Daniel Bard could be a pivotal member of the Red Sox pitching staff in 2012. (AP)

DALLAS — The Major League Baseball winter meetings are typically the peak of insanity when it comes to the rumor mill, but the Red Sox likely will approach the hot stove with caution. Red Sox GM Ben Cherington, in a discussion with writers, said that the Sox are content to wait to see what happens in this winter’s market rather than trying to set it.

That stands in contrast to what took place a year ago. Last December, in the span of four days, the team finalized its trade with the Padres for Adrian Gonzalez and signed free agent Carl Crawford to a seven-year, $142 million deal. Whereas the Sox were the talk of baseball at last year’s winter meetings in Orlando, this year, the team may remain relatively quiet during the convention of the baseball industry in Dallas.

“Our needs are a lot different this year than they were last year,” said Cherington. “We may be less likely to go out and sort of set the market this year than we were last year. The timing of things may be different.”

It may be a while before the Sox make their key signings, and when the Sox do add players, they may not be the so-called top-tier free agents whom the team acquires. Cherington has said several times this winter that the Sox are unlikely to be aggressive in the free-agent market. Despite persistent rumors connecting the Sox to the top available pitchers (such as C.J. Wilson and Mark Buehrle), Cherington cast doubt on the likelihood of deals for such players.

“You never say never, but I think it’s more likely we’ll be pursuing other options,” Cherington said during his session with the Boston media at the baseball winter meetings. “We always want to stay involved to the extent we have the latest information and keep your options open because you never know what may come your way and how that may change things. I would say it’s less likely we’ll be involved in those top tier guys as relative to the past.”

Here are other notes from Cherington’s session: Read the rest of this entry »

FORT MYERS, Fla. — On the one-year anniversary of the life-threatening brain surgery he underwent in Arizona, Ryan Westmoreland was on the field at the Red Sox player development facility taking batting practice with a group of Red Sox prospects. Given the circumstances of a year ago, when it was uncertain when or whether he would walk again while recovering from the removal of a cavernous malformation on his brain stem, the event was little short of remarkable.

“I would have liked to have done a little bit better,” Westmoreland said of his round of batting practice. “But I’ll take it.”

For more on Westmoreland one year after his brain surgery, click here.

Exactly one year after undergoing brain surgery, Red Sox minor leaguer Ryan Westmoreland was on the field in Fort Myers taking batting practice. (WEEI.com)

Ryan Westmoreland (WEEI.com)

Ryan Westmoreland in the batting cage (WEEI.com)

Ryan Westmoreland (WEEI.com)

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Today marks the day when official activity commences in spring training. It’s not exactly going to inspire visions of the home stretch of the playoff race, but with almost all pitchers and catchers accounted for (with the possible exceptions of Dennys Reyes and Alfredo Aceves, who face a couple days of visa-related issues), the Sox will conduct a conditioning drill today in one of the annual rites of spring.

With the real beginning of spring training, here’s a look back at what’s taken place so far in Fort Myers:

Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon's unusual offseason and status beyond 2010 have been a popular topic in Fort Myers. (AP)

–GM Theo Epstein gave his view on the state of the Red Sox roster, and manager Terry Francona did the same.

–The bullpen was a major shortcoming for the Sox in 2010. Part of the Sox’ offseason shopping spree was dedicated to upgrading it, though in the early stages of spring training (an otherwise sleepy time when paint dries and players play catch on flat ground), that has been subject to questions about dynamics and the future.

Jonathan Papelbon said that he is aware that this could be his last season in Boston, but that he doesn’t anticipate that affecting his 2011 season, even as he wants to position himself to be the top closer on the market.

Bobby Jenks, signed as a free agent this offseason, could be a closer-in-waiting either in 2012 (if Papelbon leaves as a free agent) or even this year (if the longtime Sox closer falters). But he has no ambitions of fomenting a closer controversy, and pronounced upon arriving that he’s not looking to step on anyone’s toes. The opportunity to sign with the Red Sox as a setup man, he said, outweighed the chance provided by other clubs to close.

The other potential closer-in-waiting, Daniel Bard, said that he is excited about the fact that the Sox bullpen can redistribute the workload a bit, something that could leave all of the relievers feeling fresh down the stretch. That is the forecast for this year. Down the road, the right-hander suggested that he would be open to trying his hand at starting once again.

There are 21 pitchers in Red Sox camp competing for the last two spots in the big league bullpen. Here’s a look at who has options, who’s on minor league deals and whom the Sox would risk losing if they don’t make the Opening Day roster. Here’s a closer look at 15 of the 21 candidates.

–While such players on the fringes of the roster may be unfamiliar and seem to have little relevance in the spring, the Sox staff actually spends more time focusing on such players than on established veterans, and with good reason. Here’s a look at why, as well as some of the measures that the team takes in order to ensure that players with unfamiliar faces feel comfortable in their clubhouse.

–Dustin Pedroia checked into Fort Myers, where he pronounced himself healthy and ready to play without restrictions following his recovery from a procedure to insert a screw in his broken left foot. He also endured much grief about his new hair style, which was compared by manager Terry Francona to that of Giovanni Ribisi. The comparisons don’t stop there — Pedroia shares an opinion with consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader about a particularly egregious act of consumer fraud.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that Pedroia has returned from a disastrous broken bone. As a high school freshman quarterback, he had his led snapped on an option play (though rumors that Bears linebacker Lance Briggs delivered the hit appear unfounded). His recovery from that injury, said his high school coach Rob Rinaldi, bodes well for his return from this injury. Read the rest of this entry »

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Wanted to offer some sights and … well, just sights of spring training’s early moments.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia joined Luis Exposito and some of the other catchers in diving into ‘Camp Tuck,’ an instructional catching “lab” led by Red Sox catching instructor Gary Tuck.

A sure sign that ‘Camp Tuck’ is around the corner is the image of Tuck carrying around the wooden stool he first uncovered during the Sox’ 2008 trip to Japan. The contraption is a better option than what many other teams use for catching drills: milk crates.

Daisuke Matsuzka made his first appearances of the year, going out and doing some light tossing before his workout. Like Josh Beckett and John Lackey (who said he lost about 15 pounds), Matsuzaka looks to be in good shape. Said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein regarding the righty pitcher: “The results look good. His body looks improved compared to this time last year. He’s leaner and little bit stronger.”

Also, here a little sample of how Ryan Westmoreland is coming along, integrating a love of his — soccer — in his rehab work. (He was a Rhode Island All-State soccer player while at Portsmouth High.)

The Red Sox Rookie Development Program, a two-week program for prospects considered to be 12 to 18 months from the major leagues, is in full swing. Players work out twice a day and get acclimated to major league life both on and off the field, whether through trips into the Fenway Park clubhouse or visits to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to meet with Jimmy Fund patients. Perhaps most importantly for the participants, they gain the opportunity to work with and meet the major league coaching staff, and to make first impressions that may carry into spring training.

This year’s participants are Robert Coello, Tim Federowicz, Stephen Fife, Ryan Lavarnway, Juan Carlos Linares, Will Middlebrooks, Stolmy Pimentel, Jason Rice, Clevelan Santeliz, Oscar Tejeda and Alex Wilson. For a closer look at that group, click here.

On Wednesday, the players players and farm director Mike Hazen met with the media. Some highlights:

–There is no doubt that the Red Sox farm system looks different after three top prospects — Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo and Reymond Fuentes — were dealt to the Padres for Adrian Gonzalez. But Hazen said that the team still feels good about its prospect pool, particularly about a group of players who will offer depth to the big league club this year. Read the rest of this entry »

Red Sox outfielder Ryan Westmoreland is in Fort Myers continuing his rehab from brain surgery. (Red Sox)

Truth be told, the Red Sox’ Rookie Development Program features a number of important prospects in the team’s farm system, but it does not have the one projected superstar who ranks among the most prominent minor league talents in the game. Now, that may change, with a few extremely talented, high-ceiling players such as pitcher Stolmy Pimentel, infielders Oscar Tejeda and Will Middlebrooks and catcher Ryan Lavarnway representing players of particular note. But right now, the superstar-in-waiting buzz that typically has greeted at least one player in the Rookie Development Program wasn’t evident.

There might have been such a player, however. Had Ryan Westmoreland remained healthy, had he not been struck by a life-threatening condition that required major brain surgery in March 2010, he might have been a participant in this year’s Rookie Development Program, a 20-year-old with unlimited potential and who was generating immense anticipation for his major league debut.

But Westmoreland, who one year ago at this time had been christened the top prospect in the Red Sox system by several publications, is instead working out in Fort Myers, continuing his extraordinary efforts to put his career back on track as he continues to rehab from the surgery to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain. When Westmoreland might be able to return to games remains an open question. But his efforts, in the words of farm director Mike Hazen, have been “inspiring.” There has been too much progress in his rehab — not just as a baseball player, but more importantly, as a person — to lament what could have been.

“He’s doing well,” said Hazen. “He’s hitting. He’s throwing. He’s going through all the workouts, the lifting. I still think the original diagnosis, it’s still going to take some time to get back to where he was. I’m not going to make, we’re not making, any hard-line predictions on a timeframe on when he’s going to actually come out and play a game. We’re just going to, like we have, we’re taking it day by day.

“We’re seeing steady progress. He’s seeing steady progress. It’s still going to take him a little while to get back to where he was. But we’re still confident and optimistic. Like we’ve said before, if you’re betting on any one person to get back and make it to that place, it’s him.”

Westmoreland hasn’t been in games. He’s been able to run the bases, throw and take fly balls, but he has not progressed to facing live pitching. He will be treated as a rehabbing minor leaguer this spring.

“He’ll go through all his workouts. We’ll push him when we can push him. We’ll have to pull him back when we need to pull him back. There’s no timeframe on when he may see game action or anything like that,” said Hazen. “But I know he’s chomping, wanting to get out there and do some stuff. Like I said, I feel like we’ve pushed him repeatedly to where he’s wanted to be pushed. Who knows at this point? But spring training is going to be very similar to what he is now, which is on a rehab progression. As he accomplishes those goals, those physical things, he’ll get more to do.”

It remains to be seen when or even whether Westmoreland takes the field again in a game. That said, there appears little doubt that he will do everything that he can to maximize his potential as a baseball player.

“You’d be amazed at the amount of drive in this kid, given what he’s had with the setbacks and all the things he’s had to go through. It’s inspiring is what it is,” said Hazen. “You just hope that he’s going to be able to take the field again one day because you know how bad he wants it.”

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — According to Alan Nero, the agent who represents Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland, the 20-year-old continues to make “amazing” strides in his return from March surgery to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain. Nero suggests that it is nearly impossible to keep things in perspective about the progress that the Rhode Island native has made, in part because of how far he has come.

“We’re extraordinarily grateful and blessed that he’s doing what he’s doing. It’s just incredible. We put nothing past him. He’s determined to make a complete comeback. Who can doubt him? It’s amazing that he’s done what he’s done,” said Nero. “It’s hard keeping things in perspective, understanding what he’s been through, where he’s come from, how far he’s come and where he’s going. It’s really difficult to keep things in perspective.”

The fact that Nero has been watching his client on a baseball field, engaged in baseball activities, represents an incredible developement. Nero recalled visiting Westmoreland in the first month to six weeks after the surgery, when he was working with a physical therapist to resume walking.

“He was still walking with a walker. His therapist probably weighed about 110 pounds. She was holding a harness behind him,” recalled Nero. “She said, ‘Today, we’re going to see if you can run.’ We’re all standing there. She took away the walker, he’s walking. He’s walking like this.”

To illustrate the point, Nero shuffled his feet somewhat awkwardly from side to side.

“He took off [running] like a bat out of hell. She looked like she was trying to walk a Doberman,” Nero recalled with a laugh. “And we’re all [gasping]. We all thought he was going to fall. He slowed down and just started walking again.”

Because Nero saw Westmoreland at that stage of his recovery, he is mindful that it is necessary to manage expectations about what remains to be done. Westmoreland has already achieved a great deal in his return from a potentially life-threatening or life-altering surgery that his progress to date is difficult to overstate. He is, his agent reports, making progress everyday.

The goal that Westmoreland and the team defined was for him to return to games. Everyone around Westmoreland is mindful of managing expectations for his recovery, noting that there is no case history to offer a clear view of what might happen going forward. That being the case, it remains premature to try to say when, exactly, Westmoreland will play again.

But, significantly, based on his progress to date, no one has ruled out anything for the young player, who was ranked the No. 1 prospect in the Sox system entering last year before his March surgery. No one can say whether he will be back on the field in the 2011 season; at the same time, no one has dismissed the possibility. In its own right, the fact that so much remains open to Westmoreland gives an indicator of how well his recovery has progressed.

“His aspirations are that he’s going to be back as soon as possible,” said Nero. “No one’s written [anything] off.”