Think Red Sox fans are glad Mookie Betts wasn’t traded in the offseason? Rusney Castillo suffered an oblique injury in spring training and Boston can be ever-so-patient with him because Betts might be a better option anyway in center field.

Ah, the beauty of Boston’s depth.

Additional Images

Anthony Ranaudo wasn’t developing as well or as quickly as the Red Sox wanted, so off to Texas he went, traded for a left-handed reliever. Ranaudo was just one of the former Sox prospects who are now elsewhere. The Associated Press

The Red Sox have developed several promising players in recent years but they can’t all stay. Just look at some of questions leading into last season:

Will Anthony Ranaudo’s stuff play in the major leagues? Pitchers Allen Webster, Alex Wilson, Drake Britton and Aaron Kurcz have talent but can they make it? Is there room for outfielder Alex Hassan to develop? Can catchers Ryan Lavarnway and Dan Butler get a shot? Third baseman Will Middlebrooks will bounce back, right? Will high draft picks Ryan Dent, Derrik Gibson and Peter Hissey show their potential at the plate?

Now all those players, all former Sea Dogs, are gone from the Red Sox system.

In fact, there are a lot of former Dogs wandering around the continent, suiting up for different organizations. With the help of extraordinary Sea Dogs scorekeeper (and researcher) Thom Hinton, here’s a look at who’s where:

• Ranaudo was traded to Texas for Robbie Ross. The Red Sox apparently felt Ranaudo’s potential (which garnered a $2.5 million signing bonus) was shrinking, especially with need for a left-handed reliever.

• Webster was traded to Arizona in the Wade Miley deal. Webster is a converted infielder with an outstanding fastball but too little polish.

• Wilson was traded to Detroit as part of the Yoenis Cespedes-Rick Porcello deals. Wilson, a second-round draft pick in 2009, featured a 1.91 ERA in 18 games last year. He had one more minor league option but getting Porcello was a priority.

• Britton was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs. Britton had a 2.93 ERA in 25 games over the past two years but was out of minor league options. Boston was not ready to commit to him. He was designated for assignment to make room for Alexi Ogando.

• Kurcz was traded to Atlanta for Anthony Varvaro. Kurcz came back strong after 2013 Tommy John surgery but never reached Triple-A. Varvaro brings dependability to the pen.

• Hassan was removed from the 40-man roster in November to make room for other prospects. He had played only three major league games and had only one year of minor league options left. Oakland claimed Hassan, then designated him. Then Baltimore claimed Hassan but also dropped him. Now he’s back with Oakland.

• Lavarnway has bounced around more than Hassan since being designated in November to make room for Pablo Sandoval. Lavarnway was out of minor league options and was too far down the depth chart. Since being waived, Lavarnway has been picked up and dropped by the Dodgers, Cubs and Orioles. He finally signed a minor league contract with Baltimore.

• Butler was traded to Washington for Triple-A left-handed pitcher Danny Rosenbaum. Boston’s catching future is Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart.

• Middlebrooks was traded to San Diego for backup catcher Ryan Hanigan. Middlebrooks, a breakout slugger in 2012, has struggled since.

• Dent signed a minor league contract with the Cubs (i.e. the “Midwest Red Sox”). He was a first-round draft pick in 2007 but his career average in the minors is .229.

• Gibson signed a minor league contract with the Orioles. A second-round draft pick in 2008, he was a .250 hitter in the minors although he batted .302 in Portland last year.

• Hissey is still a minor league free agent. He was a fourth-round draft pick in 2008, given a $1 million signing bonus. But he hit .250 in the minors and played the last three seasons in Portland.

Several member of the 2014 Sea Dogs are also free agents: pitcher Pete Ruiz and corner infielder Stefan Welch (neither re-signed by Boston), and pitchers Michael Olmsted and Mickey Pena (released).

Two others who played in Portland last year are in new organizations. Infielder Heiker Meneses (Twins) and catcher Carson Blair (Athletics) signed minor league deals.

OTHER FORMER SEA DOGS from previous seasons have moved around on minor-league deals: outfielder Ryan Kalish (Blue Jays), first baseman Lars Anderson (Dodgers), and pitchers Caleb Clay (Diamondbacks), Brock Huntzinger (Athletics), Michael Bowden (Reds) and Daniel Bard (Cubs).

Bard, 29, will likely go to Triple-A, where he will reunite with former Sea Dogs pitching coach Mike Cather.

OSCAR TEJEDA, a former Sea Dogs infielder/outfielder, is back in the Red Sox organization. Tejeda, 25, once a touted Red Sox prospect, was designated for assignment in 2012 and claimed by Pittsburgh. He played only 21 games in Triple-A and spent last year in the Nationals’ system.

Related Stories