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Beckett ready; difficult roster choices

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

TORONTO -- Josh Beckett joined the Red Sox here and is healthy enough to be scheduled for a start Sunday in Rogers Centre against Blue Jays ace right-hander Roy Halladay.

Beckett, who missed a good portion of spring training as well as the team's trip to Japan and the West Coast because of a lower back strain, threw a side session in Florida yesterday.

With Beckett's activation from the disabled list imminent, Boston manager Terry Francona admitted the corresponding roster move to make room for the right-hander will not be easy. The roster headache will be aggravated further in a week or so when Mike Timlin (cut on right ring finger) is expected to be activated from the disabled list.

On the roster bubble are three relievers -- Javier Lopez, Bryan Corey and David Aardsma. Each of them is out of options, so the Sox can't just option them to Pawtucket without exposing them to waivers. And the team's expectation/fear is that whoever the Sox remove to make room for the veteran pitchers will be claimed by another team.

"There are a boatload of factors,'' said Francona in talking about the decision as to whom the Sox will lop off the roster.

"It's not just if somebody gave up a run in a game. We're trying to make decisions to make the ballclub better now and for the long term. There's just not a lot of flexibility because of the team in place. That's part of the function of having so many veterans,'' said Francona.

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 5:15 PM | Permalink