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March 22, 2008
BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer
TOKYO -- Bryan Corey is among a handful of Red Sox relievers who finds himself out of options -- and perhaps out of time with the Sox.
Invited on the trip here -- along with David Aardsma and Javier Lopez -- Corey is in a sort of no-man's land. If he doesn't make the Sox' 25-man roster, he can't return to Pawtucket without first being exposed on waivers. It's likely he would be claimed by another team, which would then have to put him on its own 25-man roster and a spot on a big league staff.
With days to go before the season opener here, Corey is unsure of where he stands.
"Right now,'' he said, "I think no news is good news. I'm just trying to stay focused on the task at hand and not get too far ahead of myself.''
Though he could be claimed by another team if the Sox don't make room for him, "I really want to stay on this team. I don't want to go anywhere. But I also know what happens if I don't make this team.''
Then again, the knowledge that his lack of options makes it more likely he will pitch in the big leagues somewhere has been a source of some comfort.
"That scenario has caused the least amount of stress that I've ever had in an offseason,'' he said. "I just told myself to come into spring training and pitch the way I can (and know) that it will work out.''
Corey has been with the Sox since 2006, when he was obtained from Texas at the trade deadline for pitcher Luis Mendoza. He appeared in 16 games with the Sox in 2006, then spent all of last year at Pawtucket until September, when he earned an end-of-season promition to Boston when rosters expanded.
He made the most of his call-up, going 1-0 in nine games with a 1.93 ERA.
"I think (that stint) helped me quite a bit,'' said Corey. "I thought I pitched well enough last spring to make the club, so it was very frustrating to be in Triple-A for my tenth year. But that (September callup) gave me more confidence. Hopefully, that was the beginning of some good things here.''
Manager Terry Francona sympathized with Corey's feeling of limbo.
"But we can't tell someone what we don't know,'' said Francona. "We just told those (bullpen guys in contention) that they were coming here and they know when we leave here, some moves have to be made.''
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