Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield told CSNNE.com that he plans on being one of the team's starters in 2010. The knuckle-baller says he's completely recovered from offseason surgery to repair a herniated disc. Having signed John Lackey, the Red Sox now have six starters for five spots with Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Clay Buchholz joining Lackey and Wakefield. "I feel great," he said. "I finished my rehab a couple of weeks ago [and I'm] right back on schedule as far as my offseason conditioning and throwing program [is concerned], and I feel like there won't be any setbacks when I go to spring training."

Curt Schilling is working out, but the pitcher says that he's not planning a comeback to the major leagues. Schilling wrote on his Twitter page over the weekend: "Working out again ... not sure I can add anything to that other than I feel it in every fiber of my being, every step I take..." However, the Boston Herald contacted Schilling and the 43-year-old said that he's simply "working out."

Had it not been for a medical dispute, Jason Bay may have stayed with the Red Sox and never signed with the Mets. Bay's agent, Joe Urbon, flew to Boston for a physical and possibly a news conference during the season, but the deal hit a snag when, following the exam, the Red Sox requested a change in the structure of a possible agreement and that the outfielder undergo minor knee surgery after the season. "I was shocked, to say the least, that I was being told to have knee surgery in order to get the contract," Bay told WEEI.com, "particularly since I wasn't hurt."

The Red Sox were among the teams that watched Ben Sheets throw in Louisiana a few days ago, but they aren't likely to pursue him. A team source told the Boston Globe that the team isn't likely to make an offer. According to the Globe, the Mets appear to be the likeliest destination.

The Red Sox have made a huge investment in Jose Iglesias, and seemingly have a timetable in place for him to arrive in Boston. The Red Sox signed him to a four-year, $8.25-million major-league deal, despite his never having played anywhere but Cuba. Boston has had a revolving door at shortstop since the departure of Nomar Garciappara, which they hope Iglesias can eventually solve. ?He does some stuff that you just kind of sit there and go wow," said Casey Kelly. "You don?t know what to say. He?s only 20 years old. He?s going to get better and better as he goes along. There were a couple of plays he made in Arizona where everyone in the dugout looked at each other with just a stunned face, like: did he just do that?? Iglesias hit .275 with two home runs and a .323 on-base percentage in 69 Arizona Fall League at-bats

Jonathan Papelbon and the Boston Red Sox came to terms Tuesday on a one-year deal worth $9.35 million, according to an industry source. The deal, which could escalate to $9.5 million with incentives, means the Red Sox and Papelbon will avoid arbitration for the second straight offseason. The contract is the largest ever for a relief pitcher with four years or less in service time, topping Eric Gagne's $8 million in 2005.

The Red Sox and Jason Bay had agreed on the framework of a four-year, $60 million deal in July before an MRI raised concerns about both of the outfielder?s knees, according to a report from Peter Gammons. As a result of those concerns, Gammons said, Red Sox ownership reduced its offer from four years to two. Gammons suggested that the dispute illustrated the need for an independent medical staff in the majors, since there is sometimes distrust by players about the health findings of doctors who are employed by a team. ?You had the same thing here with Jason Bay, when he agreed to the four-year, $60 million deal near the end of July and then the MRI showed some problems with both knees,? said Gammons. ?Ownership wanted it to be two years and he had to prove that he was healthy to be able to make it four years, and he wouldn?t sign. This is no reflection on [Red Sox team physician Dr. Thomas] Gill and the Red Sox doctors, because they are probably the best in any sport. But the fact is, there becomes this disconnect where the player says, ?Is he doing this for the owners or is he doing this because of my knee?? That independent panel, I think, will almost certainly be a compromise that the owners will make.?

According to sources, the most competitive offers for Roy Halladay initially came from clubs he was ultimately unwilling to go to; the White Sox, Cubs and Dodgers. Heading to the meetings, GM Alex Anthopoulos had not asked for a list of teams to which his ace would accept a trade. He could then honestly approach everyone and find out what they had to offer without feeling he was leading them on. Here is a list of some of the real offers against which the Phillies were ultimately competing, according to sources. The Angels offered lefty Joe Saunders and catcher Mike Napoli. The Yankees offered catcher Jesus Montero in a straight-up scenario. The Red Sox were now not even willing to make a one-for-one with Clay Buchholz. They were saving their financial bullets for one stud hitter, John Lackey, and/or Aroldis Chapman.

The Red Sox are hoping for more openness in their relationship with Daisuke Matsuzaka as they move forward. ?I think the one thing that we strive to do, and go to great lengths, is to put a player in the best position possible to have success,?? pitching coach John Farrell said, ?and that takes an openness on all parts to accomplish that.?? Farrell confirmed that the Red Sox found out about the groin injury only when the article was published, long after such knowledge could have helped them with Matsuzaka?s fractured 2009 season. In the interview, translated by the Globe?s Daigo Fujiwara, Matsuzaka admitted that he hurt his right groin last January during hip strengthening exercises, which caused him to consider pulling out of the WBC. He did not, taking anti-inflammatories to treat the pain. ?Fortunately I was in charge of my own training, so if it started to hurt, I could adjust to not hurt myself,?? Matsuzaka was quoted as saying. ?But pitching while hiding the injury was very difficult. Even when I didn?t feel the pain, my body was holding back because it sensed the danger.??

Japanese reliever Hideki Okajima and the Red Sox avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $2.75M, one-year contract on Thursday, as reported by the Associated Press. The left-hander was 6-0 with a 3.39 ERA last year, his third with Boston after coming to the major leagues from Japan. In all, he is 12-4 with six saves and a 2.72 ERA.