A definite strength of the Boston Red Sox in 2009 was the performance of its bullpen, one of the best in all of MLB. Does everyone return for another year?
Eligible for arbitration are Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Ramon Ramirez & Manny Delcarmen. The Sox hold a club option on Takashi Saito for $6 million. Daniel Bard is under contract. Billy Wagner is a free agent.
I see the bulk of the same relievers returning. Obviously, Wagner is gone to retirement or to be a closer somewhere else. Two of the more "iffy" returnees might be Saito, because of age & a poor 2nd half, & Delcarmen who continues to struggle with command as he has every year. Theo might want to use $6 million on someone other than Saito. Delcarmen may be packaged in a trade. Maybe the Sox will try a few of the kids from the farm & see if anyone sticks like Bard did.
Pitching was a strength, especially the bullpen, but it wouldn't surprise me if a few of the better relievers get packaged in a trade to help the offense get better in a Matt Holliday or Adrian Gonzalez type deal.
I think Pap, Bard, Oki & Ramirez are definitely back. The rest is up for discussion.
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