Red Sox signed LHP J.C. Romero, who had been with the Angels, to a one-year contract.
The Boston bullpen is certainly getting more crowded. Whether it's really any better is still to be determined. Romero joins Mike Timlin, Julian Tavarez, Hideki Okajima and Brendan Donnelly as apparent locks to make the team. Manny Delcarmen should have a big edge for one of the remaining two openings, leaving Kyle Snyder, Craig Hansen, Craig Breslow, Javier Lopez, Devern Hansack, Lenny DiNardo, Kason Gabbard and Rule 5 pick Nick DeBarr fighting for what would seem to be one job. And since the Red Sox are still hunting for a closer, there might not be room for any of those guys. Frankly, we're not sure Romero is a better bet than Breslow in a specialist role. He held left-handers to a .202 average for the Angels last season, but he still finished with a 6.71 ERA and a 31/28 K/BB ratio in 48 1/3 innings. Even when he's effective, he's a terribly frustrating pitcher.