[MLBFan]

Spring Training Updates

As Spring Training is coming to an end and rosters are getting finalized, it's safe to say that the baseball season is about to begin. Baseball fans everywhere are rejoicing, especially if you are Boston Red Sox fan. The team with a phenomenal off-season, with acquisitions like Curt Schilling and Alex Rodriguez, went 14-10. They had the second best record in the Spring, behind the Toronto Blue Jays. Regardless, analysis are predicting Boston to walk away with the AL East. Here's a look at how their new players did:

SS Alex Rodriguez -- playing in 24 games; 3 home-runs, .400 average, and an OPS of 1.106. He had one of the better springs in the majors.

LF Magglio Ordonez -- playing in 24 games; 1 home-run, .313 average, and an OPS of .753. He didn't have the best spring, but he performed well.

SP Curt Schilling -- pitching 20 quality innings; 3 wins, 2.25 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.10.

CL Keith Foulke -- pitching nine innings of relief, 4 saves, 0.96 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.93.

The team suffered no injuries -- thank God. This made the process of creating an opening day roster easy; Pedro Martinez will be the ace of the Boston rotation, Curt Schilling following him, and rounding out the rotation will be Derek Lowe, Bronson Arroyo, and Tim Wakefield. As for the lineup, it's very predictable and the most common choice; Damon, Mueller, Ortiz, Rodriguez, Nixon, Ordonez, Varitek, Millar, and Reese at second. The team is projected, by Baseball America, to win ninety-six games. That's the front office's goal, too.

Also! The Red Sox have been actively shopping for a left-handed starter to start the season off with. According to their GM Theo Epstein, it isn't anyone of "high caliber" but it is a suitable "back-end" starter. Possible candidates? Thirty-eight year old Tom Glavine of the Mets, twenty-eight year old Scott Downs of the Expos, and thirty-year old Mark Redman of the Oakland A's; it would be nice to see Glavine in a Sox uniform, but given his age... he may not be the most viable option. "We want to clear up some salary, and clear the logjam we have in the outfield. Right now, we have five outfielders on our 25 man roster... I'd like to cut that down to four," said Theo Epstein. "The news is going to be leaked sooner or later, so I'm going to say it now: Trot Nixon is the guy we are looking to deal. He may be an excellent guy in the clubhouse, but if he can garner us that pitcher... we are willing to deal. Pitching and defense win championships, not offense."

The twenty-nine year old Nixon is an adequate defender with a plus bat, but Gabe Kapler, twenty-eight, has gold glove potential defense. Boston's first game of the season is against the Baltimore Orioles. Pedro Martinez will get the start for Boston, while Sidney Ponson will start for the Orioles. The game takes place at Camden Yards.

In non-Red Sox related news, the Blue Jays have acquired LF Jason Lane from the Astros in exchange for C Gregg Zaun. The trade is mutually beneficial to both teams; Zaun is expected to be the starting catcher for the Astros. Jason Kendall was traded by the Pirates to the Angels. The Angels only gave up Adam Kennedy, which makes the deal go in the Angels favor.