DEPARTURES: RHP Mike Timlin (free agent, unsigned), 1B Sean Casey (retired), RHP Paul Byrd (free agent, unsigned), RHP Curt Schilling (free agent, unsigned), C Kevin Cash (free agent, signed with the Yankees), OF Coco Crisp (traded to Royals), SS Alex Cora (free agent, signed with Mets), RHP Bartolo Colon (free agent, signed with White Sox), RHP David Aardsma (traded to Mariners).

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. RHP Josh Beckett

2. LHP Jon Lester

3. RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka

4. RHP Brad Penny

5. RHP Tim Wakefield

The rotation again is expected to be a prodigious strength, and there aren't any better trios in the big leagues than Beckett, Lester and Matsuzaka in terms of youth, power and production. Penny could be poised for a big comeback year at 30 years of age and coming off shoulder issues last season. Pitching coach John Farrell also has to be considered a huge plus working with this talented and diverse staff.

RHP Clay Buchholz and RHP Michael Bowden could be available to help if injuries or ineffectiveness strike any arms, and RHP John Smoltz will give this staff -- no pun intended -- a shot in the arm when he's expected to return in May or June.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

RHP Jonathan Papelbon (closer)

LHP Hideki Okajima

RHP Ramon Ramirez

RHP Manny Delcarmen

RHP Takashi Saito

LHP Javier Lopez

RHP Justin Masterson

The bullpen staff was once a source of frustration for the Red Sox front office, but the staff put together for the 2009 season could and should be the real strength of the club. Papelbon has put up some of the best seasons for a closer in major league history and should have more help at the back end if Saito's right elbow can return to health. Okajima has been an All-Star caliber setup man over the last two seasons, and Ramirez and Delcarmen boast the kind of stuff that can make a hitter shake his head in amazement. Ramirez, after coming over in a trade with the Royals, could be in competition with Okajima for the main setup role with the Sox. The sinkerballing Masterson and Lopez, the lefty specialist, round things out and make this among the deepest bullpens in baseball.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury

2. 2B Dustin Pedroia

3. DH David Ortiz

4. 1B Kevin Youkilis

5. OF Jason Bay

6. 3B Mike Lowell

7. OF J.D. Drew

8. SS Jed Lowrie

9. C Jason Varitek

The projected lineup is pretty much the exact same lineup that the Red Sox went into the playoffs with last season, with Bay and Lowell both capable bats behind the cleanup-hitting Youkilis. The Red Sox will need huge offensive seasons from Youkilis and Pedroia if they're to keep pace with last season, and a 30-homer, 100-RBI season from Ortiz is badly needed.

The only potential positional battle this spring could be at shortstop, where Julio Lugo undoubtedly will be looking to win back his position after a torn quad muscle and defensive mistakes led to him losing his job. Lowrie is healed after playing with a fractured bone in his hand last season.

PROJECTED RESERVES:

C George Kottaras

OF Mark Kotsay

OF Rocco Baldelli

INF Nick Green

OF Brad Wilkerson

Kottaras is expected to serve as Tim Wakefield's primary catcher. The versatile Kotsay will miss at least the first few weeks of the season after undergoing back surgery, and Wilkerson was brought aboard to give the squad depth.

It is hoped Baldelli can provide depth and athleticism at all three outfield spots, but it's pretty unknown how much he will actually provide after his bouts with an energy-sapping illness the last two years.

TOP ROOKIES: RHP Michael Bowden dominated at Class AA last season, had a brief spot start at the big-league level against the Chicago White Sox, and struck out 133 batters in 149 1/3 innings through three organizational stops. The 22-year-old will be among the first pitchers recalled from the minors if there's an injury. Heat-throwing 23-year-old Daniel Bard boasted a 1.99 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings pitched at Class AA last season and could potentially be ready for big-league middle-relief work next season if he wows them at Class AAA this season.

MEDICAL WATCH:

3B Mike Lowell (arthroscopic right hip surgery in October 2008) made his first Grapefruit League appearance March 10 as a DH.

OF J.D. Drew (lower back) flew to Boston and had a cortisone shot administered, but he has returned to spring training. It appears Drew's back could require maintenance through the course of a long season, but the outfielder hopes that the shot can alleviate the discomfort.

RHP Brad Penny (sore right shoulder) made his first appearance of the spring March 20, pitching two innings against minor-leaguers. He hopes to catch up enough to be on the season-opening roster.

RHP John Smoltz (right shoulder surgery) is being brought along more slowly than the other pitchers in camp after offseason surgery, but Red Sox officials are expecting the veteran to be 100 percent by June.

OF Mark Kotsay (back) underwent January surgery for a displaced disk, and he might be sidelined until sometime in April or May.

DH David Ortiz (sore left shoulder) missed several days at the beginning of training camp with an injury he suffered while sleeping, but he didn't expect it to be anything major.

SS Julio Lugo (right knee surgery on March 17) will be out for a month.

1B Kevin Youkilis (mild left ankle sprain, Achilles tendinitis in left foot) left Team USA on March 18. He should be ready for Opening Day.