azredsoxfan wrote:

---

Could be the end for McDonald, Spears would be a better fit for the utility role since he can play all 4 IF roles as well as the corner OF positions if needed. Depending on where CC is in ST with his recovery, the Sox might not place him on the DL and start the year with him as day-day status.

Didn't realize Spears had so much positional flexibility. Ideally, I'd like the 4th bench player to be an IFer/OFer, but I still think its more likely they'd go with McDonald over Spears. Note that in 2011, the Sox had a very similarly constructed roster, with Drew/Cameron instead of Sweeney/Ross, and Lowrie instead of Aviles. They went with McDonald over Spears then; why would they switch this season?

I agree it's extremely unlikely, because of his contract and for psychological/perception reasons. But the fact is that even the All-Star Carl Crawford of 2004-2010 should have been platooned.

Arquimedez Bozo wrote:

---

RE: 40-man move, I actually think Alex Speier's got a good read on the situation (shocking, I know). Albers, Atchison, Bowden, Doubront, Miller, and Morales are all out of options, and there's no way they all make the roster without injuries. According to Speier (http://fullcount.weei.com...ter-spot-for-cody-ross/) the Sox gauged trade interest in all six earlier this offseason knowing that it was likely one or more would need to be moved to open a 40-man spot. Now would be the time, perhaps, to see what they can get for Doubront or Bowden. They could also try to sneak one of them (or Clay Mortensen, who could easily be added back once Dice-K and Lackey go to the 60-day DL) through waivers.

In a vacuum, I think Mortensen is the most expendable guy on the roster. But I'm figuring they wouldn't have traded for him if they weren't planning on at least keeping him through spring training. While the obvious thing is to try to pass one of the pitchers through waivers now rather than wait till 2 months, don't forget about position players. Lars Anderson and Luis Exposito are candidates. Though I think we need to keep Exposito for catching depth.

I also have a ridiculous thought about putting Lackey on waivers. He'd obviously clear waivers because of his salary (and if not, great!), and then would have the option of electing free agency or accepting a minor league assignment. Obviously, you'd promise him that, if he accepted the 'assignment' it would just be for roster purposes and he'd be back on the 40-man roster in 2013. He's not going to pitch in 2012 anyway. It's not going to actually happen, but it'd be a clever way to deal with the offseason.

ADD:  Atchison DFA'd, Ross added to the roster.