The moves are altering the roles of several youngsters and veterans from last year’s roster. Those acquisitions are just one of many questions that we’ll evaluate in this week’s mailbag.
With the signing of Shoppach to a one-year deal, it seems like [Jason Varitek] is not coming back. What about [Ryan] Lavarnway? Staying in Triple-A?
–@John_J_Walter, via Twitter
Unless Ryan Lavarnway has an eye-popping performance in spring training, I envision that he would return to Triple-A for more seasoning. Considering Shoppach’s career success against lefties (.274/.373/.536), he is a solid complement to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who can punish right-handed pitchers.
Keep in mind that Lavarnway didn’t ascend to Triple-A until June 13 last season, so the 23-year-old only has 61 games under his belt in Pawtucket. Although he thrived in his 17-game stint in the majors, it appears the Red Sox brass may be playing it safe with the promising youngster.
If Daniel Bard really moved to the rotation, who do you think will be the Sox closer if it turns out Ben [Cherington] and Bobby [Valentine] can't find one on the market? I still can't imagine someone like [Alfredo] Aceves or [Andrew] Miller closing a game.
–Taufiq, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
With Daniel Bard attempting to transition into a starter, the Red Sox have another candidate in Astros reliever Mark Melancon.
The righty recorded 20 saves in 24 opportunities and owned a 2.78 ERA for the worst team in the majors in 2011. Now that he’s paired up with the talent on Boston’s roster, his stock could rise.
In addition to Melancon, I believe Bobby Jenks could also contend for the position. Despite posting a 6.32 ERA in 19 appearances last season, Jenks was riddled with injuries, such as a biceps strains, back stiffness and pulmonary embolism.
After undergoing a procedure on his back earlier this week, Jenks should recover in time to compete in spring training. If he’s healthy, there's a chance he could revert back to the closer who recorded 167 saves for the White Sox from 2006 to 2010.
If Varitek doesn’t return to the Red Sox, will he retire or accept offers from other teams? I could not imagine playing against him.
–Louise, Sturbridge, Mass.
That’s a good question, Louise. In 68 games last season, Varitek hit .221 with 11 homers and 36 RBIs along with a .723 OPS. A simple glance at those numbers shows that Varitek would be valuable as a backup elsewhere despite being 39 years old.
It’s just a matter of desire for the captain. He expressed his wish to finish his career with the Red Sox, so –– assuming Boston doesn’t re-sign him –– it comes down to whether his Red Sox legacy is more important to him than playing one or two more years in another uniform.
If being a Red Sox player for life is the priority, he could likely retire. Just don’t expect manager Bobby Valentine to tab another captain. At the winter meetings, he said he wouldn’t if Varitek didn’t return.
What is the likelihood of acquiring star pitcher Roy Oswalt or Edwin Jackson?
–Michael G, Stoneham, Mass.
While I wouldn’t label Roy Oswalt as a star anymore, he'd be a low-risk, high-reward acquisition. His back issues have hindered him in recent years, but when healthy, Oswalt can still be effective.
Last season, he owned a 3.69 ERA and logged 14 quality starts in 23 outings despite health struggles. Now at age 34, he won’t be the answer. But at the No. 4 or No. 5 spot in the rotation, the crafty veteran can bring stability.
As for Edwin Jackson, he is a durable option for the Red Sox. In 2011, the 28-year-old helped key the St. Louis Cardinals to the World Series, notching a 5-2 record during his National League stint.
But the likelihood of signing either Oswalt or Jackson isn’t high because the veterans may seek more cash than the Red Sox are willing to spend on the rotation. But it’s worth a shot nonetheless.
Do you think the Red Sox can be a championship team without making any major offseason acquisitions?
–Nicholas Karalekas, Riverside, Calif.
I believe it’s possible. Before the unprecedented September collapse, the Red Sox were on pace to qualify for the postseason and at that point, anything could’ve happened come playoff time. But most people forget that because of the collapse.
The only major (and I stress major) void on the team is closer. Without a dependable closer, the Red Sox will struggle to emerge from the AL East, let alone the postseason race. But Daniel Bard and Mark Melancon could ultimately develop well.
Otherwise, the rest of the vacancies are just secondary pieces. If it comes down to it, the Red Sox could fill the right field opening with Josh Reddick. As for the starting rotation, the addition of a veteran, free-agent pitcher could solve the issue on a short-term scale.
In the grand scheme of things, no major splashes are essential. A few tweaks could suffice.
Have questions for Didier Morais' mailbag? Leave them in the comments section below, send them to him via Twitter at @DidierMorais or send them here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week. Be sure to check back to see if your question was answered.
