--RHP Jonathan Papelbon and Red Sox management indicated that the possibility still remains for the two sides to come to an agreement on a long term extension. Papelbon set the big-league standard for first-year arbitration-eligible relievers when he signed a $6.25 million deal, but he also told Comcast SportsNet New England that he is looking for Mariano Rivera-type money in a long term deal. "We did have some discussions along the way," Hoyer said. "I would say, certainly, those discussions are open and we may pick them up. I think both sides felt like in the interest of time and not exchanging numbers (for an arbitration hearing), the best thing to do was to agree on a one-year number today. But we are certainly open to exploring those ideas, and I think their side is, too."
--LHP Javier Lopez avoided arbitration and signed a one-year, $1.35 million deal with the Red Sox to reprise his role as a left-handed specialist equally capable of handling right-handed batters. Lopez, 31, pitched a career-high 59 1/3 innings last season, his third with the Red Sox. He posted a 2.43 earned-run average last season and finished fourth in the AL with 70 appearances. The decision to sign Lopez and RHP Jonathan Papelbon to one-year deals keep alive the Boston front office's perfect record of avoiding arbitration with their players. "I think, if possible, it's the right thing to do. Arbitration is not a great process for any team," said Jed Hoyer, assistant general manager of the Red Sox. "You've got to go in there and speak ill of your own players, and if possible we like to avoid that. So far we've been able to." --RHP David Pauley was designated for assignment, and the Red Sox announced days later that he'd been sent to the Baltimore Orioles for RHP Randor Bierd. Pauley, who was originally designated for assignment when RHP John Smoltz was signed by the Red Sox, pitched in six games with Boston in 2008 and was 0-1 with an 11.68 ERA. Bierd, who comes to the Red Sox as another potential arm in the bullpen, went 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in 29 relief appearances for the Orioles last season.
--RHP David Aardsma was designated for assignment, and the Red Sox announced that the hard-throwing right-hander had been dealt to the Seattle Mariners for LHP Fabian Williamson. The 20-year-old Williamson was 4-3 with a 4.10 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings in Class A ball in the Seattle organization last season. Aardsma was 4-2 with a 5.55 ERA in 47 games for the Sox last season but struggled in the second half after having groin problems.
--SS Alex Cora had long been rumored to be going to the New York Mets, and the Mets finally announced they had signed the utility infielder last week. According to espn.com, Cora signed a $2 million contract with the Mets after batting .270 in 75 games with the Red Sox last season. With Cora no longer in the picture for Boston, it would appear that either SS Julio Lugo or SS Jed Lowrie will be serving in the utility infielder role next season.
BY THE NUMBERS: 1,467 -- The number of miles the Red Sox equipment truck will travel when it leaves Fenway Park on Feb. 6 for its destination in Ft. Myers, Fla.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "What is the old Yogi Berra-ism? 'I don't talk about the past. There's no future in it.' What's even tougher is to bite my tongue and to not go on some kind of public rant or statement about negotiations that are past." -- Larry Lucchino, Red Sox president and chief executive officer, to weei.com while discussing his thoughts on negotiating with Scott Boras.
