Normally the Red Sox might be in dire straits when SS Jed Lowrie landed on the 15-day disabled with a left wrist problem after SS Julio Lugo was already out with right knee surgery, but SS Nick Green has been a pleasant surprise since the first of spring training. Green opened eyes with his offensive performance during the Grapefruit League season, and was hitting .286 with some respectable pop through the team's first 12 games. It wouldn't be shocking if Green's offense leveled off a bit with increased playing time, but his emergence means that the Sox don't have to scramble for a stopgap solution in the infield.
PLAYER NEWS: --LHP Kason Gabbard was re-acquired by the Red Sox on Thursday from the Rangers for cash considerations. The 27-year-old was drafted and developed by the Sox and then shipped to the Rangers along with OF David Murphy and minor league OF Engel Beltre for RHP Eric Gagne in 2007. Gabbard was 4-4 over parts of the last two seasons for the Rangers, and he was converted to a reliever this spring after elbow problems sidelined him for parts of 2008. Gabbard was pitching for Class AAA Oklahoma at the time of the deal, and he will report to Boston's extended spring training camp, presumably to stretch his arm out for a starting role.
--OF/1B Chris Carter was optioned to Class AAA Pawtucket when the Red Sox activated OF Jonathan Van Every from the disabled list. The 26-year-old Carter went hitless in five at-bats with the Sox in April, but the move seems to have been made because the Sox didn't have a legitimate backup center fielder on the roster. Carter will now get some at-bats in the minor leagues after riding the pine for the first three weeks of the season.
--OF Jonathan Van Every was recalled from a rehab stint at Class AAA Pawtucket. He had blasted a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday night during his first and only game for Pawtucket. Van Every, 29, started the season on the 15-day disabled list with an ankle injury and had spent the first few weeks in extended spring training. He hit .235 with five RBIs in 17 big-league at-bats last season.
MEDICAL WATCH:
OF Jonathan Van Every (sprained right ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Pawtucket on April 22, and he was activated April 23.
OF Rocco Baldelli (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list April 21.
RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (mild right shoulder strain) went on the 15-day disabled list April 15. He threw on flat ground April 21.
SS Jed Lowrie (sprained left wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 12. He had surgery April 21, and he is expected to be out until the All-Star break.
SS Julio Lugo (arthroscopic right knee surgery in March 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Pawtucket on April 22.
OF Mark Kotsay (back surgery in January 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He was rehabbing in Fort Myers, Fla., in mid-April, and he hopes to return in May.
RHP John Smoltz (right shoulder surgery in June 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He was rehabbing in Fort Myers, Fla., in mid-April, and he expects to pitch for the Red Sox in June, barring any setbacks.
RHP Miguel Gonzalez (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 14.
ROTATION:
RHP Josh Beckett
LHP Jon Lester
RHP Tim Wakefield
RHP Brad Penny
RHP Justin Masterson
BULLPEN:
RHP Jonathan Papelbon (closer)
LHP Hideki Okajima
RHP Ramon Ramirez
RHP Manny Delcarmen
RHP Takashi Saito
LHP Javier Lopez
LHP Hunter Jones
CATCHERS:
Jason Varitek
George Kottaras
INFIELDERS:
1B Kevin Youkilis
2B Dustin Pedroia
SS Nick Green
3B Mike Lowell
DH David Ortiz
INF Gil Velazquez
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Jason Bay
CF Jacoby Ellsbury
RF J.D. Drew
OF Jeff Bailey
OF Jonathan Van Every
