Change Is Good. Sox Continue Making Moves.

The Red Sox are continuing to make real and potential changes to both the player roster and the coaching ranks.

Oct 1, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder

(67) singles to left during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-US PRESSWIRE

Minors:
After Boston placed outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin on waivers, the Houston Astros claimed Lin today and designed right-handed pitcher Enerio Del Rosario for assignment.

Signed as an international free agent in 2007, Lin was once a top Sox prospect after he smacked a homer, went 2-2 and was the MVP in the 2008 Futures Game.  Lin is a career .256 hitter, with 22 homers, 216 RBIs and 145 stolen bases in 2,379 Minor League at-bats. In 2012 he hit .247, had two homers, 30 RBIs and 15 steals last season for Triple-A Pawtucket.

August 15 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox bench coach

(17) prior to a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE

Coaching:
After four years as a Boston coach, the Red Sox announced that Tim Bogar will not be retained. Bogar was Boston’s first-base coach in 2009 before moving to third-base for the next two seasons. He was also the team’s infield instructor those first three years. It was no secret that Bogar and Bobby Valentine‘s relationship deteriorated rapidly as Boston’s 2012 season faded early and simply got worse as the season ground on.

With new manager John Farrell coming aboard with Torey Lovullo in tow and hitting coach Dave Magadan already heading to Texas, Boston’s coaching staff could be headed for a clean sweep.

September 26, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman

(22) hits a sacrifice fly during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-US PRESSWIRE

The Big Club:
For the frist time in his career, James Loney is on the bubble. It has been reported on the Red Sox website that some sources close to the club say Loney has a less than 50-50 chance of returning for the 2013 season. Given that backdrop, it appears Loney will explore free agency and the Sox will encourage him to do so.

Loney is in a precarious position. He’s a first-time free agent coming off the worst season of his career. Lifetime, Loney has a .248/.302/.355 line against lefties and a .294/.351/.441 line against righties with an achilles heel that makes him less than desirable as a top flight first baseman; no power. In seven full seasons in the majors Loney has hit a total of 73 home runs, hitting just six in 2012. That loss of leverage will decidedly not play to his advantage as he tests the free agency waters, making him more a platoon candidate than an every day starting first baseman prospect.

Talking to mlb.com’s Evan Drelich, Loney said, “It’s definitely different. “It’s an exciting time. You get a choice, you get to see options out there, stuff like that, see what’s available. See what the best fit for yourself is.”

She has seen me changing
It ain’t easy rearranging.
And it gets harder as you get older,
Farther away as you get closer.
– See The Changes, Crosby, Stills & Nash