On the one hand, the move solves a huge problem for the Red Sox. Unable to sign or trade for an established closer during the offseason, they had planned to give the job to 41-year-old Mike Timlin. When Timlin was suffered a strained oblique muscle early in camp, an injury that will force him to start the season on the disabled list, they had to turn to Plan B.

Although they made no public pronouncements, it was believed Tavarez would be the choice, the reasoning being he had the best mental makeup for the role. The Sox didn't want to place the immense pressure of closing in a market like Boston on Joel Piniero, who is new to the position, and none of the other relievers -- Brendan Donnelly, J.C. Romero, Manny Delcarmen, Craig Hansen, Hideki Okajima -- had the experience or the skills for the job.

Papelbon, of course, was absolutely dominant in the role last year. He was 4-2 with 35 saves and an 0.92 ERA in 59 games, made the American League All-Star team and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.

On the other hand, however, the stress of relieving led to a shoulder injury that sidelined Papelbon for the final month of the season and the team's medical staff recommended he return to starting to avoid further problems. In returning to the bullpen, Papelbon will be unable to pitch more than an inning at a time except on rare occasions, and pitching back-to-back days could be difficult.

The Sox were strong, but never unequivocal, in their insistence that Papelbon would not relieve this season. Still, they repeated over and over that Papelbon would be a starter and once became very angry with media members who continued to speculate that the Sox would, in the end, return him to the closer's role.

Which is exactly what they wound up doing.

-- By projo.com, with reports from The Providence Journal sports department