The Red Sox's 25-man roster: What does it look like now?

by Randy Booth on Dec 13, 2008 7:41 PM EST in News

The Red Sox haven't done anything big so far this offseason. They've been quiet ... maybe too quiet. As most of us sit back and wait for Mark Teixeira to sign on the dotted line (hopefully), I think it'd be helpful if we looked at the 25-man roster and see where the Sox are at right now:

CATCHER
George Kottaras, Dusty Brown
Yup, we have zero catchers from last year. If the season started tomorrow, Kottaras or Brown would be our starting catcher.

FIRST BASE
Kevin Youkilis
It's almost guaranteed Youk will be around this year -- at least.

SECOND BASE
Dustin Pedroia
MVP! MVP! MVP!

SHORTSTOP
Jed Lowrie, Julio Lugo
Hopefully Lugo won't be there when Opening Day rolls around.

THIRD BASE
Mike Lowell
He's still here.

OUTFIELD
Jason Bay, Jacoby Ellsbury, J.D. Drew
One of the best outfields in the bigs.

DESIGNATED HITTER
David Ortiz
He's still the rock of the lineup.

STARTING PITCHERS
Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Clay Buchholz
Buchholz is the likely 5th man if the Sox don't make a move this winter.

RELIEF PITCHERS
Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Manny Delcarmen, Justin Masterson, Javier Lopez, Ramon Ramirez
Solid bullpen.

With the roster listed above, there are three spots available. Those spots, most likely, are one more bullpen arm, a fourth outfielder and either a fifth outfielder or a corner/utility infielder.

Players on the roster that could fill the last bullpen spot: David Aardsma, Wes Littleton, Miguel Gonzalez or Hunter Jones. Aardsma was on the roster last year, but Littleton was an addition recently, so the Sox probably like him out of the gate. Gonzalez was a recent Rule 5 draft pick that has potential, but needs to stick with the club or be offered back. Jones is a solid relief pitcher in the minors that we'll probably see in '09.
Players on the roster that could fill the fourth outfielder spot: Jonathan Van Every, Jeff Bailey, Chris Carter or Jeff Corsaletti. Van Every impressed in a small time with the club last season, as did Bailey. Carter is better suited as a 1B or DH, but could play a backup role. Corsaletti struggled in his first season at Pawtucket last year, but was an All-Star in Portland before his promotion.
Players on the roster that could fill the utility spot, other than listed above: Gil Velazquez or Jeff Natale. Velazguez saw some time in the bigs last year, but doesn't project more than a backup infielder. Natale is an OBP machine, but probably isn't versatile enough to play multiple positions in the bigs.

I really feel that if the Sox don't make any big moves then they are still in a pretty good position. Going into the season with Kottaras and Brown as catchers would definitely be an issue, but it's probably the only issue at all with the roster listed above. Rest easy if Mark Teixeira doesn't come by Christmas because this is still a very good team.

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Comments

God

We do need a catcher. I would keep Lugo as our back-up middle infielder, but I’m cool if we trade for Byrnes. But then what would happen if Dusty or Jed-I got injured? Velazguez?

Well, I will appreciate for you to keep my zingers out of your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Dec 13, 2008 7:49 PM EST reply actions

There has to be some decent options out on the market for a utility infielder … Alex Gonzalez, anyone?

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Dec 13, 2008 7:51 PM EST up reply actions

O-Cab?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3739

Well, I will appreciate for you to keep my zingers out of your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Dec 13, 2008 7:59 PM EST up reply actions

He will command big $$, and if Jed struggles he will take his job.

by matzushocka45 on Dec 13, 2008 8:36 PM EST up reply actions

I know a guy. He's got speed, he can play SS, 2B. Defense is okay.

Best of all, we don’t have to give up anything to get him. His name is Julio Lugo.

"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.

by 0157H7 on Dec 13, 2008 11:30 PM EST up reply actions

Amen.

I’m not violently against the Lugo for Byrnes idea, though not for it either.

Those Lugo for Willis or Robertson proposals just pissed me the f’ off. We don’t need a f’n awful LHP. As it is, keeping Lugo, we don’t need to sign a utility player unless Lugo makes it clear he’s going to be a huge pain in the a about filling that role.

He’s got speed, his defense is…interesting at SS, would probably be at least acceptable at 2B when DP needs a day off here and there, and at the very least, his arm is strong enough to play 3B from time-to-time. Just seems ridiculous to dump Lugo from a baseball standpoint unless it’s to fill a position of need.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Dec 14, 2008 3:07 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Dec 14, 2008 12:16 PM EST up reply actions

Theo put the team in a bad position

The sox have no good option a catcher. To bad Lars Anderson can’t catch. A trade is all that they have.
and i think every Gm in baseball is looking at the hole we have at catcher and our prospects and are salivating. Theo needs to be blamed for his miss calculations. Tony Massarotti would never call Theo out he’s to busy applauding him and the owners, the sox could get burnt buy supply and demand.

by Red Sox #1 Fan on Dec 14, 2008 1:24 AM EST up reply actions

I think we've gotten a little spoiled at the position...

Over the past 10 years there have only been a handful of catchers that we would consider suitable replacements for Tek. Pudge, Jorge, Piazza, Mauer and some others. There have been a bunch of other guys that have had a few good years, but Varitek has been consistently very good. There simply are not a lot of guys like him in the league and I don’t think we can expect top 5 guys at every position.

by BTLove on Dec 14, 2008 1:31 AM EST up reply actions

spoiled i agree

Catcher is the most gurling positions and Mauer wont even be a catcher soon.
The Mirabelli trade is what pisses me off the most Josh Bard and Cla Meredith gone.
Buy having a knuckleballer you limit your staff. Some how the sox brain washed every body into thinking 4 on and 1 off was the way to do it. But Teks on his last leg and cant bat his number.
One pitcher shouldnt dictat who we can have and who we cant have behind the plate.
And Cla Meredith 3.37 era

by Red Sox #1 Fan on Dec 14, 2008 1:56 AM EST up reply actions

"Gurling"?

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Dec 14, 2008 9:46 AM EST up reply actions

Umm...

Mauer wont even be a catcher soon

But Teks on his last leg and cant bat his number

First, the knee issue was from an awkward accident on the basepaths, not from catching. And you’d have to be pretty horrible to bat 0.033, or a pretty damn good offensive catcher to bat .330.

And what’s with the weird poetic format?

Clutch: A measurement of how much better or worse a player does in high leverage situations than he would have done in a context neutral environment. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/glossary/

by bdalebs on Dec 14, 2008 10:11 AM EST up reply actions

tek was great in the playoff you fool

by Red Sox #1 Fan on Dec 15, 2008 9:37 AM EST up reply actions

What?

I’m a huge pro-Tek guy, but I don’t see how that was related.

by bdalebs on Dec 15, 2008 7:46 PM EST up reply actions

"Greuling"

I think, though it does look funny now….

Well, I will appreciate for you to keep my zingers out of your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Dec 14, 2008 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

hopefully

we re-sign Tek and trade for Salty, give him a year to study under the cap’n…and we beat out the Halos and (why the hell?) the Nats for Texeira. Also let’s get a starting SS and have Lowrie as Utility for just one more year.

"Well let me just quote the late-great Colonel Sanders, who said...'I'm too drunk to taste this chicken.' "
-Ricky Bobby

by nepats108 on Dec 13, 2008 7:53 PM EST reply actions

If we want Jed to be the SS of the future, I’m not sure we’d be able to find someone on the market for one year that is any better than Jed. Anyone better than Jed is going to want a multi-year contract, unless we want to try and get Nomar back :)

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Dec 13, 2008 7:56 PM EST up reply actions

Nomar is not better than Jed…and he’s a faggot

"Well let me just quote the late-great Colonel Sanders, who said...'I'm too drunk to taste this chicken.' "
-Ricky Bobby

by nepats108 on Dec 13, 2008 7:57 PM EST up reply actions

Chill

First of all the Nomar thing was clearly a joke. He can’t play short anymore (but if he could he still hits better than Jed).

Also, I’m pretty new around here, but that isn’t the type of language I want in this place.

by BTLove on Dec 13, 2008 8:13 PM EST up reply actions

MerryGoByeBye is the only blogger who can curse

on a regular basis.

Well, I will appreciate for you to keep my zingers out of your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Dec 13, 2008 8:34 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks dude

I try to bring a bit more of George Carlin to everywhere I go, so while I’m not funny and smart I compensate that by cursing a lot. :)

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 14, 2008 12:00 AM EST up reply actions

That's my back-up too

1. Attempt a joke
2. Put it in a smart point of view, or intelligent humor
3. As number two usually fails, curse your way out.

Well, I will appreciate for you to keep my zingers out of your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Dec 14, 2008 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

Puberty 101:

Grade: A+

by bdalebs on Dec 14, 2008 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

Guys, he’s hinting on Dougie’s Going Deep … required reading for this blog:
http://sonsofsamhorn.net/wiki/index.php/Dougie%27s_Diary

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Dec 13, 2008 8:42 PM EST up reply actions

Oh yeah,

I remember reading that. My bad. But still, “faggot” is a little too strong for my tastes, unless clearly in irony. I’m all for general cursing though.

by BTLove on Dec 13, 2008 8:45 PM EST up reply actions

I feel the same way — as long as it is quoting Red Sox folk lore :)

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Dec 13, 2008 8:50 PM EST up reply actions

I apologize

for the profanity…I was indeed quoting my favorite backup catcher…and I hate nomar

"Well let me just quote the late-great Colonel Sanders, who said...'I'm too drunk to taste this chicken.' "
-Ricky Bobby

by nepats108 on Dec 13, 2008 11:56 PM EST up reply actions

That

Is the funniest thing I have ever seen.

Well, I will appreciate for you to keep my zingers out of your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Dec 13, 2008 9:11 PM EST up reply actions

Hey, Jed had a f'd up wrist for most of the playoff run and the playoffs.

Give him a ~~break.~~
~~Cut him~~ some slack.
Dammit, leave the kid alone.

by bdalebs on Dec 14, 2008 10:13 AM EST up reply actions

I’d love to see them bring back Hinske, he had a decent season last year.
Also like to see us get a inf with speed, especially if we are ditching Lugo.

by matzushocka45 on Dec 13, 2008 8:35 PM EST reply actions

And why not Velazquez? He fits in as the back-up utility player Boston needs and he’s not overpriced. Or would you rather have a multi-million dollar player sitting on the bench collecting all that money. Boston wants Jed to be their starting SS why would they go after a big time short stop and have him take Jed’s place on the field.

by lvbosoxfan on Dec 13, 2008 9:17 PM EST reply actions

Let me have it

for the sake of argument, tell me why you disagree (I’m sure most will):

unpopular point #1: Signing Tex is not a good idea-Tex is a great player, but for several reasons I have problems with this fit. It moves Youk to 3rd, where he is a worse fielder than Lowell, while only very slightly upgrading defense at a less important position. It upgrades offense, but maybe only for a few years before Anderson is ready. Lars’ numbers in the minors are so impressive (better than Morneau at this stage, in some ways better than Longoria’s. Both made big impact at a young age. We all know what Longoria did at 23, while Morneau was MVP at 25). Lastly, it will cost 20+million for 8 years. If Lowell is ok (he should be, he was not very mobile to begin with, and despite the injury put up decent numbers even last year) I don’t see how the cost/gain is worth it.

unpopular point#2:Getting rid of Lugo is not a great idea at this stage-we all know that this was a bad signing to begin with. However we have no idea how Lowrie will do as a full time player at this stage, and he sucked against RHP last year. Despite the fielding woes, Lugo actually runs well, is popular on the club (obviously not off it!) and had offensive numbers that were not so much worse than Jed’s last year. I would rather have him than Cora for depth, given that it is unlikely we can deal him without picking up another waste of money in return (see:Dontrelle).

Obviously what we really need is a catcher, but this is looking more and more like it will be Tek next year. Signing Tex, etc, doesn’t change that.

by Buzzy on Dec 13, 2008 9:27 PM EST reply actions