Red Sox Option Scott Atchison To Pawtucket

by Ben Buchanan on Mar 25, 2011 4:00 PM EDT in News

It's pretty hard to oust an incumbent on a Terry Francona managed team, but we have our first of the year, as Scott Atchison has been optioned to Pawtucket along with Michael Bowden, Rich Hill, Randy Williams, and Brandon Duckworth.

Alex Speier adds that Andrew Miller has also been reassigned.

Atchison proved to be a consistent contributor in last year's bullpen mess, providing decent, if not particularly good relief pitching usually around the sixth and seventh innings. But with an improved crop of players to choose from this year and a poor performance in spring, Atchison just didn't have enough to make the cut.

This seems very likely to open the door for Matt Albers, who was falsely rumored to be bound for Japan earlier this week. With Alfredo Aceves being treated as Triple-A starting depth by the team (and having hit three batters in a minor league outing today), and Hideki Okajima and Dennys Reyes likely only being considered for one left-handed spot, it's hard to see Albers not starting the year with the Red Sox.

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I won't be utterly shocked if they go with Reyes and Okajima

But I do expect that Albers has the spot at this point.

by wolf9309 on Mar 25, 2011 4:12 PM EDT reply actions

Would Doubront be starting in Pawtucket then?

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by BoldandBrash on Mar 25, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

At this point, he's definitely going to either start in extended ST or Pawtucket.

by wolf9309 on Mar 25, 2011 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I would be.

Albers will find work with someone if we let him go. Okajima might well not.

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by Ben Buchanan on Mar 25, 2011 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

true but

If I recall, Albers contract is non-guaranteed. So they could either release him to save money or find someone who would trade for him and use his 40-man roster spot for Reyes.
I just have trouble seeing who they would take off the 40-man if they were to keep all of them- Maybe Wagner? Would they just try to outright Okajima?
Then again, looking at the 40-man, isn’t Tazawa still on the 60-day DL? In which case I think there’s just 39 players on it. So maybe that isn’t an issue.

In any case, as I said, I do expect it to be Albers, but I won’t be utterly shocked if it’s Oki.

by wolf9309 on Mar 25, 2011 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions