Spring training site
Fort Myers, Fla.
2008 record
95-67, second in AL East, AL wild-card winner, lost to Rays in ALCS
New faces
RHP John Smoltz (free agent, Braves); RHP Brad Penny (free agent, Dodgers); OF Rocco Baldelli (free agent, Rays); OF Brad Wilkerson (free agent, Blue Jays); RHP Takashi Saito (free agent, Dodgers); RHP Junichi Tazawa (free agent, Japan); LHP Billy Traber (free agent, Yankees); RHP Ramon Ramirez (trade, Royals); RHP Miguel Gonzalez (Rule 5, Angels); RHP Randor Bierd (trade, Orioles)
Biggest offseason acquisition
John Smoltz is a future Hall of Famer, but won't be ready for a month or two. Brad Penny, coming off a shoulder injury, will be ready right away. If he regains his All-Star form - and he's just 30, by the way - the Red Sox will have the best starting rotation in baseball.
Gone but not forgotten
RHP Curt Schilling (retired); OF Coco Crisp (trade, to Royals); SS Alex Cora (free agent, to Mets); RHP Mike Timlin (free agent, not signed); RHP Paul Byrd (free agent, not signed); C Kevin Cash (free agent, to Yankees); RHP Bartolo Colon (free agent, to White Sox); RHP David Aardsma (trade, to Mariners)
Spring training battles
Shortstop is a battle between Julio Lugo and Jed Lowrie. Lowrie took over as a rookie last season after Lugo was injured, and Lowrie might not give it back. The rest of the team returns basically intact.
Projected lineup
- CF Jacoby Ellsbury
- 2B Dustin Pedroia
- DH David Ortiz
- 1B Kevin Youkilis
- LF Jason Bay
- RF J.D. Drew
- 3B Mike Lowell
- SS Jed Lowrie
- C Jason Varitek
Projected starting rotation
- RHP Josh Beckett
- LHP Jon Lester
- RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka
- RHP Tim Wakefield
- RHP Brad Penny or RHP Justin Masterson or RHP Clay Buchholz
Projected bullpen
- RHP Jonathan Papelbon (closer)
- LHP Hideki Okajima
- RHP Ramon Ramirez
- RHP Manny Delcarmen
- RHP Takashi Saito
- LHP Javier Lopez
Biggest strength
The pitching staff as a whole could be just awesome. This is the most complete bullpen in baseball, with as many as five have closer-type stuff - if this team has a lead in the sixth or later, the Red Sox will be almost impossible to beat.
Glaring weakness
Shortstop could be weak if Lowrie doesn't come through. Lowell is coming off injury, and Varitek needs a rebound year at the plate.
