

A few days back, it was announced Clay Buchholz would start the year in AAA, so the Red Sox roster seems to be set.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 03:28 PM | Permalink

catchers (2) - Jason Varitek, George Kottaras

infield (5) - Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Mike Lowell, Jed Lowrie, Julio Lugo

outfield (4) - Jason Bay, Jacoby Ellsbury, J.D. Drew, Rocco Baldelli

dh (1) - David Ortiz

starters (5) - Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield, Brad Penny

bullpen (7) - Jonathan Papelbon, Takashi Saito, Manny Delcarmen, Ramiro Ramirez, Javier Lopez, Hideki Okajima, Justin Masterson

dl (2) - John Smoltz, Mark Kotsay

With Kotsay expected to be out through April, the Red Sox need a back-up firstbase/corner outfielder type.  The candidates are Brad Wilkerson (.111/.200/.306 in 36 ABs), Jeff Bailey (.438/.538/.750 in 32 at bats), Chris Carter (.293/.326/.537 in 41 at bats) and Paul McAnulty (.206/.229/.324 in 34 at bats).

Wilkerson is the best defender of the 4, but he hasn't hit this spring and really has hit in 2 years.  Bailey is probably the most deserving if perseverance counts for anything.  He can hit, but he can't really field.  Tough choice for Boston, but thankfully it is for a reserve position, not a starting position.

There is a chance Lugo isn't healthy to start the season (actually it's likely he won't be ready after knee surgery), so Nick Green (.333/.404/.548) might make the team.

When Smoltz is ready, the Red Sox might have a big decision to make.  While there is a good chance injuries will solve the problem, the Red Sox might have to demote or cut a player upon Smoltz's return.  Masterson has options, but I'm not sure who else does (and who else would make sense to demote).  If Wakefield doesn't pick it up, he might be at risk too.

About 2 1/2 weeks away from opening day.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 09:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

ESPN and Boston.com are both reporting that Kevin Youkilis will miss the rest of the WBC because of an ankle sprain.  He has been sent to Ft. Myers for an MRI.

Just great.  I love the WBC.  Remember how I commented that the WBC was a bit compellng?  I take it all back.

No word yet on the extent of the injury.  The reports indicate he injured the ankle 4-5 days ago and it was in such tough shape that he was barely able to walk through the clubhouse after last night's WBC game.  We'll probably know more tomorrow.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 06:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

It a kind-of-surprising move, the Red Sox granted catcher Josh Bard his unconditional release.  By doing so, George Kottaras has won the back-up catcher spot for Boston.

This is the second tough departure the Red Sox have given Bard.  The first, you will recall, was when the hastily shipped him to San Diego for Doug Mirabelli (remember the police escort to Fenway?).  I have a feeling that Josh Bard won't be letting his kids route for the Boston Red Sox any time soon.  Of course I'm sure the Red Sox told Bard when they signed him, that he'd have tough competition and he was not a lock to make the team.  But still, ouch.

As for Kottaras, acquired for David Wells in August 2006, he was out of options and must have impressed the Red Sox enough to win the back-up spot.  Kottaras was originally thought of as an on-base machine, but at some point in 2006, he lost his way and really struggled offensively.  But in 2008, he found some power (22 HRs at Pawtucket with a .245 average and a .348 obp) and that combined with his good performance handling Tim Wakefield this spring and his catching of knuckleballer Charlie Zink in AAA last year, must have made the Red Sox decision easy.

Kottaras has much more upside than does Bard, he is cheaper and he was out of options.  A left-handed bat, he has the potential to cut heavily into Jason Varitek's playing time should Varitek struggle.

Thinking about this, I guess I assumed all along the Red Sox would not go ahead with Bard, but that they would instead trade for the next regular Red Sox catcher (i.e. Teagarden or Saltalamacchia) and not, instead, decide on Kottaras.

Notes:  Wes Littleton was claimed off waivers by the Brewers.  The Littleton experiment didn't work as he was terrible this spring (18.56 ERA, granted in only 5.1 IP) and seemingly didn't have a roster spot available to him even if he had done well.

Julio Lugo had knee surgery and is out 3-4 weeks.  I wonder if all that "muscle" he gained in the off-season helped.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 03:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Just when players like Mike Lowell and Brad Penny are showing improvement, word arrives that Dustin Pedroia (oblique) and Julio Lugo (torn meniscus) are injured.

While the US squad faces Puerto Rico as I write this (losing 6-0 after 4) in the WBC (still not sure why Puerto Rico has its own team and I mean no disrespect in any way.  In fact, I tried to research it as best I could and just don't quote get it), Pedroia is a scratch.  In Florida, Lugo's knee soreness, per Saturday morning's news, has turned into a month-long rehab should he have arthroscopic surgery in the coming days.

Here's the potential impact:  Jed Lowrie is the Red Sox starting shortstop and Dustin Pedroia is now questionable for the start of the regular season.

Lowrie starting over Lugo wouldn't be a shock, but Lugo was leading the team in hitting in spring training and making it a good battle.  Lugo said he gained 10 lbs of muscle in the off-season, but every time I hear a player say that, I just assume it's his way of explaining why he is 10 lbs fatter...after having not worked out in the off-season.  Not fair to Lugo or any player, but that's always what comes to mind.

As for Pedroia, he is obviously a key cog in the the Red Sox line-up.  With Lowell no guarantee to be healthy and David Ortiz coming off his worst season as a Red Sox, losing Pedroia would be very tough.  I think Nick Green would be the starting 2b if the season started today.  Yikes.

While I am seriously grumpy about Pedroia getting hurt during the WBC, I have to confess, the games have had a certain dramatic and compelling element.  Watching the Dutch beat the Dominican Republic team (caught about 5 innings of the combine 2 games) twice, was amazing and seeing Canada lose to Italy (only caught highlights) was equally entertaining.  Not that I prefer any of those countries over the others, but seeing a deep-underdog win is always a thrill...unless it is in the 2008 Superbowl...sniffles.

We'll know more about Pedroia and Lugo by Monday.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 09:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

ESPN is reporting that Jonathan Papelbon refers to Manny Ramirez as a "cancer" in the April issue of Esquire Magazine (the one with me on the cover).

While not surprising that his teammates (at least one of them) would feel this way, I am a bit surprised that Papelbon would be so public about it, if indeed the report is true.  It'll be interesting to see how the players Papelbon references in the article as being unwilling to accept Manny's behavior, Jason Varitek, Tim Wakefield and David Ortiz, react to Papelbon's comments.

Also, Jon Lester's reported long-term deal hasn't been finalized yet, so not certain that will actually get done or not.  I hope it does and wonder what the hold-up is.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

The Associated Press, via ESPN, is reporting that Manny Ramirez is not going to collect all of recent 2-year deal with the Dodgers until 2013.  Per ESPN/AP:

Ramirez gets a $25 million salary this year, but just $10 million is paid up front. The rest is due in $5 million installments each June 30 in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

His contract calls for a $20 million salary in 2010, with $5 million payable up front. He is due two installments of $3,333,333 by June 30 in 2011 and 2012, and a final payment of $8,333,333 by June 30 in 2013.

Because of the money deferred without interest, Ramirez's 2009 salary is given a present-day value of about $18.4 million by Major League Baseball.

Ok, the economy hasn't been kind to many (not Manny, but many).  Even ultra-short ETFs can kick you in the butt, but Manny's decision to hack his way out of Boston has proven financially costly.  Maybe in a better climate he'd have scored more cabbage, but alas, he didn't.

Not to dwell on Manny, but he hired many people to make his bed and now he has to sleep in it.

Anyway, real baseball, just 28 days away.  28 days?  Aren't some wars fought in less time?  The 27-day war as an example!  See, I studied...something...at some...point.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe, as well as other sources, is reporting that the Red Sox and Jon Lester have agreed to a $30mm, 5-year deal.  The deal includes a team option for a 6th year at $13mm.

Nice pick-up.  It buys out 2 years of free agency if they pick up the option.  Lester is far from a sure thing as he has had his health issues and really has only put together one good season, but lefties who can throw hard don't grow on trees...except on the rare south paux pine, only found in the forrests of the Ozarks.

If you are ok with me spending the Red Sox money for a minute, then I'd also try to lock up Jason Bay.  He isn't home-grown, but he is a more than solid player and the economy has weakened enough of late that it seems long-term deals are being signed for far less than they were just months ago.

We are at that point in spring training where it is starting to become a grind.  What with loads of games, the distraction/worry of the WBC and the realization that we are still about a month away from an official game, this time of year can drag on.

Also, with NESN offering up intense coverage of the day to day spring training activities, I am realizing that life in Fort Myers for a Red Sox players isn't exactly tough.  There is very little intense working out.  80% of the time you spot a group of players all standing around together doing next to nothing.

Unlike NFL camps or NHL camps or even your kid's summer camp, where there is non-stop activity, spring training for baseball players (at least the Red Sox) is just bit more strenuous than watching an all-day movie.  Yikes.  I wonder what the impact on a team would be if they did more running or conditioning?  Maybe it's just me getting old and longing for the "old days."

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 08:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)