Julian Tavarez front runner for Boston's closer

[sinctybldh]

Red Sox manager Terry Francona told NESN's Jerry Remy that Julian Tavarez would likely be his closer if the season opened tomorrow.

Tavarez is our least favorite of the club's four stated possibilities, a group that also includes Joel Pineiro, Brendan Donnelly and Mike Timlin. We'd also trust Hideki Okajima first. Tavarez has walked five and hit two batters in 7 2/3 innings this spring, so he hasn't done anything at all to help his case during March. Also, he had a 4.71 ERA in 65 innings as a reliever last year. Don't go bidding him up just yet.

[sinctybldh]

Option No 2?

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Red Sox have asked the Giants about acquiring Armando Benitez.

"I've heard the rumors," Benitez said. "That's all right. I can't think about that. I just have to get myself ready. I know what I can do. When I'm healthy, there aren't too many people who can do what I do." The Giants would pay a portion of Benitez's salary if it meant getting a quality prospect in return for him. The Red Sox surely will want to see more from Benitez this spring before they consider giving up legitimate talent.

www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/12/SPG3ROJFTT1.DTL

[David Goodman]

The Sox pen is going to kill them this year. The meltdowns will be fun to watch.

[sinctybldh]

yep I agree. Theo is trying to throw a bunch of crap against a wall and hoping it will stick. I think their best chance of doing well is putting Papelbon back at closer.