Extra Bases has the low-down on which Red Sox players are heading to Japan:
CATCHERS (3): Dusty Brown, Kevin Cash*, Jason Varitek.
INFIELDERS (8): Sean Casey, Alex Cora, Mike Lowell, Jed Lowrie*, Julio Lugo, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis.
OUFIELDERS (6): Coco Crisp, J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Bobby Kielty*, Brandon Moss, Manny Ramirez.
60-DAY DISABLED LIST (1): Curt Schilling.
*Non-Roster Invitee
No real surprises. It's nice to see Bryan Corey make the trip. The Sox bringing 3 catchers isn't a real surprise, but bringing Dusty Brown over George Kottaras is kind of a head-scratcher. The Sox front office is showing how much they really like Brown.
In related news, Kottaras, Chris Carter, Lincoln Holdzkom and Craig Hansen were optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket. Oh Hansen, how we hardly knew ye'...