RED SOX : News & Notes March 22,2014.

RED SOX : NEWS & NOTES
March 22,2014.





~Bradley Jr. has quiet day : A year ago, when Jackie Bradley Jr. faced Phillies ace Cliff Lee in Spring Training, he belted a homer over the left-center-field fence at Bright House Field in his first at-bat -- a three-run blast that may have clinched Bradley's spot on the Opening Day squad last year.On Friday, Bradley, who this spring is battling Grady Sizemore for the center-field job and a place on the season-opening roster, started in center field and went 0-for-4, dropping his average to .182.Meanwhile, told that scouts have said that Sizemore, who is batting .360 this spring, doesn't look like a guy who hasn't played organized ball in two years, Red Sox manager John Farrell said, "I totally agree."It's pretty amazing, given the time missed. It just speaks to his athleticism and the low-maintenance swing."However, the Red Sox remain concerned about Sizemore's durability. Assuming he makes the team, they may limit him to a "recommended number of games played per week," at least in the beginning."To say we have a read on his durability, that's premature," Farrell said. "I think we need to get through this coming week first."That is why the 23-year-old Bradley, who was the surprise of camp last spring when he batted .419 to earn a spot in the Opening Day lineup despite having never played above Double-A, remains very much in the center-field picture.Sizemore did not make the trip on Friday. He is scheduled to appear in a Minor League game on Saturday and then start in games on Sunday and Monday. That will be the first time he has played three games in a row this spring."At-bats, innings played, back-to-back games -- we have a very detailed plan mapped out that we're following," the Red Sox manager said. "But every piece of feedback from the medical staff has been positive."The most encouraging thing is he hasn't hit the proverbial wall where we're bumped up against the limit and now we have to pull back. We haven't reached that yet which is all positive. We have every reason to believe he's a likely candidate to become an everyday player with durability on his side at some point."We're looking to put the best team on the field every night with the intent of trying to win every game. So if rest is built into the scenario, we'll factor in everything at our disposal."Sent down to Triple-A for more seasoning last year, Bradley batted .189 in four Major League callups.

~Going to Disney World ? : Farrell, his coaching staff and nine of the players who made the two-hour trip to Clearwater on Friday remained overnight at a Disney World area hotel Friday night while the rest of the squad bussed back to Fort Myers, Fla., after the game.Those who remained will be joined for Saturday's game against the Braves by a fresh group of players, including Dustin Pedroia, Shane Victorino and Xander Bogaerts.

~Breslow update : Left-handed reliever Craig Breslow threw "20 pitches of live batting practice with good intensity," Friday morning, Farrell said, and is "on tap for Monday," when he will make his first spring appearance.Asked if Breslow is still on track to make the Opening Day roster, Farrell said, "It's premature to answer that."Be realistic and look at him in those three outings next week. I think he's following a path ahead of last year. Getting to game speed takes a while, and he's getting there."

~Red Sox giving Rich Hill some time : Left-handed reliever Rich Hill worked a scoreless relief appearance Friday. And, although the Red Sox made a couple of strange plays in the field behind him, Hill remains unscored upon after three outings this spring.The 33-year-old Hill, who signed a Minor League contract with the Red Sox in January, was late in reporting to camp because of the death of his newborn son.Although it appears unlikely he will catch up in time to make the Opening Day roster, he could definitely be a factor in the Red Sox bullpen as the season progresses."He's come through a personal tragedy," manager John Farrell said. "We just want him to get comfortable."He came into camp, and he was in the bullpen throwing powerful and he's probably going through a dead-arm period trying to ramp up his innings which you fully expect starting late. So we're reserving some judgment there."Hill pitched for the Red Sox from 2010-12, but was limited by an array of injuries. He spent last season with the Cleveland Indians, where he was 1-2 with a 6.48 ERA in 63 games.

~Jon Lester's contract talks headed in 'right direction' : Red Sox ace Jon Lester threw 5 2/3 shutout innings against the Phillies on Friday, then spoke candidly when asked if a new contract could be signed before the start of the regular season.“Yeah, I think so,” he said. “I know they’ve been pretty busy dealing with [David Ortiz] and all that. It’s a negotiation. No matter how optimistic people are about it, it’s a tough process. We’ll keep grinding it out and see where we get.”Lester feels progress has been made.“I think so. I think we’re headed in the right direction,” he said.The lefthander's confidence is such that he is willing to continue talking to the team once the season starts.“That’s something you need to discuss when you get to that point. If you’re at the 5 yard line and you’re kind of closing in on a thing, yeah, let’s just spill it over. But if we're so far apart that it still doesn't matter then I think we'll sit down and talk about it and see what the best interest is for both sides on that. But as of right now, things are progressing and I guess we'll just keep hashing it out.”Lester suggested nothing is imminent, but described the sides as having “good dialogue.”Lester’s agents, Sam and Seth Levinson, could not be reached for comment. They have been in Fort Myers several times to meet with the Sox. The Levinsons negotiated an eight-year, $110 million extension with Dustin Pedroia last season.This deal could more complicated given the value of starting pitching on the current market. Lester has said he is willing to take a discount to stay with the Red Sox. But he could command a deal in the range of five years and $110 million.