Sox send out invitations

While the Red Sox held off yesterday on official confirmation of the Alex González signing, which would complete the remaking of their infield, they released the names of the 20 nonroster players who have been issued invitations to the big-league camp, which offers some clues to the competition for spots on the bench and bullpen.

The most notable names include righthanded-hitting outfielders Dustan Mohr and Gabe Kapler, lefthanded-hitting infielder-outfielder Willie Harris, and infielder (and Manny Ramírez dinner partner) Enrique Wilson, all of whom have big-league experience. Also gaining an invitation was top infield prospect Dustin Pedroia, who figures to start the season with Triple A Pawtucket and could wind up competing with González and Alex Cora at short, should the Sox elect to return him to the position he was playing when drafted out of Arizona State in 2004.

Seven pitchers also are among the invitees, including lefthander Craig Breslow, who held lefthanders to an .063 average (1 for 16) in his big-league debut for the Padres last season and figures to be given a chance to challenge holdover Lenny DiNardo as the team's only lefthander out of the pen.

Kapler is coming off September surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles' tendon and is not expected to be ready until May at the earliest, but he is seeking to reclaim the role he played so well in 2004 as Trot Nixon's platoon partner in right field. The favorite coming out of camp would appear to be Mohr, who batted .274 against lefthanders last season for the Colorado Rockies.

The Rockies declined a $1.5 million option on Mohr but tried to retain the hustling outfielder, who broke into the big leagues with the Twins and also played for the Giants before hitting just .214 in 98 games for the Rockies, his home-road splits (.266, 13 HRs, 29 RBIs at home, .154, 4, 9 on the road) raising some questions about whether he was strictly a made-for-Coors Field player. But Mohr, who turns 30 June 19, hit .274 for the Giants in 2004 and in his career has torn up Fenway Park in a handful of at-bats (8 for 18, .444, with a home run).

The lefthanded-hitting Harris, who scored the game's only run for the White Sox in their World Series-clinching win over the Astros, figures to compete with Adam Stern as a backup center fielder to Coco Crisp. Harris, who split last season between Chicago and its Triple A team in Charlotte, N.C., also can play second base and short and has value as a pinch runner.

Wilson played a memorable cameo role in the Ramírez saga in 2003 on the weekend when Ramírez didn't show up at the ballpark for the finale of a Yankee series but was spotted socializing with his good friend Wilson, then a Yankee utilityman. There wouldn't appear to be a job for him in a Sox infield that already goes eight deep, with first baseman J.T. Snow and middle infielders Cora and Tony Graffanino already available as backups. But Graffanino appears to be a virtual certainty to be traded during spring training, and with Wilson and Pedroia around it's not inconceivable that the Sox could also offer Cora in the right deal, assuming González beats him out as the starting shortstop.

How likely is it that Theo Epstein will make more trades between now and Opening Day? A virtual certainty, given the depth of the Sox' pitching staff, the desire of David Wells to be traded, and the extra infielders at the general manager's disposal, although he may want to determine the health of Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, and Keith Foulke before pulling the trigger.

But at the moment, the Sox have seven potential starters: Schilling, Beckett, Wells, Matt Clement, Tim Wakefield, Bronson Arroyo, and Jonathan Papelbon. There is also depth in the bullpen, with Foulke joined by Mike Timlin, David Riske, Julian Tavarez, Rudy Seanez, a lefty (DiNardo), and Rule 5 pick Jamie Vermilyea, giving the Sox the luxury to have prized prospects Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen open the season at Pawtucket. With the surplus of arms -- and mindful that Nixon is eligible for free agency after the season -- Epstein could conceivably package a pitcher and infielder for outfield prospects or use a pitcher plus Nixon in an even bigger deal.

The other nonroster invitees include righthanders Tim Bausher, Matt Ginter, and Jimmy Serrano; lefthanders Mike Bumatay, Mike Holtz, and Phil Seibel; catcher Ken Huckaby; infielders Trent Durrington, Luis A. Jimenez, Rodney Nye, and Josh Pressley; and outfielders Luke Allen, Ron Calloway, and Tyler Minges.

Registration for a random drawing for the opportunity to purchase tickets for the Red Sox' nine home games against the Yankees, as well as the chance to purchase tickets for the Green Monster and right field roof deck locations, began yesterday and continues through noon Monday. Fans may register for each drawing at www.redsox.com. Three separate random drawings will take place. There is no fee to register and fans can register for all three drawings at once. Those without Internet access will have the opportunity to order by phone on the day that winners from each Internet drawing purchase their tickets. No tickets will be available at the Fenway Park ticket office. There will be a one-game, four-ticket purchase limit for each winner selected. Ticket prices for the Yankees games range from $12 to $95 (the same as all other opponents). Green Monster ticket prices range from $25 to $130, and right field roof deck tickets range from $25 to $115. All online orders will be assessed a $3.50 per-ticket convenience fee and a $7 per-order processing fee. Phone orders will be assessed a $10 per-order processing fee.