DETROIT -- The Red Sox settled on their final 25-man roster Wednesday, a day before the season opens.
The Sox opted to begin the year with a 13-man pitching staff featuring five starters (Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard and Felix Doubront) and an eight-man bullpen (Alfredo Aceves, Mark Melancon, Matt Albers, Franklin Morales, Michael Bowden, Vicente Padilla, Justin Thomas and Scott Atchison).
"Just in case,'' said manager Bobby Valentine of the 13-man staff. "Obviously, what we're doing here without Andrew Bailey has not been totally planned for. So we're going to try to protect other members of the bullpen as we iron out this entire situation. I don't expect to be 13 for the entire season - or possibly, even by the homestand (which begins April 13).
"But it could be.''The 13-man staff leaves the Sox with just three bench players (Kelly Shoppach, Nick Punto and Darnell McDonald) in addition to the starting nine of catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, seconed baseman Dustin Pedroia, shortstop Mike Aviles, third baseman Kevin Youkilis, DH David Ortiz and outfielders Ryan Sweeney, Jacoby Ellsbury and Cody Ross.
The Sox will have to make some additional roster moves since Padilla, Thomas and Atchison were all on minor league deals with invites to major-league spring training.
The most likely move will involve putting some injured players (Daisuke Matsuzaka, Rich Hill) on the 60-day disabled list.