The Red Sox have lost two large bullpen pieces this off-season to free agency: Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito. Theo Epstien and the front office have approached replacing them in intriguing fashion.
Here are the guaranteed spots in the pen heading into the season:
RHP Papelbon
LHP Okajima
RHP Bard
RHP Ramirez
RHP Delcarmen
That leaves three spots open in the bullpen that are waiting to be claimed by one of the following candidates:
RHP Scott Atchison - Signed to a one-year $420,000 contract with two team-controlled option years in 2011 and 2012. The 34-year old spent the last two seasons in Japan and compiled a 1.70 ERA in 90 innings last year. He presents a low-risk, high-reward signing as his success in Japan could translate over quite nicely. He has one minor league option remaining but should make the squad as long as he has a good spring training.
LHP Brian Shouse - Signed to a minor league contract, the 41-year old compiled a 4.50 ERA in 28 innings last year with the Rays. His most recent success was with the Milwaukee Brewers when he established himself as a dominant force against left-handed hitters. If he makes the team, he would slide alongside Okajima as the team's second lefty.
RHP Boof Bonser - Signed to a non-guaranteed, $650,000 contract. Bonser missed all of last season with a torn labrum. 2008 statistics: With a 5.93 ERA in 118.1 career innings, the Sox are hoping that his shoulder woes are behind him and he can recapture some of the success that he had in the minor leagues.
LHP Dustin Richardson - 5th round draft pick of Red Sox in 2006, the crafty lefty pitched in Double-A (2.70 ERA in 63.1 innings), Triple-A (1.69 ERA in 10.2 innings), and had a cup of coffee with the Sox (0.00 ERA in 3.1 innings) last year. Clearly, he has a future in the pen for the team and could even establish himself as a real threat this season if his success continues.
RHP Fernando Cabrera - Signed to a one-year, $700,000 minor league contract. Cabrera spent nearly all of 2008 with the PawSox and had a 1.71 ERA and 22 saves in 52.2 innings. He deserves a shot with the team and with a strong spring could make for an excellent addition to the team.
RHP Joe Nelson - Signed to a minor league contract, Nelson had a 4.01 ERA last season in 40.1 innings for the Rays. Just two years ago, Nelson had a 2.00 ERA for the Marlins in 54 innings so the team will hope he can regain the magic that led him to his strongest year.
RHP Chad Paronto - Signed to a minor league contact. Paronto, the pride of UMass, had a 1.39 ERA last season in 51.2 innings at the Triple-A level. Perhaps he'll get a shot in the case of an injury bind, but he's clearly on the outside looking in.
RHP Ramon A. Ramirez - Claimed off of waivers from the Reds. Yes, another Ramon Ramirez has a shot to catch on with the big club. Ramirez has been up and down between the majors and Triple-A the past two seasons and has been fairly consistent at each level. He is capable of pitching multiple innings at a time and could be a prime candidate to be the long man out of the Sox pen.
RHP Jorge Sosa - Signed to a minor league contract, Sosa struggled mightily with the Nats last year, posting a 6.45 ERA in 18 games. He found success at the Triple-A level with a 2.79 ERA in 20 appearances and although he's got a huge arm, he's a long shot to land with the club.
Other candidates include: Fabio Castro, TJ Large, Robert Manuel.
We chose not to include prospects Michael Bowden and Juninchi Tazawa who saw extended time with the Sox last season because the team will continue to groom them in Pawtucket's rotation.
If all starters are healthy, there will be an odd man out. With Beckett, Lackey, and Lester cemented in, Matsuzaka, Buchholz, and Wakefield are fighting for two spots. Dice-K, because of his wildness, would not be well suited for the pen and Wake has stated that he thinks he deserves to start. This is a situation to monitor.
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