And Then There Were 25...

by wolf9309 on Mar 28, 2011 10:24 AM EDT in News

After weeks of anxious speculation about the three least important spots on the roster, it appears that at last we have the final picture of what the Red Sox 25-man roster will look like to begin the year- and it's probably a surprise to very few people.

Today, the Red Sox optioned Alfredo Aceves and Hideki Okajima to Pawtucket (according to Alex Speier of WEEI), clearing the way for Dennys Reyes and Matt Albers to make the 25-man roster. As it was revealed a couple of days ago that Wakefield will definitely be on the 25-man roster, it appears that the composition is complete.

These moves should probably come as no surprise to anyone familiar with how Theo and the Sox like to work- they've gone the route of the most depth, insuring that they have as many relievers available in the minors as possible. They would have had to let either Reyes or Albers go if they didn't want them to make the team, so this is pretty much what has been expected the last few days. Full 25-man roster after the jump.

1. Jarrod Saltalamacchia- C

2. Adrian Gonzalez- 1B

3. Dustin Pedroia- 2B

4. Kevin Youkilis- 3B

5. Marco Scutaro- SS

6. Jed Lowrie- UT

7. Carl Crawford- LF

8. Jacoby Ellsbury- CF

9. J.D. Drew- RF

10. Mike Cameron- OF

11. Darnell McDonald- OF

12. Jason Varitek- C

13. David Ortiz- DH

14. Jon Lester- SP

15. John Lackey- SP

16. Clay Buchholz- SP

17. Josh Beckett- SP

18. Daisuke Matsuzaka- SP

19. Jonathan Papelbon- RP

20. Daniel Bard- RP

21. Bobby Jenks- RP

22. Dan Wheeler- RP

23. Dennys Reyes- RP

24. Matt Albers- RP

25. Tim Wakefield- RP

If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that this will not be the roster come September 1st.

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Well, they made the right choices based on the evidence available, if nothing else.

Wakefield aside, that is.

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by Ben Buchanan on Mar 28, 2011 11:19 AM EDT reply actions

I agree and disagree...

I think this is the roster we had to start the season with, Wakefield included.

Maybe he’s done (certainly looks like it), but I think with everything he’s done for the team, he has to be given the chance to fail this April, and walk away/retire knowing he gave us everything he could.

Now… if he can pull the knuckler for a few good innings through April, who knows. If he doesn’t pitch well, and still refuses to call it a career… well, a messy decision will have to be made.

For now, I think he has to be on the 25 man roster.

by AlohaSox on Mar 28, 2011 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions