That move means the starting shortstop job belongs to Mike Aviles — for now — and there will still be plenty of attention paid to Aviles throughout the season.
He's not the only player that Sox fans will keep a close eye on in 2012, though.
One of the biggest story lines heading into the 2011 season centered around what kind of production the Sox would get from Carl Crawford after the club splurged to pick him up at the winter meetings last year. Now, Crawford is under the microscope, as Sox fans watch and wonder whether or not he'll be able to return to the form he showed in Tampa, this season.
Daniel Bard's move to the starting rotation is another interesting thing to watch. Bard has struggled at times this spring, but he's made it clear that he's starting to feel better and better as a starter. After his most recent start over the weekend, Bard said he's finally starting to feel like a starter. If that feeling leads to positive results, the Red Sox could end up with one very solid No. 4 starter.
Bard was also considered at one point this season to be the replacement for Jonathan Papelbon, who chose Brotherly Love over Beantown this winter. However, Bard was destined for the rotation, and thus, the Sox pulled the string on a trade that brought Andrew Bailey to Boston. It will be the first season since 2005 in which the Sox will have a closer other than Papelbon, and if they want to find success, they're going to need Bailey to pick right up where Papelbon left off — aside from on Sept. 30, of course.
Red Sox chairman Tom Werner was asked Tuesday morning on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan which one of those three story lines he'd most like to see come true.
"If I had to pick one, I guess I'd like Carl Crawford bounce back," Werner answered. "This guy is so talented. He had a miserable year last year, and he's determined to come back. It would be very satisfying because he's got a world of talent and the desire to do it … but I'd like the other two as well."
Red Sox fans would love all three to come true, but of those three, which do you think is most likely to happen?
Which Red Sox story line has the greatest chance of coming true?
