Red Sox reserve strength that will be in Pawtucket – maybe

The Boston Red Sox will soon make cuts that could determine the baseball future of several players. This is a look at a few and two who will be contractually protected.

With spring training winding down, we’re nearing the point of finding out which players will round out the last few spots on the Boston Red Sox Opening Day roster and who will left waiting in Pawtucket.

There are terms in baseball that apply to certain players and two such terms are a “tweener” and “4A” player. Both terms are symbolic of a player who is close to being in the major leagues, but has never made it to where they can latch onto steady employment. The reason is simple – deficiencies. Some level of weakness either defensively, the pitchers finding holes in swings, injuries, logjams with clubs or the fact they are just not good enough.

The Triple–A level teams are stockpiled with players that meet that classification or players that had an extended taste of the majors and wish more – with the base salary and benefit packages that are a desirable avenue to follow.

Players that are borderline spend considerable time watching the transaction wire, finding injury updates and looking for any movement in the majors that could offer them an opportunity to get that precious call and a far more elegant lifestyle. Boston now has their share of players who fill that niche and they will either be at Pawtucket for insurance or – if fortunate – land elsewhere to fill a need.