NASHVILLE -- The Sox continue to pursue options in right field, among them free agents Cody Ross and Nick Swisher.
One of the problems with Swisher is that, because the Yankees gave him a qualifying offer -- which he rejected -- any team signing him must give up their top draft pick.
Because the Red Sox finished with one of the 10 worst records in the game, they can't lose their first-round pick. But they would have to forfeit their second-round pick -- which would be about 40th overall -- if they signed someone like Swisher.
"It's a factor in deciding whether or not to pursue Swisher," acknowledged general manager Ben Cherington. "But it's not the only factor. For the right guy, whether it's this offseason or another offseason . . . You factor that in, but it's not a roadblock.
"We've done well in that area of the draft, the second round, so we don't take that lightly. The second-round pick still has value."