Red Sox Roster Report: 12/2/07

Here’s a look at how the Red Sox roster shapes up as baseball general managers converge upon Nashville for this week’s winter meetings:

With 3B Mike Lowell and RHP Curt Schilling taken care of, the Red Sox now turn to finding a younger backup catcher, outfield depth and affordable-but-talented bullpen arms available on the free agent market. The starting nine for the Sox are all accounted for with OF Coco Crisp likely being dangled for an upgrade in any number of areas.

BIGGEST NEEDS: The biggest need for the Sox will be right-handed and left-handed power arms out of the bullpen and right-handed power for depth purposes in case of injury or ineffectiveness. Several pitchers the Sox had voiced interest in—RHP Kerry Wood in particular—have already signed with other teams. The Boston front office is likely also in the market for a versatile bench player capable of playing the corner infield and outfield spots.

ARRIVAL: LHP Jay Marshall (waiver claim from A's).

FREE AGENTS: RHP Eric Gagne, OF Bobby Kielty, SS Royce Clayton, C Kevin Cash, RHP Matt Clement, RHP Mike Timlin, C Doug Mirabelli, INF/OF Eric Hinske.
With 3B Mike Lowell signed, sealed and delivered to Boston for a $37.5 million "hometown discount," the Sox are now set at all nine starting positions and in their starting rotation. Timlin also might end up returning to the Sox for something less than the $2.8 million salary he earned last season. Kielty is a possibility for return as a platoon partner in right field with OF J.D. Drew and Mirabelli could return for one more season, but Clement isn't likely to be back. Gagne is also not in the plans for a return to the Sox after a difficult and ultimately failed two-month adjustment to being a setup man in Boston.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: RHP Kyle Snyder, 1B Kevin Youkilis.
The Sox will certainly offer arbitration to Youkilis and may also opt to retain Snyder because of his versatility.

IN LIMBO: OF Coco Crisp has been replaced by OF Jacoby Ellsbury in the starting lineup, making him trade bait. Crisp is owed $10.5 million over the last two years of his deal, which makes him attractive to teams looking for an affordable, slick-fielding center fielder as an alternative to the more expensive free agent options. Minnesota, Houston, Texas, Philadelphia, Atlanta, the Chicago White Sox and San Diego have all been mentioned as possible landing spots for Crisp. RHP Julian Tavarez, after being left off the postseason roster and barely pitching in September, also may be on the trading block after the Sox activated his $3.85 million team option for 2008.

MEDICAL WATCH: DH David Ortiz (arthroscopic right knee surgery in November 2007) should be fully healthy for spring training. RHP Brendan Donnelly (Tommy John right elbow surgery in August 2007) likely will miss all of 2008. RHP Tim Wakefield (sore right shoulder) was scheduled to have X-rays and an MRI in early November after the injured wing kept him off the World Series roster.