NASHVILLEThe signing of Shane Victorino almost certainly means that Cody Ross will not be back with the Red Sox.
GM Ben Cherington said Tuesday that the Sox had remained in contract with Ross throughout the off-season and insisted that the Ross wasn't totally off the Red Sox' radar.
"I don't want to say too much about the specific nature of the conversations," said Cherington. "They go back a ways. As of now, we haven't been able to find something that makes sense, but the door still's open. We'll see what else happens. He's got other options, too. I don't think I can really add anything to that."
Ross said in August and September that, all things being equal, he would like to come back to the Red Sox. But he and the Sox never seemed to get on the same page for a new deal.
"We talked during the season and then right after the season." said Cherington. "We've talked since then. But we obviously weren't able to reach agreement early in the process and once we got into free agency, we kept the dialogue open, kept the door open. But it hasn't culminated in any agreement yet."
Cherington, who wouldn't confirm the Victorino signings, said the Sox still need to add two outfielders -- one being Victorino, and then another.
But it's hard to see how Ross fits into that role since the Sox have signed Jonny Gomes -- like Ross, another righty hitter who mashes lefty pitching -- to play left.