Bullpen 2014

[Sprowl]

The bullpen was the only part of the 2013 Red Sox where deep depth wasn't quite as deep as hoped. If it hadn't been for Uehara's season for the ages and Breslow's remarkable luck on BABIP and HR/FB, the Red Sox could have been in some trouble. Tazawa and Workman both had excellent playoffs, throw hard, warm up quickly, and don't walk many batters.
 
Welcome back from injury:

• Miller (excellent strikeout stuff, if a little wild, before his foot injury. How dependable is recovery from Lisfranc injuries?)

On the bubble:

• Bailey (arb-eligible, after making $4m in 2013, and coming off TJ surgery) -- expensive, injury-prone and unavailable until the second half of the 2014 season, but the Red Sox may decide they need some insurance for the 37-year-old Uehara.
• Morales (arb eligible, after making $1.49m in 2013) -- lefties who can throw 94 mph and make the occasional start don't grow on trees, and Morales is only 27.
• Brayan Villareal fits the de la Rosa model: can he regain the command he showed several years ago with the Tigers? He appears to be out of options, which means he's a goner if he doesn't take a few steps forward in spring training.

Riding the Pawtucket shuttle:

• Drake Britton looks like a good future LOOGY, with good velocity and a hard-breaking slider. He needs to improve his command and mistake avoidance, but by the end of the 2014 he should be on the major-league roster to stay.
• Alex Wilson was not as impressive as Britton, is older at 26, right-handed, with a lower ceiling. His slider didn't look as impressive as early scouting reports advertised, and he got WHIPped pretty hard in his 2013 cameo -- but he's cheap and fungible.
• Rubby de la Rosa has wicked stuff, but needs to improve his command before his coaches can trust him in high-leverage situations. He might be slated to start, but I think his build, stuff and his two-pitch repertoire (fastball + change; slider unreliable) play up better in the bullpen.
• Allen Webster looks like a starter, but could be used in the bullpen as needed.

Goodbye to:

• Thornton (there's a team option for $6m, so the $1m buyout is inevitable)
• Hanrahan (free agent, coming off TJ surgery)
• Aceves (arb-eligible after making $2.65m in 2013: expensive, intermittently unreliable, and clinically certifiable)

Cherington has shown a penchant for maintaining control of assets for as long as possible. Assuming that asset control continues, financial flexibility is not at a premium, and injuries don't accumulate in spring training, then the bullpen coming north looks like:

• Uehara, closer
• Breslow (L, setup)
• Tazawa (R, setup)
• Workman (R)
• Miller (L)
• Morales (L, spot starter)
• Villareal (R, human white flag)

with Bailey on the DL, and Britton, Wilson, de la Rosa and Webster stashed in Pawtucket.

 

[SydneySox]

Seems about right, Sprowl, you win.
 
Is Hanrahan definitely gone? How long is it expected to have him back from TJS?

 

[selahsean]

I would think Villareal and Morales are probably ahead of Bailey on the depth chart.  There's a lot of relief arms on the market and I think Bailey ends up the odd man out.  I could see them adding a Jessie Crain type in case Breslow has officially turned into a pumpkin.

 

[Merkle's Boner]

I'm curious about their plans for Workman. I think he could potentially be the 8th inning guy but they may try to move him back to the rotation. He really had an underrated playoff run.

 

[Hee Sox Choi]

I still don't understand why we didn't sign Brian Wilson down the stretch. We sure could have used him.  Why not sign him next year?  I'm a little bit worried about Koji's arm next year as he threw a ton and has had a history of arm troubles.  I have no idea what Wilson's price tag will be but he'd be a great 8th inning guy and Koji insurance.  Plus he's from New England. And has a dope beard.  

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Does Britton have options remaining? I think he's been on the 40 man since beforr the 2011 season.

 

[Crazy Puppy]

Does Britton have options remaining? I think he's been on the 40 man since beforr the 2011 season.

 
Britton has one option year left. They added him after the '11 season.

 

[czar]

Bailey had his labrum and shoulder capsule repaired, not TJS.

I cannot fathom the Sox offering him arb. Reports are that he was out 12-18 months (I think his surgery was in July).

EDIT: Would also love for the Sox to go after a low xFIP/SIERA left-handed arm to compliment Miller. Breslow should not be considered anything remotely close to a high-leverage setup man on a contending team. Just scanning Cot's, but Oliver Perez is the type of guy Cherington should be targeting.

Also, if he comes cheap, wouldn't mind taking a flier on Ryan Madson. Team should be stockpiling upside depth to go along with what they already have.

 

[Sprowl]

Bailey had his labrum and shoulder capsule repaired, not TJS.

I cannot fathom the Sox offering him arb. Reports are that he was out 12-18 months (I think his surgery was in July).

EDIT: Would also love for the Sox to go after a low xFIP/SIERA left-handed arm to compliment Miller. Breslow should not be considered anything remotely close to a high-leverage setup man on a contending team. Just scanning Cot's, but Oliver Perez is the type of guy Cherington should be targeting.

Also, if he comes cheap, wouldn't mind taking a flier on Ryan Madson. Team should be stockpiling upside depth to go along with what they already have.

 
I forgot about Bailey's specific injury -- shoulders are less fixable than elbows, so I agree he's probably a goner with a ring.
 
Breslow has a specific skill: not throwing strikes. He can reliably miss low or away from a power hitter. It works wonderfully against hackers like Wil Myers and a few other Rays. It worked pretty well against the Tigers, but a few of them took the walks they were offered. The Cardinals believed their scouting reports, and didn't chase. When Breslow really has to throw a strike, he's at a disadvantage. He generated a lot of weak contact in 2013, and part of that should be credited to control that might be reproducible.

 

[PrimusSucks626]

How worried are we about Koji's ability to perform next year after posting a career high in innings pitched by a significant amount? His previous high was 66.2, and he hit 87 this year (74.1 regular season, 13.2 postseason).
 
Is there a legitimate reason for concern that the extra workload might reduce his effectiveness next season, or am I just worrying too much?

 

[iayork]

How worried are we about Koji's ability to perform next year after posting a career high in innings pitched by a significant amount? His previous high was 66.2, and he hit 87 this year (74.1 regular season, 13.2 postseason).

 
Koji's career high in innings pitched is 207.1, in 2003.  He's pitched over 150 innings 6 times.  
 
We can be worried about his ability to perform next year, but I don't think the number of innings pitched is the concern, it's his age.  As far as I can tell, he's been remarkably injury-free through his career, with 2007 being the only major incident.  

 

[soxtalon]

I'm curious about their plans for Workman. I think he could potentially be the 8th inning guy but they may try to move him back to the rotation. He really had an underrated playoff run.

 

This.
 
I think Workman is considered for rotation plans but if not, he enters RIGHT into the late inning as far as I'm concerned.
 
Sprowl is for the most part right but I would like to see a flier or two taken on Brian Wilson/Ryan Madson types as I am concerned about Uehara's sustainability.

 

[Pearl Wilson]

They declined Thornton's option. At least he got to enjoy the parade.
 

 
 
The Red Sox today declined the $6 million contract option on lefthanded reliever Matt Thornton. He receives a $1 million buyout vas is now a free agent. 

Thornton, 37, went 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA in only 20 appearances after being acquired from the Chicago White Sox on July 12. 

 
Globe

 

[BosRedSox5]

EDIT: Would also love for the Sox to go after a low xFIP/SIERA left-handed arm to compliment Miller. Breslow should not be considered anything remotely close to a high-leverage setup man on a contending team. Just scanning Cot's, but Oliver Perez is the type of guy Cherington should be targeting.
 

 
Have advanced metrics just blazed past me in the last few years? I don't understand how Oliver Perez > Craig Breslow. Breslow's career WHIP is 1.22. He's got a much larger resume than Perez as a reliever and baseball reference gives him a big edge in WAR. It seemed to me that Breslow had a really good season, and a few really strong seasons before 2012. But hell, I'll admit, I'm still learning when it comes to advanced metrics, where exactly has Breslow graded out poorly? 

 

[TheYaz67]

Just a bump to this thread to note a report on one of the bullpen "question marks" - Miller's rehab on the foot injury seems to be going well:
 

 
The good news is Miller said he’ll be ready to go when spring training begins next month. He rehabs three days a week in Florida with a physical therapist recommended by the Red Sox, is in the midst of an offseason throwing program, and works out on his own as well, unencumbered by the boot he wore from surgery until the World Series.
 
“I’m running, hopping, doing plyometrics, jumping around, agility, all of that stuff,” he said. “Everything has gone as planned, if not as good as I could’ve hoped. I’m happy with where everything’s at, and it seems like everything’s going to be just fine.”

 
http://bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/boston_red_sox/2014/01/andrew_miller_puts_best_foot_forward

 

[normstalls]

The Pawtucket shuffle thread got me thinking about the 2014 bullpen.  Inevitably it will change throughout the season due to injury/ineffectiveness/call ups but what is the general consensus for what the opening day bullpen will look like?
 
I am seeing something like this, with the roles being best guess estimates.  Not strict definitions:
 
Koji Closer
Mujica Set up
Taz/Breslow 7th inning matchups
Badenhop/Miller 6th inning matchups
Capuano Swingman/Longman
 
If Koji is anything close to the Koji we fell in love with last year, that looks like a real good bullpen.  Lots of flexibility and options for Farrell.  Not too mention a lot of depth in AAA.  Workman and Britton being two pretty decent arms waiting on deck. 

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

I don't have any reasoning at all... but I feel that De La Rosa will end up being a dominant 8th inning guy by the end of the season and will take over closer's role for years to come by 2015.

 

[RIrooter09]

The Pawtucket shuffle thread got me thinking about the 2014 bullpen.  Inevitably it will change throughout the season due to injury/ineffectiveness/call ups but what is the general consensus for what the opening day bullpen will look like?
 
I am seeing something like this, with the roles being best guess estimates.  Not strict definitions:
 
Koji Closer
Mujica Set up
Taz/Breslow 7th inning matchups
Badenhop/Miller 6th inning matchups
Capuano Swingman/Longman
 
If Koji is anything close to the Koji we fell in love with last year, that looks like a real good bullpen.  Lots of flexibility and options for Farrell.  Not too mention a lot of depth in AAA.  Workman and Britton being two pretty decent arms waiting on deck. 

 
I think Miller would be ahead of Breslow against lefties.  I believe Breslow has reverse/somewhat neutral splits. 

 

[5dice]

 
I think Miller would be ahead of Breslow against lefties.  I believe Breslow has reverse/somewhat neutral splits. 

 
No question about Miller as higher leverage, especially where a K helps.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

The Pawtucket shuffle thread got me thinking about the 2014 bullpen.  Inevitably it will change throughout the season due to injury/ineffectiveness/call ups but what is the general consensus for what the opening day bullpen will look like?
 
I am seeing something like this, with the roles being best guess estimates.  Not strict definitions:
 
Koji Closer
Mujica Set up
Taz/Breslow 7th inning matchups
Badenhop/Miller 6th inning matchups
Capuano Swingman/Longman
 
If Koji is anything close to the Koji we fell in love with last year, that looks like a real good bullpen.  Lots of flexibility and options for Farrell.  Not too mention a lot of depth in AAA.  Workman and Britton being two pretty decent arms waiting on deck. 

 
I'll be thrilled if his numbers are 50% worse in 2014 than they were in 2013.  Just can't see him doing that again.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

 
I'll be thrilled if his numbers are 50% worse in 2014 than they were in 2013.  Just can't see him doing that again.

 
The only thing about his 2013 that wasn't just a mildly elevated version of his normal game, as established with the Orioles and Rangers over the preceding three years, was his HR/9 of .61. He had never before been under 1.00. But other than that, his worst peripheral numbers as a reliever have been a 10.75 K/9, a 1.25 BB/9, and a .294 BABIP (and that 2010 number is about .100 higher than his average over the three years since).
 
It's really important to emphasize how un-fluky his 2013 was. A career year, yes, but not an outlier. Age may catch up with him at any time, but until it does, his floor is pretty high.

 

[koufax37]

 
The only thing about his 2013 that wasn't just a mildly elevated version of his normal game, as established with the Orioles and Rangers over the preceding three years, was his HR/9 of .61. He had never before been under 1.00. But other than that, his worst peripheral numbers as a reliever have been a 10.75 K/9, a 1.25 BB/9, and a .294 BABIP (and that 2010 number is about .100 higher than his average over the three years since).
 
It's really important to emphasize how un-fluky his 2013 was. A career year, yes, but not an outlier. Age may catch up with him at any time, but until it does, his floor is pretty high.

 
I agree with you on the general sentiment, but the outlier of 2013 is not his peripherals, but his workload.  After significantly exceeding his career high for appearances and innings in the regular season, he threw another 13 games in the post season in very high leverage situations.  Additionally, he blew away his career high of number of times pitching on 0 or 1 days rest (previously 30, did it 44 plus post season), and also appearances in a month and in back to back months (although those cutoffs can make that a little arbitrary).
 
My concern for him is doing all of that at 38 and the mere physiology of it.  I have high hopes and great wishes that his shoulder is just fine, but his 2013 was significantly different in terms of load than he has gone through.
 
Much like the starters are getting some spring time off, I would LOVE to see him get a ton of extra time off through the first months of the season.  3 run lead save situation?  Hi Mr Mujica.  Pitched yesterday?  Don't put your spikes on.
 
I think having him special again in October is crucial, although he certainly plays a roll in getting us to October.  But I think Farrell will be smart with him and give him the greatest shot he has of being awesome again.  I just don't think he should or will get the opportunity to come close to repeating his 2013 numbers, and doubt he would be able to do it if given those innings and appearances.

 

[Granite Sox]

Miller and RDLR have been brutal thus far in ST. 
 
Farrell indicated he thinks Miller's issue is a matter of "repetitions".  Hope so... he's had a history of falling in and out of his mechanics (even allowing for some rust coming back from injury).  With Breslow still on the shelf, what once looked like a surplus of LHRs is currently a little more uncertain.
 
RDLR just hasn't generated any positive momentum.  He's not close to contributing to the major league club at this point and is far down the list of potential relievers (behind Taz, Mujica, and Cordero for high-leverage RHR)
 
 

 

[bosockboy]

Could Cordero displace Badenhop?

 

[Plympton91]

Workman's performance in the postseason was almost as crucial as X B, so I'm a bit surprised they put low ceiling guys like Badenhop and Capuano in his way. I'd be sad if he's not the key middle reliever.

Miller was only hitting 92/93 earlier this week, so hopefully reps will push that up to 95-97 where he's effective. If not, or if Breslow need a bit of XST, then that opens a spot for Hill.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Workman's performance in the postseason was almost as crucial as X B, so I'm a bit surprised they put low ceiling guys like Badenhop and Capuano in his way. I'd be sad if he's not the key middle reliever.

 
They're not putting those guys in his way, they're using Workman as a starting pitcher.  He's not going to be a factor in the bullpen at all until at least the second half of the season.

 

[Plympton91]

 
They're not putting those guys in his way, they're using Workman as a starting pitcher.  He's not going to be a factor in the bullpen at all until at least the second half of the season.

I suppose. If he is the 6th starter waiting at PawSox then that's a high opportunity cost insurance policy. Says something too about their views of progress by Webster and other potential call ups for that role.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I suppose. If he is the 6th starter waiting at PawSox then that's a high opportunity cost insurance policy. Says something too about their views of progress by Webster and other potential call ups for that role.

 
I don't think it says anything about Webster or the other pitchers.  They're not looking at the Pawtucket rotation and ranking the guys 1-5 (or 6-10 in relation to the MLB rotation).  All of the starters at Pawtucket, and ostensibly Portland as well (particularly if they're already on the 40-man) are viewed as the "#6 starter" on the big league club.  Whichever guy fits the need at the time will get the call.  It could be determined by when they need him, who he'd be facing, how long they'd need him or simply who's pitching best at the time.  The more options, the better off they are.

 

[Plympton91]

 
I don't think it says anything about Webster or the other pitchers.  They're not looking at the Pawtucket rotation and ranking the guys 1-5 (or 6-10 in relation to the MLB rotation).  All of the starters at Pawtucket, and ostensibly Portland as well (particularly if they're already on the 40-man) are viewed as the "#6 starter" on the big league club.  Whichever guy fits the need at the time will get the call.  It could be determined by when they need him, who he'd be facing, how long they'd need him or simply who's pitching best at the time.  The more options, the better off they are.

Taking a guy who might be the second best reliever on the big league club and putting him at Pawtucket as insurance for the starting rotation is higher cost insurance than Obamacare without the subsidies. If he's not even the primary insurance plan, then that opportunity cost is even higher. The only way it makes sense to me is of they think he's a top of the rotation prospect, and I've never heard him described that way nor do his stats project to that. Although, his minor league stats are not entirely good predictors because the Red Sox forced him to use his less developed pitches more than he would when pitching games that counted.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Taking a guy who might be the second best reliever on the big league club and putting him at Pawtucket as insurance for the starting rotation is higher cost insurance than Obamacare without the subsidies. If he's not even the primary insurance plan, then that opportunity cost is even higher. The only way it makes sense to me is of they think he's a top of the rotation prospect, and I've never heard him described that way nor do his stats project to that. Although, his minor league stats are not entirely good predictors because the Red Sox forced him to use his less developed pitches more than he would when pitching games that counted.

 
But he's not the second best reliever on the big league club.  There are at least four guys ahead of him on the depth chart (Uehara, Mujica, Tazawa, Miller).  Workman in the big league pen is probably a 6th/7th inning guy at best, more likely to get time in losing efforts than winning ones.  He doesn't need to project to be a top of the rotation starter to have more value as a starter than as a middle reliever.  He only needs to project as a better than replacement level starter (say a #4/#5 type) to do that.

 

[Toe Nash]

I don't get the concern. Workman is more valuable as a starter and the best move is to continue his development as one. If he pitches well he is sure to contribute to the big club as a starter. If he doesn't make it in this year it will be pretty nice to have more cheap starting options to work into the big club.
 
Last year they had pretty good injury luck and still got 17 starts from guys not even in their top 6. Now they've lost Dempster who had 29 starts (and replaced him with a full season of Peavy, but he is far from a lock to get 29 starts).
 
The pen had just a few contributors by the end of the year but they added Mujica and Badenhop and they get Miller back, and those are just the guys on the 40-man. If mutliple injuries strike they can always convert Workman back to relief but for now this is absolutely the wise move.
 
I'm not even sure Workman is that great as a reliever. He had a nice 8 IP in the playoffs (with just 4 K) but during the regular season he had a 1.7 WHIP as a reliever. I'd definitely rather him keep starting where he has shown steady progress. If he was just blowing guys away then maybe you want to keep him in that role but that's not what happened.

 

[Plympton91]

 
But he's not the second best reliever on the big league club.  There are at least four guys ahead of him on the depth chart (Uehara, Mujica, Tazawa, Miller).  Workman in the big league pen is probably a 6th/7th inning guy at best, more likely to get time in losing efforts than winning ones.  He doesn't need to project to be a top of the rotation starter to have more value as a starter than as a middle reliever.  He only needs to project as a better than replacement level starter (say a #4/#5 type) to do that.

I'm not at all convinced that Miller is better and Mujica is an unknown quantity in the American League. Tazawa is too HR prone to be an 8th inning stopper, and Uehara is 39 coming off the highest workload of his career. I'd bet dollars to donuts they're more likely to end up short of high quality reinforcements in the back of the bullpen than in the back of the rotation.

 

[TomRicardo]

I'm not at all convinced that Miller is better and Mujica is an unknown quantity in the American League. Tazawa is too HR prone to be an 8th inning stopper, and Uehara is 39 coming off the highest workload of his career. I'd bet dollars to donuts they're more likely to end up short of high quality reinforcements in the back of the bullpen than in the back of the rotation.

 
Eh, Workman had control issues last year.  Even with your laundry lists of wrongs with the other guys, they are still more solid options than Workman.

 

[benhogan]

I'm not at all convinced that Miller is better and Mujica is an unknown quantity in the American League. Tazawa is too HR prone to be an 8th inning stopper, and Uehara is 39 coming off the highest workload of his career. I'd bet dollars to donuts they're more likely to end up short of high quality reinforcements in the back of the bullpen than in the back of the rotation.

Is relief pitching, especially late/closer types, all that much different in the NL? How many times did Mujica face a pitcher?  Then again Melancon was dominant in the NL Central last year.
 
I think you can go back to the playoff situations last year to see where Farrell views Workman's standing in the pen. He used Koji, Taz and Breslow in higher leverage situations.

 

[Toe Nash]

I'm not at all convinced that Miller is better and Mujica is an unknown quantity in the American League. Tazawa is too HR prone to be an 8th inning stopper, and Uehara is 39 coming off the highest workload of his career. I'd bet dollars to donuts they're more likely to end up short of high quality reinforcements in the back of the bullpen than in the back of the rotation.

Over the past two years, Tazawa has a 2.67 FIP. His Hr rate isn't elite but it's above-average.
Miller's FIP over the past two years is 3.12 and he has a 12.5 K/9.
Uehara has some workload questions but as noted above, while 2013 was a career year he's still been very good every other year.
 
And what makes you think Workman is a better bet than any of these guys (not to mention Badenhop, Capuano, Cordero, Hill, or even de la Rosa or another current minor league starter)? Your whole argument is based on this assumption that Workman has huge potential as a reliever and is wasted in the PAW rotation and it doesn't hold up under scrutiny.

 

[JMDurron]

Workman as a MR in the 2nd half of 2014 only and a #5 starter in 2015 after Peavy's departure is potentially more valuable than Workman as a 2014-2015 MR for the entire seasons and a FA acquisition (Santana/Dempster FA SP rates being what they are) taking the 2015 SP#5 role, independent of what any other SP prospects are doing in AAA/AA.  Having potential SP depth in the minors doesn't matter if they aren't ready at the right time, and it's entirely reasonable to groom Workman to be a SP starting on day 1 of 2015 if the others may take longer to progress.  

 

[swingin val]

Workman has a HR/9 of 1.1 in his short stint in MLB, but his numbers across three levels last year are identical to that. His minor league numbers are not drastically different in a .8 HR/9. Tazawa has a career HR/9 of 1.0.

Not seeing that Workman is any less HR prone than Tazawa.

 

[OttoC]

I looked at starters' Game Scores a while back, the period covering 2000-10, and determined the winning percentage for each GS. Workman had three consecutive starts early in his MLB career (2013) with Game Scores of:
 
65 (@OAK)  .735
52 (TBR)  .537
64 (SEA)  .712
 
I know, small sample size, but it was enough to make me want to see more of him as a starter.

 

[normstalls]

Any chance Tommy Layne makes opening day roster and Breslow opens on DL.

Breslow to DL almost seems inevitable at this point. Most likely neef another lefty. Layne's been phenomenal this Spring.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Any chance Tommy Layne makes opening day roster and Breslow opens on DL.

Breslow to DL almost seems inevitable at this point. Most likely neef another lefty. Layne's been phenomenal this Spring.

 
I'm guessing that if there's a spot to be taken on the OD roster by an NRI pitcher, it will probably be Cordero.  Miller and Capuano already give the pen two lefties.  Layne's contract doesn't have any opt-outs while Cordero's does, which means Layne is a guy they can stash all year if necessary.  Cordero has a limited shelf-life.  He's also got history with Farrell, which probably gives him the edge.

 

[InsideTheParker]

During today's game they announced that Breslow would be pitching tomorrow, I believe. What leads you to think he's DL-bound?

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

https://twitter.com/ScottLauber/status/447726396366794752

 

[mabrowndog]

LHRP Jose Mijares has opted out of his minor league contract and is now a free agent.

 

[alwyn96]

During today's game they announced that Breslow would be pitching tomorrow, I believe. What leads you to think he's DL-bound?

There's been a bunch of noises about how Breslow's behind and was dealing with some issues. It doesn't sound like what you'd hear from a guy who feels ready to start the season strong, but I wouldn't say it's a guarantee he starts the season on the DL. 

 

[joe dokes]

There's been a bunch of noises about how Breslow's behind and was dealing with some issues. It doesn't sound like what you'd hear from a guy who feels ready to start the season strong, but I wouldn't say it's a guarantee he starts the season on the DL. 

 
Of all the pitchers, Breslow is the only one I worried about having Foulked himself last fall. He seems to have an annual flare-up of arm trouble (started last year in May; had a 10-day and a 5-day break in '12; a 1game in 11 day stretch in '11) -- nothing serious but enough to back off for awhile, and, he, more so than Tazawa, seemed to be in a steady run of really high leverage and extended innings (or getting the last out and then the first out after sitting) the last 3 mionths last year, esp after Miller went out   We all noted his career-low K rate and how he often seemed to be doing it with mirrors last year.  Maybe the WS was a fluke or maybe it was all of it catching up to him, but it always seemed like Farrell was treating him both as the most fragile reliever but also the most dependable for hi-lev. Could be like last year...a May  debut; it seemed sort of in the cards once he sat on the shelf for the first month of ST.
 
Fine by me. Let him get healthy for a long run and lets see what else they've got.

 

[Plympton91]

I'm surprised this hasn't been bumped to discuss Breslow's temporary delay and the opening it creates. Seems like with pitchers still on a pitch count and it being early in the season Workman makes the most sense because he can do multiple innings. But he has options so maybe it's one of the journeymen.

 

[bosockboy]

It's not Cordero, surprisingly.

 

[mabrowndog]

It's not Cordero, surprisingly.

 
No surprise at all, actually. The Sox would have had to burn a 40-man spot, either by putting Wright on the 60-day DL or DFAing someone. My guess is even someone like Lavarnway (who they'd clearly like to move) carries more value in the club's eyes than a 38-yo reliever who didn't pitch at all last year and hasn't been an effective major leaguer since 2011, and who'd probably have to be waived anyway as soon as Breslow returns in the first week or two of the season. By keeping Workman as the 12th man heading north, they can just option him down.
 
Cordero would  also be a redundancy. They've already got enough righthanders in the pen slated as one-inning guys.
 
Anyway, Ben says Francisco will probably ask the team to cut him loose and, despite Cordero's deal having no spring opt-out, the club will do so.
 

Alex Speier ‏@alexspeier 
Cherington said Francisco Cordero [is] expected to request (and be granted) his release.
 

 
Can't say I blame him, as he'd be in just as much of a scrum for innings on the PawSox depth chart. Some major league club will likely have room for him as a 12th or 13th man, but Boston was only going to be that team if there were some injury issues.

 

[mabrowndog]

Another item of note:
 
Pete Abraham ‏@PeteAbe  9m
#redsox released non-roster Japanese submariner Shunsuke Watanabe. Was in minor league camp.

 

[seantoo]

There may be a few new pieces, but once again this should be the strength of the team. Unless injuries are prevalent. I'd be surprised if the bullpen is not at least among the top in the AL and perhaps all baseball. Even without as many things going right for us this year, this bullpen directly or indirectly will make this a fun team to watch. As they shut down the other teams offense from the 6 inning or so through the end of the game, it will allow our offense to win more than their fair share of comeback wins simply because we should have more chances than other teams.