Team-by-team outlooks

For all intents and purposes, the Red Sox '06 season ended around the beginning of September last year. Several players were allowed to start healing early from in-season wounds and the team began to give some younger players, like Dustin Pedroia, some at-bats.

Boston turned most of their attention toward their pitching staff in the offseason and were able to sign the biggest foreign import in right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka. Some would argue that he's in for a rude awakening once he faces stiff major-league competition, but let's not forget that he was the MVP in last spring's World Baseball Classic with Japan. He is receiving an awful lot of hype, however, so he's being drafted in the fifth round of most early mixed-league drafts, but that might be a tad too high.

Matt Clement and Jon Lester are hoping to return from different ailments. Lester is hoping for a spring return from chemotherapy treatments for lymphoma and Clement is out until midseason after shoulder surgery. Even when Clement returns, he'll likely work out of the bullpen.

Boston essentially traded the bat of Trot Nixon for the promising talents of oft-injured J.D. Drew. The latter is coming off a career-high in games played (146) and reached 100 RBI for the first time in his career. But he hit only eight homers on the road, away from cavernous Dodger Stadium, so it's not a guarantee that he'll eclipse 30 homers again in his first year in the AL. He should add dozens of dents to the Green Monster in left field, however, for plenty of doubles. He's an excellent No. 3 outfielder in mixed leagues, or even a No. 2 outfielder in larger formats.

Spring position battles

Second base -- Dustin Pedroia vs. Alex Cora

The 23-year-old Pedroia will need to have a horrible spring in order for the Red Sox to turn to Cora. Grab Pedroia, who hit .305 at Triple-A and should smack plenty of doubles off the Green Monster, in AL-only play as a middle infielder.

Setup man -- Craig Hansen vs. Mike Timlin

The Red Sox are still hopeful that Hansen will mature into a closer at some point this season, but they first need him to develop in the eighth inning. Timlin's still a solid veteran, and if Joel Piñeiro gets hurt or can't fulfill his closer duties, Timlin could get first crack. Hansen's the better pick in AL-only keeper leagues though.

Boston Red Sox Outlook
Projected lineup Pos. Projected Rotation
1 Julio Lugo SS 1 Curt Schilling RH
2 Kevin Youkilis 1B 2 Josh Beckett RH
3 David Ortiz DH 3 Daisuke Matsuzaka RH
4 Manny Ramirez LF 4 Jonathan Papelbon RH
5 J.D. Drew RF 5 Tim Wakefield RH
6 Mike Lowell 3B Alt Jon Lester LH
7 Jason Varitek C
8 Coco Crisp CF Top bullpen arms
9 Dustin Pedroia 2B CL Joel Piñeiro RH
Top bench options SU Mike Timlin RH
R Wily Mo Pena OF RP Craig Hansen RH
R Alex Cora INF RP Brendan Donnelly RH
Rookies/Prospects Age Pos. 2006 high Destination
1 Daisuke Matsuzaka 26 RH SP Japan Majors
Hype will likely have him overrated, but he has big-time potential
2 Dustin Pedroia 23 2B Majors Majors
Minor league numbers are as intriguing as his talent and opportunity
3 Jacoby Ellsbury 23 OF Double-A Triple-A
Speedster could take over in CF if (when?) Coco Crisp fails
4 Clay Buchholz 22 RH SP Class A Class A
Numbers look filthy, but Red Sox have ample depth right now
5 George Kottaras 23 C Triple-A Triple-A
Another Jason Varitek injury paves way for decent C prospect
Best of the rest: RHP Daniel Bard, 21; RHP Bryce Cox, 22; OF Brandon Moss, 23; LHP Kris Johnson, 22; RHP Michael Bowden, 20; 1B Lars Anderson, 19.

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