Red Sox Roster Report

With 3B Mike Lowell and RHP Curt Schilling taken care of and C Doug Mirabelli recently re-signed, the Sox will spend the last couple weeks before spring training looking for bench depth and affordable-but-talented arms for the bullpen.

The starting nine for the Sox are all accounted for with recently supplanted OF Coco Crisp likely being dangled for an upgrade in any number of areas. The vast majority of Boston's expected 25-man roster is set and ready to report to Fort Myers, FL later this month.

ARRIVALS: RHP David Aardsma (trade with White Sox), 1B Sean Casey (free agent from Tigers).

DEPARTURES: RHP Eric Gagne (free agent, signed with Brewers), RHP Matt Clement (free agent, signed with Cardinals).

REMAINING FREE AGENTS: OF Bobby Kielty, SS Royce Clayton, RHP Brendan Donnelly.
With the 33-year-old Lowell signed, sealed and delivered to Boston for a $37.5 million "hometown discount," the Sox are set at all nine starting positions and in their starting rotation. RHP Mike Timlin and Kevin Cash have both re-signed with the Sox. Kielty is a possibility for return as a platoon partner in right field with OF J.D. Drew. A deal for Kielty is likely contingent on whether CF Coco Crisp is still with the team when spring training opens in the middle of this month. Type B free agent Eric Gagne will yield a sandwich pick in the 2008 draft after signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: 1B Kevin Youkilis.
Youkilis has asked for $3.7 million, and the Red Sox countered at $2.525 million.

IN LIMBO: CF Coco Crisp has been replaced by CF Jacoby Ellsbury in the starting lineup and is most likely trade bait.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 outfielder as an alternative to the more expensive free agent options. Minnesota, Houston, Chicago, Texas, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and San Diego have all been mentioned as possible landing spots for Crisp, but many of those teams have addressed their center-field needs.

Several teams have also inquired about RHP Julian Tavarez, who, after being left off the postseason rosters and barely pitching in September was shopped this offseason. The Sox picked up his $3.85 million team option for 2008, and his affordability, versatility and durability should make him valuable to other teams.

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, but the Sox hope to re-sign him to a two-year deal. RHP Tim Wakefield's (sore right shoulder) underwent X-ray and arthrogram tests that revealed no structural damage. He reportedly was back at full strength during a late November visit to Fenway. 2B Dustin Pedroia (surgery to remove the damaged hamate bone from his left hand) has experienced no setbacks or complications and has undergone his usual winter workout program.