Back from vacation, with a little catching up to do …

First of all, some dates:

Feb. 19: Pitchers and catchers report.

Feb. 25: First full workout.

March 3: First spring training games

April 5: Season opener for the Red Sox (in Detroit) and Sea Dogs (in Reading).

April 12: Home opener for Sea Dogs

April 13: Home opener for Red Sox

THE CHARLIE FURBUSH invasion begins Friday with his appearance at the sold-out Sea Dogs Hot Stove banquet in South Portland.

Furbush, the Seattle Mariners’ pitcher from South Portland, then returns to his former school, St. Joseph’s College, to headline the Monks’ Hot Stove Auction at 1:30 p.m. next Sunday. Admission is free, and Furbush will be signing autographs. Contact Coach Wil Sanborn at 893-6675 or wsanborn@sjcme.edu for more information.

Furbush will also be giving a clinic at the Frozen Ropes training facility in Portland on Jan. 21.

THE RED SOX have traded away three former Sea Dogs this offseason — Jed Lowrie, Josh Reddick and Kyle Weiland — and two others who likely would have played in Portland in the near future — Miles Head and Raul Alcantara.

In other words, two players the Red Sox did not believe would work out in Boston, and three with potential.

Lowrie and Weiland were shipped to Houston for reliever Mark Melancon.

Lowrie, 27, looked solid when he finished the 2008 season and began 2009 as Boston’s starter at shortstop. But injuries limited him to 175 games over the last three years. He was a .252 hitter and, while he had no errors in 49 games at shortstop in 2008, he made 10 errors in 49 games there last year.

Weiland, 25, was rushed to Boston last year and was misused as a starter (0-3, 7.66 ERA). He may stick in Houston’s bullpen.

Melancon, 26, was a Yankees draft pick who was traded in 2010 in a deal for Lance Berkman. He looks solid (2.78 ERA last year) and will not be a free agent until 2017.

Reddick, Head and Alcantara were sent to Oakland for closer Andrew Bailey and outfielder Ryan Sweeney.

Reddick, 24, hit .280 with seven home runs in 87 games last year and may have started in right field for the Red Sox this season. But the job eventually appears to be Ryan Kalish’s (with Sweeney keeping the spot warm).

Head, 22, a Class A first baseman, showed some pop with 22 home runs last year and might have reached Portland by this summer. But with Adrian Gonzalez signed through 2018, where was Head going to go in Boston’s organization?

Alcantara, who turned 19 last month, has had mixed results in the rookie leagues. He could become a dominant pitcher down the road or not.

With Bailey, Boston has a replacement for Jonathan Papelbon.

Sweeney, 26, is another left-handed hitting outfielder, but he hits the ball to left field well and can play all three outfield positions.

CATCHER KELLY SHOPPACH is coming back to the Red Sox, signing a one-year, $1.14 million contract.

Shoppach played in Portland in 2003, the Sea Dogs’ first year as a Red Sox affiliate, and showed a quick, strong arm.

Shoppach may not be much with the bat (he hit .176 last year; .241 against left-handers), but he did lead the league in throwing out base stealers (41 percent caught).

FIVE SEA DOGS pitchers from last year have left the Boston organization, or baseball entirely.

Tommy Hottovy (Royals) and Kyle Fernandes (Rangers) signed minor league contracts. Cesar Cabral was taken in the Rule 5 draft by Kansas City and then traded to the Yankees.

Miguel Gonzalez was released after going 0-5 with a 6.17 ERA, and Seth Garrison retired after injuries limited him to 20 appearances.

Three other Sea Dogs from last season are free agents. There’s no word yet on where pitcher Blake Maxwell, catcher Mark Wagner and infielder Ryan Khoury will land.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

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