Don't see any way we start the season with 3 lefties out of the pen, unless Morales assumes the inning eater role that Aceves had a couple years ago, and Aceves is moved or released.  Breslow may be odd man out if Miller has a strong spring in the specialist role.

As others have said, I think Tazawa makes the opening 25, and likely could be the main set up man.

There will be trades before April (Morales and Mortensen may have value and maybe someone will gamble on Bard or Aceves), and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see 8 relievers on the opening day roster, with just 3 fielders on the bench (Ross, Ciriaco and OF/1B TBD).

The pen looks deep, especially if they stay healthy and if at least 2 of Hanrahan, Bailey, Aceves and Bard pitch like they did prior to 2012.

In response to moonslav59's comment:

In response to Soxdog67's comment:

In response to moonslav59's comment:

Tazawa was a starter. A pretty good one, before TJ surgery. Seems like it might be a good idea to stretch him out, and send him to AAA as a starter. He could always go back to the pen if needed

I'd prefer we make a 2 for one trade to make room for Tazawa and not have to DFA Mortensen, but if Taz is in AAA, he should start. I agree.

Hanrahan, Bailey, Bard, Uehara, Tazawa, Breslow, Morales, Mortensen, Aceves, Miller...that's 10 candidates for 7 jobs...let's just say they better pull off a couple of deals or some of these guys will be pitching for their competitors come season's start.

I think Bailey and Morales have the most value in the marketplace, so look for those guys to be moved, barring injuries out there. I hope Morales sticks around because I think he holds value as a 6th starter as well...better than Aceves.

I'm not sure Bailey has much value until he proves he is healthy. I think players with more years of team control have more value, and so I think Mortensen is the guy who will could be moved. We may even move Aceves.

I think what happens is we will wait until ST. If nobody goes on the DL, we will invent an unjury and DL assignment or trade someone to a team that has a hole created by a spring injury.

Bailey has 2 years of control and is an All-star closer. IMO he clearly has more value than Mort, even though Mort has a couple more years of control.

In response to southpaw777's comment:

In response to moonslav59's comment:

In response to Soxdog67's comment:

In response to moonslav59's comment:

Tazawa was a starter. A pretty good one, before TJ surgery. Seems like it might be a good idea to stretch him out, and send him to AAA as a starter. He could always go back to the pen if needed

I'd prefer we make a 2 for one trade to make room for Tazawa and not have to DFA Mortensen, but if Taz is in AAA, he should start. I agree.

Hanrahan, Bailey, Bard, Uehara, Tazawa, Breslow, Morales, Mortensen, Aceves, Miller...that's 10 candidates for 7 jobs...let's just say they better pull off a couple of deals or some of these guys will be pitching for their competitors come season's start.

I think Bailey and Morales have the most value in the marketplace, so look for those guys to be moved, barring injuries out there. I hope Morales sticks around because I think he holds value as a 6th starter as well...better than Aceves.

I'm not sure Bailey has much value until he proves he is healthy. I think players with more years of team control have more value, and so I think Mortensen is the guy who will could be moved. We may even move Aceves.

I think what happens is we will wait until ST. If nobody goes on the DL, we will invent an unjury and DL assignment or trade someone to a team that has a hole created by a spring injury.

Bailey has 2 years of control and is an All-star closer. IMO he clearly has more value than Mort, even though Mort has a couple more years of control.

Perhaps, but many teams are on a tight budget, so that would scare off some. Also, Mortensen has 5 years of control while Bailey has 2.

I could see us trading Bailey and Mortensen for a positional player, and replce them with Tazawa and/or Bard. This could actually improve our pen and positional depth in one swoop, but of course an injury to a pitcher or two could expose a new weakness.

I thought I would start with one of our brightest outlook spots.

Assuming our starting rotation remains healthy (a huge assumption), our swingmen (or fill-in starter)  will be Morales and maybe Mortensen or Tazawa or even de la Rosa later in the year.

A big decision will have to be made on Tazawa. He may be one of our best pitchers, but since he has options, he may end up in AAA to start the season if everyone is healthy. I am going to assume this is the case.

Assuming Tazawa starts in AAA, that leaves Mortensen out in the cold, unless someone is hurt or we get creative with the DL or rehab assignments. A 2 for 1 trade might be called for to make room for a better player somewhere. That leaves this for our 7 man pen:

Closer: Hanrahan

Set-up: Bailey (back-up closer)

Set-up: Uehara (7th/8th inning)

Others:

Aceves

Breslow

Miller

Morales

(Others: Mortensen, Tazawa, Bard, Carpenter, Wilson, Beato, de la Torre)

Bullpens are hard to project, but this one looks pretty good on paper.

I think Boston's bullpen is the 3rd best in the AL behind the Rays and A's.  

If Hanrahan excels, we could be number 1.

you will need all of them - the sox are always hit hard by injuries, a couple of those guys will have to fill out the rotation so dont trade anyone - not until the deadline when teams are desperate...

In response to Drewski5's comment:

In response to Ice-Cream's comment:

I think Boston's bullpen is the 3rd best in the AL behind the Rays and A's.  

Nats bullpen is very good.

Hello Drewski5.   :)

I agree with you.  The Nats have a very good bullpen (especially by adding Soriano). 

I meant to say that the Red Sox, in my opinion, have the third best bullpen in the AL. 

 Actually, that is what you said.

In response to moonslav59's comment:

If Hanrahan excels, we could be number 1.

especially if Bard returns to form (by all accounts it seems that way. He is hitting his mark with all his pitches and at his usual speed no less.)

we could have Taz in AAA and still have the best (if not, better) BP in the AL.

In response to mef429's comment:

In response to moonslav59's comment:

If Hanrahan excels, we could be number 1.

especially if Bard returns to form (by all accounts it seems that way. He is hitting his mark with all his pitches and at his usual speed no less.)

we could have Taz in AAA and still have the best (if not, better) BP in the AL.

I think Bard would start the year in AAA before Tazawa

In response to southpaw777's comment:

In response to mef429's comment:

In response to moonslav59's comment:

If Hanrahan excels, we could be number 1.

especially if Bard returns to form (by all accounts it seems that way. He is hitting his mark with all his pitches and at his usual speed no less.)

we could have Taz in AAA and still have the best (if not, better) BP in the AL.

I think Bard would start the year in AAA before Tazawa

They both might, since others are out of options. This is our likely 12- assuming no injuries:

Lester, Buch, Lack, Demp, Doub, Morales

Hanra, Bailey, Uehara, Breslow, Aceves, and one of Miller or Mortensen (one on the phantom DL or traded)

In response to moonslav59's comment:

In response to southpaw777's comment:

In response to mef429's comment:

In response to moonslav59's comment:

If Hanrahan excels, we could be number 1.

especially if Bard returns to form (by all accounts it seems that way. He is hitting his mark with all his pitches and at his usual speed no less.)

we could have Taz in AAA and still have the best (if not, better) BP in the AL.

I think Bard would start the year in AAA before Tazawa

They both might, since others are out of options. This is our likely 12- assuming no injuries:

Lester, Buch, Lack, Demp, Doub, Morales

Hanra, Bailey, Uehara, Breslow, Aceves, and one of Miller or Mortensen (one on the phantom DL or traded)

Breslow may start the year on the DL. although i hear he will begin a throwing program in the coming days.