The Red Sox have acquired 26-year old righty swinging catcher Michael McKenry from the Rockies for 24-year old righty reliever Daniel Turpen. McKenry got his first taste of the majors with the Rockies last year and it didn’t go too well. He played in 6 games for the Rockies last year and he was 0 for 8 (.000 avg, .111 OPS) with 1 walk and 5 whiffs. He also played in 99 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 92 of 347 (.265 avg, .752 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 10 homers, 49 RBIs and 1 stolen base. McKenry will likely play some with the Red Sox at some point in 2011 with only Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jason Varitek ahead of him on the depth chart. Daniel Turpen pitched in 49 games (0 starts) in AA-ball for the Red Sox last year and he was 7-6 with 4 saves, a 4.30 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. The Red Sox won’t miss Turpen too much as they didn’t deem him worthy of a roster spot before the Rule 5 Draft.

The Red Sox have designated 26-year old righty swinging catcher Mark Wagner for assignment. Wagner played in 40 games in Rookie+A+AAA-ball last year and he was 30 of 134 (.224 avg, .627 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 3 homers and 16 RBIs. The Red Sox didn’t deem Wagner worthy of a roster spot, but I fully expect him to clear waivers because his upside isn’t that big.

The Boston Red Sox have re-acquired 22-year old lefty reliever/starter Cesar Cabral from the Tampa Bay Rays who picked him in the Rule 5 Draft over the winter. Cabral pitched in 45 games (0 starts) in A-ball last year and he was 4-0 with 9 saves, a 3.63 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He has now pitched in 96 games (42 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 13-19 with 13 saves, a 3.73 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. The Red Sox are likely glad to get Cabral back.

53-year old manager Terry Francona might have done his best job of running the Red Sox last season when they were 89-73 (54.9%) while missing the playoffs. Francona did a great job of coaching up the Red Sox despite big injuries to Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury. In Francona’s first seven years in charge in the Red Sox’ dugout, he is 654-480 (57.7%) during the regular season and he is 28-17 (62.2%) during the post season. Francona managed the Red Sox to World Series’ Championships in both 2004 and 2007. Francona is now 939-844 (52.7%) during the regular season in his first 11 years as a manager in the majors and he is 28-17 (62.2%) during the post season. Francona is one of the more underrated managers in baseball as he always seems to get the best out of the Red Sox.

The Boston Red Sox are going to have a very solid bullpen in 2011. 30-year old righty Jonathan Papelbon will try to rebound from his worst season in the majors in 2010. He pitched in 65 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox last year and he was 5-7 with 37 saves, a 3.90 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He has now pitched in 333 games (3 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 19-18 with 188 saves, a 2.22 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He has only allowed 272 hits in his first 365 innings pitched while whiffing 422 batters and only walking 105 which shows just how good he has been so far in his major league career. I look for him to bounce back big time for the Red Sox in 2011.

25-year old righty fireballer Daniel Bard will set up Papelbon in 2011. Bard pitched in 73 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox last season and he was 1-2 with 3 saves, a 1.93 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He only gave up 46 hits in 74 2/3 innings for the Red Sox last year while whiffing 76 times which shows just how nasty he is. Bard has now pitched in 122 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Red Sox and he is 3-4 with 4 saves, a 2.61 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. He is likely the Red Sox’ closer of the future.

30-year old righty Bobby Jenks was signed over the winter to add support to the back end of the bullpen. Jenks pitched in 55 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 1-3 with 27 saves, a 4.44 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He has now pitched in 329 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 14-18 with 173 saves, a 3.40 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Obviously, Jenks can close if needed but he’s also more than good enough to set up Daniel Bard & Jonathan Papelbon in 2011.

33-year old righty Dan Wheeler has been a solid reliever for the long time, so the Red Sox are happy to have him. Wheeler pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 2-4 with 3 saves, a 3.35 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He has now pitched in 530 games (9 starts) in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 23-41 with 43 saves, a 3.84 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Wheeler will likely get most of his work in the middle innings for the Red Sox in 2011.

35-year old lefty Hideki Okajima is coming off a terrible year for the Red Sox. He pitched in 56 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox last year and he was 4-4 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. Okajima has now pitched in 254 games (0 starts) in his first four years with the Red Sox and he is 16-8 with 6 saves, a 3.06 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. The Red Sox hope that Okajima can get back into the groove he was in the first three years with the team.

23-year old lefty Felix Doubront comes into this year as the Red Sox’ #5 prospect according to Baseball America. Doubront pitched in 12 games (3 starts) for the Red Sox last year and he was 2-2 with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. He also pitched in 17 games (16 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 8-3 with a 2.81 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Doubront is likely duking it out with Okajima for one spot in the Red Sox’ bullpen.

34-year old righty Scott Atchison is going to have to pitch better than he did in 2011 if he wants to make the Red Sox’ opening day pitching staff. Atchison pitched in 43 games (1 start) for the Red Sox last year and he was 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He has now pitched in 96 games (1 start) in his first four years in the majors and he is 4-6 with a 4.29 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Atchison will be working in the middle and early innings if he wins a spot in the Red Sox’ bullpen in 2011.

28-year old righty Alfredo Aceves is a very solid pitcher when healthy. He pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Yankees last year and he was 3-0 with 1 save, a 3.00 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Aceves has now pitched in 59 games (5 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 14-1 with 2 saves, a 3.21 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. If Aceves can stay healthy he could be one of the Red Sox’ secret weapons in 2011.

28-year old righty Matt Albers pitched in 62 games (0 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 5-3 with a 4.52 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. He has now pitched in 181 games (23 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 15-25 with a 5.11 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Albers has always had good stuff, so maybe the pitching coach on the Red Sox can get him to realize his potential.

25-year old lefty Andrew Miller is a longshot to help out the Red Sox’ pen in 2011. Miller pitched in 9 games (7 starts) for the Marlins last year and he was 1-5 with a 8.54 ERA and a 2.36 WHIP. He has now pitched in 79 games (54 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 15-26 with a 5.84 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. Miller will likely start the 2011 season in AAA, as he will continue to work in relief.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RED SOX BULLPEN IN 2011: A