With the signing of Lowell the Red Sox now have to look at completing the next task of the off season: filling up the bullpen. Eric Gagne is most likely gone, Timlin should get his usual one year deal, Tavarez’s option was picked up, Papelbon and Okajima and Delcarmen will be back. Boston needs one more guy who can pitch the 7th or 8th inning or close occasionally to give Papelbon and Okajima rest. There are some options out there including Kerry Wood, Octavio Dotel, Armando Benitez, and Francisco Cordero. Although Cordero will command more money than the Sox will want to pay for him with limited closers on the market. Benitez can be very inconsistent and does not seem like a good guy for the 7th inning. That leaves Wood and Dotel. Both of these pitchers seem to always get hurt but they have a great deal of upside. We’ll see what kind of magic Theo can do to strengthen the bullpen for the upcoming season. The Hot Stove continues.
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