As usual, Theo Epstein has effectively overloaded the 2010 Red Sox rotation with Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and John Lackey owning the front end and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Clay Buchholz, Tim Wakefield, and maybe Boof Bonser competing for the final two spots.
The bullpen, led by the still largely dominant Jonathan Papelbon, is not quite so prohibitively predetermined but remains crowded. Hideki Okajima, Manny Delcarmen, Ramon Ramirez, and Daniel Bard have probably already locked up their spots if only due to their experience.
Those who fail to make the starting rotation would most likely fill the remaining bullpen openings. However, injuries and unreached expectations are an integral part of rotations and bullpens alike.
These young-gun non-roster invitees don’t have much hope before September, but if they are to get an early call, what they’ve done this spring could play an important role.
These players have all just been reassigned to minor league camps.
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