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.

RedSox Acquire Donnelly

This is a 2006 file photo of Brendan Donnelly of the Los Angeles Angels baseball team. The Boston Red Sox acquired former All-Star reliever Donnelly from the Angels on Friday, Dec. 15,2006.

Sox unveil Matsuzaka

BOSTON -- The month-long odyssey of wooing Daisuke Matsuzaka finally complete, the Red Sox proudly unveiled the Japanese right-hander late Thursday afternoon at a packed Fenway Park press conference like no other in the history of the fabled franchise.
With roughly 300 members of the media gathered in a glassed-in function room behind home plate, and enough camera flashes to blur the eyes of those on the podium, Matsuzaka formally addressed Red Sox Nation for the first time.
"You don't know what's going to happen, so I'm just going trying to do as well as possible," said Matsuzaka through an interpreter. "I'm very happy and excited to be a member of the Boston Red Sox."
It was a joyous event for the Red Sox, announcing the signing of the Most Valuable Player of last March's World Baseball Classic to a six-year contract worth $52 million with escalator clauses that could bring it to $60 million.
"Today, what we're really doing is announcing the signing of a national treasure," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "We've followed Daisuke since Koshien in 1998, throughout his entire professional career and all his accomplishments. We understand his importance in Japan. We know what he represents."
The Red Sox hope he will represent steady greatness on the mound. Matsuzaka, who posed with his new No. 18 Red Sox jersey, didn't try to hide the excitement of his new opportunity.
"Very many interesting things have happened in my life," Matsuzaka said. "Besides getting married and having a baby, this is the most exciting thing."