Boston Red Sox 2007 Tickets

With Papelbon becoming a starter and 2004 World Series hero Keith Foulke declining arbitration and 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets eventually joining Cleveland, although he retired before even joining the team for spring training due to 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets ongoing elbow issues, the Red Sox began building up their bullpen. Japanese lefty reliever Hideki Okajima (formerly of the Yomiuri Giants),and Puerto Rican lefty J.C. Romero were signed. Brendan Donnelly was added 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Reliever Joel Pineiro (formerly of the Seattle Mariners) 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets was signed to a 1 year, $4 million contract. Relief pitcher Runelvys Hernandez, infielder Joe McEwing, and outfielder Kerry Robinson were all signed to a minor league contracts.

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez was allowed to leave via free agency for Cincinnati. The Sox replaced him with 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets Julio Lugo, who has historically been a better offensive player. Mark Loretta also was allowed to leave, joining Houston.

Fan favorite Trot Nixon filed for free agency, and agreed on a deal with the Cleveland Indians with a one 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets year 3 million dollar deal. Nixon will be competing for a job against Indians outfielder Shin Soo-Choo. With an opening in right field, the Sox agreed to terms with J.D. Drew on a five-year deal worth $70 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets million. Drew had opted out of the remainder of his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers to become a free 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets agent. However, the Red Sox medical staff found problems in Drew's shoulder, which was the region that had caused injuries in the past. On January 25, 2007, after working out the newly-discovered medical issues, it 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets was announced that the Red Sox and J.D. Drew agreed to a 5 year, $70 million contract, with the Red Sox 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets option to opt out of either of the final 2 years of the contract, but only if Drew spends more than a still undisclosed amount of time on the disabled list because of the shoulder, making the deal worth at least 42 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets million over 3 years. Another fan favorite, outfielder Gabe Kapler, announced his retirement. He opted to 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets retire at the age of 31 to fulfill his life long dream to become a coach. The Red Sox named him their single A manger of the Grenville Drive.

Going into the 2007 season, the Red Sox did not have a clearly favorite at the closer position. The early 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets favorite as reported by Redsox.com and ESPN was newly signed Joel Piñeiro, though Brendan Donnelly, Devern 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets Hansack, J.C. Romero, Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen, Mike Timlin, and Julian Tavarez were also named as 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets being in competition for the spot. After a lack of spring training success by all of the aforementioned 2007 Boston Red Sox tickets candidates, Jonathan Papelbon, the Red Sox closer in 2006 who had been in the process of converting to a starting pitcher, shifted back to the bullpen as the closer entering the 2007 season.