Even though the Red Sox were allowed to bring 30 players to Tokyo for the first two games of the season (not including Curt Schilling), the team is allowed just 25 on the active roster and three more designated as inactive, with those 28 players all eligible for the 25-man roster once the Red Sox head back to the States. Team sources indicated Monday afternoon that Tim Wakefield, Sean Casey, and Mike Timlin were likely to be the three inactives. Jed Lowrie and Bobby Kielty are expected to be the two extra players.
Tim Wakefield pitched in Sunday’s exhibition, which renders him unable to pitch in either of the first two games. Casey and Timlin are both injured. Casey came off the plane to Tokyo with a stiff neck and Timlin got two stitches on the ring finger of his pitching hand on Wednesday. None of the inactive or extra players is allowed to be in uniform for either of the two games.
Two moves will need to be made for this to happen. Kevin Cash’s contract will be purchased and Josh Beckett will be placed on the disabled list retroactive to March 19. That means Beckett will be eligible to come off on April 3, the off day between series in Oakland and Toronto. Beckett pitched two innings against Double A hitters on Sunday morning in Fort Myers, Fla., and will have to be brought along slowly back from his lower back injury.
Mike Timlin will be re-evaluated in Los Angeles, and the possibility remains that he might also have to go on the disabled list, which would create a roster spot for Bryan Corey or David Aardsma.
