Boston Red Sox

When Red Sox pitchers and catchers report for spring training, there will be one player in particular to keep an eye on. 

29-year-old right-hander Josh Beckett is entering the final season of a three-year contract extension. He is slated to earn $12.5 million, and the major question is: Will the Red Sox sign Beckett to another extension?

The month was January 2009. It was a simpler time, when unemployment was only in the single digits, Michael Jackson was still alive, and baseball awards were still predicated on RBI totals and Wins.

We can thank the latter of all that for the mistake that occurred: Jim Rice, in his last Hall of Fame ballot, was elected into the Hall of Fame.

He of magical, feared 128 OPS+ glory, like other feared players Ryan Klesko and Jimmy Wynn.

A little more than a year ago, I interviewed Josh Reddick for more than an hour out in Arizona. We talked about a lot of things, but mostly we talked about hitting. He spoke at length about how the ballclub was working with him to modify his approach at the plate.

Philosophically, the organization preaches plate discipline, but Reddick was (is) a self-described free swinger.

(Above) RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka addressed the media at MerchantsAuto.com Stadium, in Manchester, NH, after a rehab start against the Fisher Cats last July.

As the Boston Red Sox' recent flurry of transactions seems to be dying down, there is still one hole remaining on the roster: another reliever.

The Red Sox lost two solid veteran relievers in Takashi Saito and Billy Wagner this offseason, the Red Sox' current bullpen seems to be missing one piece.

The Red Sox have not been linked to anyone mentioned in the article, this is just hypothetical.

This article is in no particular order.

If you think I've left off a reliever, leave me a comment and I'll add him.

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