WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Thanks to the evolving nature of their personnel and a number of injuries, the Red Sox intend to wait until the last minute before deciding on the makeup of their 25-man roster.
The Sox have until Wednesday at 5 p.m. to submit their roster.
"We're pretty much there,'' said GM Ben Cherington before the Sox played their final exhibition game of the spring. "We'd like to have as much information as we can about closer Andrew Bailey who may be facing thumb surgery in particular before we make final decisions. We're pretty much there. We'll make final decisions probably sometime before or after the workout in Detroit."
Said manager Bobby Valentine: "Ben and I discussed the roster on the plane Monday night. We had extensive meetings this morning with the coaching staff and I think we're pretty well set on the roster.''
The Sox late Monday night re-assigned Aaron Cook and Ross Ohlendorf to minor-league camp. Each will open the season in the Pawtucket starting rotation.
Utilityman Pedro Ciriaco was brought into Valentine's office Tuesday morning and presumably told he was being returned to the minors.
Ciriaco might have made the team under normal circumstances, but the injury to Bailey has Valentine wanting to start the season with eight relievers instead of seven, costing Ciriaco his chance.
"There's definitely going to be at least a guy or two who should've, could've, would've made this team if things didn't happen,'' said Valentine.
"I was thinking it for most of the spring and I'm really thinking it now."