The Red Sox have re-acquired 27-year old lefty starting pitcher Kason Gabbard from the Rangers for cash considerations. Gabbard pitched in 5 games (0 starts) in AAA for the Rangers this season and he was 0-1 with a 10.50 ERA and a 3.50 WHIP. Gabbard has pitched in 34 games (31 starts) in his major league career to date and he is 9-7 with a 4.53 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He should provide good depth in AAA for the Red Sox who might need him at some point in 2009.

The Red Sox have placed backup outfielder Rocco Baldelli on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Baldelli has played in 5 games for the Red Sox this season and he is 3 for 13 (.231 avg, .517 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. The Red Sox have recalled 1B Jeff Bailey to replace Baldelli on the roster. In his first game with the Red Sox this season he was 1 for 2 with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. Bailey has also played in 12 games in AAA-ball so far this season and he was 12 for 47 (.255 avg, .918 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 4 homers and 7 RBIs. The Red Sox will miss Baldelli especially with J.D. Drew going down to injury at any time.

The Red Sox have placed righty starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list due to a case of arm fatigue. The fatigue is no doubt related to the stupid World Baseball Classic which accelarates pitch counts before pitching arms are ready. Matsuzaka has started 2 games for the Red Sox so far this season and he is 0-1 with a 12.79 ERA and a 3.00 WHIP. Dice-K has allowed a stunning 14 hits and three homers in only 6.1 innings this season while walking 5 batters. The Red Sox will replace Matsuzaka in the starting rotation with either Clay Buchholz or Justin Masterson. Masterson has pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox so far this season and he is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He has whiffed 7 batters while only walking 1 in 6 innings so far this season for the Red Sox. Clay Buchholz pitched well this spring for the Red Sox. He has started 1 game in AAA-ball this year and he is 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP. Buchholz probably has the higher upside as a starting pitcher but the Red Sox will likely go with Masterson.

The Red Sox have claimed 23-year old righty swinging 2B/SS Travis Denker off waivers from the Padres. Denker has played in 3 games so far in AAA-ball this season and he is 4 for 12 (.333 avg, 1.135 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. Denker played in 24 games last season (his rookie year) for the San Francisco Giants and he was 9 for 37 (.243 avg, .819 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. This was a decent little move for the Red Sox who are playing short right now with both Julio Lugo and Jed Lowrie down to injuries. Denker could get some playing time for the Red Sox soon if they don’t get healthy soon.

The Red Sox have placed 25-year old switch hitting shortstop Jed Lowrie on the 15-day disabled list with a sore left wrist. Lowrie played in 5 games this season for the Red Sox going only 1 of 18 (.056 avg, .206 OPS) with 0 runs scored or RBIs. Lowrie will be replace in the short term by veteran infielder Nick Green. The 30-year old righty swinging Green has played in 5 games for the Red Sox this season and he is 3 for 11 (.273 avg, .658 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. But, Green is not a natural shortstop so he will likely be replaced late in games by rookie Gil Velazquez who has played in 2 games for the Red Sox this season and he is 0 for 2 (.000 avg). Velazquez has also played in 4 games in AAA this season and he is 4 for 18 (.222 avg, .485 OPS) with 1 run scored. Julio Lugo should be able to return next week for the Red Sox and he will likely take back over as the starting shortstop.