2009 Opening Day Roster

[VA Sox Fan]

Opening Day roster set?

 

Posted by Tony Massarotti, Globe Staff March 31, 2009 09:16 AM

 

The Red Sox still have three days remaining in Florida, but the club appears to be finalizing its potential Opening Day roster as its days in Fort Myers dwindle.

 

Barring any last-minute acquisitions via the waiver wire, the Sox appear to be leaning toward the left-handed-hitting Chris Carter over the right-handed-hitting Jeff Bailey for the final position spot on the 25-man roster. Assuming Nick Green remains in place as the utility man, Carter would give manager Terry Francona two left-handed hitters (Carter, George Kottaras) to go along with two right-handed hitters (Green, Rocco Baldelli) on his bench when the season begins.

 

Carter and Bailey both have had sensational springs and neither must be exposed to waivers in order to be demoted. Bailey is signed to a minor-league contract, meaning the Sox would have to place him on their 40-man roster, but the team has the necessary roster space to make that move without any difficulty. Carter has minor-league options remaining and is already on the 40-man roster.

 

Both players were likely to spend time with the major league club this year regardless of who broke camp with the team.

 

Acquired in the 2007 trade for Wily Mo Pena – he, in turn, was acquired for Bronson Arroyo – Carter is batting .359 with 10 RBI and a team-leading six home runs this spring. Bailey is batting .356 with one homer and eight RBI, albeit in 10 fewer at-bats.

 

Assuming Carter and Bailey make the team – and that Brad Penny is ready to make his first scheduled start on April 12 – here is what the Opening Day roster currently projects to look like:

 

STARTING LINEUP

 

(L) Jacoby Ellsbury, cf

® Dustin Pedroia, 2b

(L) David Ortiz, dh

® Kevin Youkilis, 1b

(L) J.D. Drew, rf

® Jason Bay, lf

® Mike Lowell, 3b

(S) Jed Lowrie, ss

(S) Jason Varitek, c

 

BENCH

 

® Rocco Baldelli, of

® Nick Green, if-of

(L) George Kottaras, c

(L) Chris Carter, if-of

 

STARTING ROTATION

 

® Josh Beckett

(L) Jon Lester

® Daisuke Matsuzaka

® Tim Wakefield

® Brad Penny

 

BULLPEN

 

® Jonathan Papelbon (closer)

® Takashi Saito

(L) Hideki Okajima

® Justin Masterson

® Manny Delcarmen

® Ramon Ramirez

(L) Javier Lopez

 

DISABLED LIST

 

® Julio Lugo, ss

® John Smoltz, p

[Dojji]

Love that bullpen, love that bench, OK with the rotation and lineup. I think we're good, and we're probably a stronger team than we were in 2007.

 

That said, the competition is stronger too. Should be a fun, engaging, and not a little stressful year for Sox fans. Go team.

[TheKilo]

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/red_sox/?p=2418&srvc=sports&position=recent

 

Nick Green and Chris Carter have been told that they have made the Red Sox Opening Day roster, with the understanding that things could change if the Sox make a last minute deal or waiver claim.

 

The Sox are set to depart here Thursday afternoon for New York, where they will play the Mets on two exhibition games over the weekend. Green and Carter were told they would be going with the club, but reminded that things could change.

 

Carter won the extra outfield/backup first base role over Jeff Bailey, who was told he would not be going to New York.

[BSN07]

I wouldn't be shocked of Bailey was moved for a utility IF. The Sox where mentioned as keeping tabs on a couple guys for the role. Bake from the Rox, and a couple others who's names I don't recall off hand, I'll see if i can find the article again.

 

 

 

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark has a new blog post up. Some of this is old news, but probably worth revisiting... The Reds are dangling infielder Jeff Keppinger, with the Red Sox and Astros as possible suitors. The Red Sox and Astros have also checked in on Colorado's Jeff Baker, along with the Phillies. But, the Rockies are reportedly demanding a "quality young starter" in return. The Mets expressed interest in Ronny Paulino before he was dealt to the Giants (then moved swiftly to the Marlins). The Phillies continue to shop around for a right-handed reserve outfielder

[Dojji]

A lot of teams have their own versions of Jeff Bailey, and Ryan Shealy might be on the move soon which will really blunt any chance of getting value for Bailey.

[TheKilo]

Why would you move Bailey when Lugo is coming back in April?

[riverside sluggers]

I heard earlier this year the Jeff Bailey has an opt-out clause if not in the majors by some point

[BSN07]

Why would you move Bailey when Lugo is coming back in April?

 

This is true, I keep forgetting about Lugo. Selective memory I suppose should be to blame:lol:

[TheKilo]

I heard earlier this year the Jeff Bailey has an opt-out clause if not in the majors by some point

 

June 15 I think.

 

They'll option Carter at that point.

[Teddyballgame10]

Do Green or Carter have any speed? Love the bullpen. . .hope Lowell and Papi can bounce back though.

[Dojji]

Do Green or Carter have any speed? Love the bullpen. . .hope Lowell and Papi can bounce back though.

 

No they don't, but Baldelli can and Lugo will.

[riverside sluggers]

Kotsay when he comes back in May, is also a little bit quicker than Carter

 

But even then Carter is faster than Casey haha, god I still remember Casey being thrown out when he hit a ball that rolled along the right field wall

[rhet]

June 15 I think.

 

They'll option Carter at that point.

 

Or maybe not. Don't forget we still have Drew and his mandatory DL stints.

[a700hitter]

Kotsay can't hit like Carter. I'd like Carter to get the opportunity to mash the ball before Kotsay comes back.

[Redguitar985]

I like the lefty-righty-lefty-righty in the lineup. I think it's something that's easy to forget about, and one knock on the Phillies I've heard is that they don't have that with Utley, Howard, and Ibanez all lefties in the middle of their lineup.

[Dojji]

Kotsay can't hit like Carter. I'd like Carter to get the opportunity to mash the ball before Kotsay comes back.

 

Drew and Baldelli are going to need some help. Both are in situations where they might be on the roster but unable to play. It's inevitable that both will be unavailable at the same time at least a couple times this year. Carter doesn't help there and Kotsay does.

 

That said I really wish we had a Kotsay type that had options. I wonder if maybe Daeges might fit the bill later this year.