Let the Roster Speculation Begin!

It’s Day Two of the Boston Red Sox’s 2007 season, and already the speculation has begun as to who from the ’06 squad will return in ’07. While it’s too early to travel terribly far down this path, it is interesting to see which players on the current roster have contractual ‘outs’ (either via free agency or buyout clauses) that make it easy to move them down the road. Here’s a preliminary stab at the list, by position, with departure candidates shown in italics. (Details can be seen at Sons of Sam Horn.)

So, who's in your wallet?

Position - Player
Infielders (9)
C Varitek, Mirabelli
1B Youkilis, C. Peña
2B Loretta, Pedroia
SS Gonzalez, Cora
3B Lowell

Outfielders (7)
LF Ramirez
CF Crisp
RF Nixon
4th Hinske, Kapler, Murphy, W.M. Peña

DH
Ortiz

Pitchers (14)
SP Beckett
SP Clement
SP Lester (LHP)
SP Papelbon
SP Schilling
SP Wakefield (t)
RP Delcarmen (RHP)
RP DiNardo (LHP)
RP Foulke (m)
RP Johnson (m)
RP Lopez (LHP)
RP Snyder
RP Tavarez
RP Timlin

m = mutual option
t = team option