FORT MYERS, Fla. – A week before the season begins, Boston Red Sox Manager John Farrell knows the catching situation is not settled.

Plus, Farrell might not have his No. 5 starting pitcher to begin the season.

And Farrell doesn’t have his closer ready.

How to fill the gaps?

Farrell has options, but he must discern how to use them. The season opener is next Monday.

“We’re taking every available day to us,” Farrell said.

Advertisement

This is where Boston’s depth comes into play. General Manager Ben Cherington has been applauded for building a team through development and acquisitions. Now we get a chance to see if the depth really is a plus – and how Farrell will use the players Cherington has provided.

You can sense Farrell’s challenge when he talks about potential fill-ins, like pitcher Matt Barnes. Starter or reliever?

“That’s an ongoing discussion,” Farrell said. “He’s a guy who’s been throwing three pitches for strikes, so when you profile him, he profiles as a starter.

“But he’s also thrown the ball well in shorter stints. He’s a good pitcher. We just want to be sure … ”

Farrell paused.

“As you can tell, there’s a number of moving parts in all this.”

Advertisement

The Red Sox might start the season without catcher Christian Vazquez (elbow injury), starting pitcher Joe Kelly (recovering from biceps soreness) and closer Koji Uehara (sore hamstring).

Vazquez’s situation is the most troubling news. Only 55 games into his major league career, Vazquez is already considered one of the best defensive catchers in the game. But concern about his ailing elbow heightened this weekend after reports that “something” was found in an MRI. He has an appointment Wednesday with Dr. James Andrews, the surgeon best known for performing Tommy John procedures – the ligament-transfer surgery that normally sidelines players for at least one year.

“I don’t know about the severity right now,” Farrell said. “Anytime the elbow is talked about, you go to someone who is probably the source in our industry, and that’s Dr. Andrews, to take a further look at this.”

Vazquez’s absence makes the trade for Ryan Hanigan look prudent. Boston got Hanigan last December from San Diego for struggling third baseman Will Middlebrooks (who is hitting .341 for the Padres this spring, by the way). Hanigan, 34, averaged 87 games a season for the past six years with the Reds and the Rays.

“We were looking for someone who was not your typical back-up,” Farrell said. “Our desire was to bring in someone who can catch 80 to 100 games.”

If Vazquez was healthy, Hanigan would not have been needed so much. Now it appears he will be.

Advertisement

Boston’s two options to replace Vazquez are 22-year-old prospect Blake Swihart and 35-year-old journeyman Humberto Quintero.

“Were focused on the interior options, “Farrell said. “Both guys are going to catch (the rest of spring training). (Swihart is) on the (40-man) roster. (Quintero is) not. There are a number of factors that go into this.

“Setting the roster aside, you look at the ways guys are handling pitchers, their game-calling, their defensive abilities.”

If Vazquez is down only a short time, it’s likely Swihart would start the season in the majors because he’s already on the 40-man roster.

But if Vazquez is gone for the season, then Quintero probably would get the call – for now. Quintero has caught parts of 12 major league seasons. The Red Sox could open a spot on the 40-man roster by placing Vazquez on the 60-man disabled list. That would give Swihart more time to develop as an all-around catcher while in Triple-A.

Finding a starter to replace Kelly may not be necessary. He hasn’t pitched in a regular spring training game since March 8 – when he left a game because of a sore biceps muscle – but he has been pitching in minor league games.

Advertisement

As long as Kelly does not pitch in another major league game this spring, he can go on the disabled list and still be activated April 12 – the first game in which a No. 5 starter would be needed.

If Kelly isn’t ready then, Farrell’s best options seem to be knuckleball pitcher Steven Wright, Barnes or Brian Johnson.

Wright (3-0, 1.32 ERA this spring) has pitched well in spurts. He give up five runs on five hits and a walk in one inning Saturday, but all the runs were unearned.

Barnes is impressing with is fastball, curve and change-up mix (especially the first two). But he could also be a lights-out reliever – his fastball amps up to the high 90s when he comes out of the bullpen.

And, yes, there have been Jonathan Papelbon comparisons.

Johnson is the underdog, a left-hander who is not on the 40-man roster but remains in camp. He started Sunday (four innings, six hits, two runs, two walks and three strikeouts), and Farrell said he will pitch again Friday.

Advertisement

“Brian Johnson has been one of the bright spots in camp,” Farrell said.

The guess is that Kelly will make the April 12 start, and the Red Sox will carry an extra reliever while he is on the DL. If so, Barnes would likely be in the bullpen, and Wright and Johnson would go to Pawtucket.

While Uehara waits for his hamstring to heal, Farrell said Edward Mujica would be the closer – most of the time.

“We will also look to match up as well,” Farrell said. Could be “any one of three or four guys out there.”

Besides Mujica – who had 37 saves for St. Louis in 2013 – Farrell mentioned Junichi Tazawa and Alexi Ogando. Left-hander Tommy Layne could be used against tough left-handed hitters.

“I’m not saying this is strictly a closer by committee. We would look to close out games with Eddy. But if there’s a better match-up, I’m not opposed to doing it.”

Farrell is planning ahead, looking to plug in the right moving parts.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.