There has been some movement, with teams beginning their annual roundup of potential relief pitchers. The Red Sox have signed righty Scott Atchison to a non-guaranteed contract. He is hoping to return to the majors after spending two seasons in Japan and will be part of Boston's rebuilding of pitching depth after losing Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito.
This is the one time of year baseball owners, executives and player representatives get together under one roof. That does not necessarily mean there will be much news to report.
"Some years, it's really crazy and people are walking up to podiums," manager Terry Francona said. "Some years, I'm walking down to lobbies to hear what you guys think is going on."
So far, what's been going on is a lot of waiting. The biggest names on the free-agent market (Jason Bay, Matt Holliday and John Lackey) are still out there. No news on Boston's attempts to keep Bay, or whether he is headed to a new home for 2010.
Francona does not seem worried about who will play left field next season.
"We have been amazingly consistent in that we always have a left fielder," said Francona.
We know someone will play left field, but the question is who? Jeremy Hermida, acquired last month from Florida, is not expected to play every day. You'd have to think the Red Sox will be landing a new player to start in the shadows of the Green Monster.
Francona was just back from the charity golf tournament held by David Ortiz in the Dominican Republic. While there, he saw Mike Lowell and Tim Wakefield (among others) and said both veterans appear to be healthy and in good shape for the offseason.
He also said Ortiz appears to have lost 10-12 pounds, and that Daisuke Matsuzaka has been in Boston working out this offseason.
While admitting this was not major news, he stressed that "encouraging news" was better than bad news at this point of the offseason.
Of course, with very little real news to report at the start of these meetings, any news is welcome.
