With the signing of Takashi Saito, the Red Sox have added yet another big arm to the 2009 bullpen, and also added yet another contender for the set-up roll which seems to be up for grabs going into the 2009 season.

2008 saw Hideki Okajima returning as the set-up man to Jon Papelbon only to lose the job to converted starter Justin Masterson later in the season. It was in the playoffs that Terry Francona went back with his "guy" in Okajima for set-up duty.

With the signings of veteran starters Brad Penny and John Smoltz, it is unlikely that Masterson will see significant time in the rotation barring injury. So this means that he, among other relievers, will be competing for a job that was relatively unsettled at the close of 2008. Setting up Paps.

The way I see it there are five contenders for this job. Here's my take on the log jam that is the bump in the eighth inning.

Hideki Okajima—The guy was a phenom in '07, but just seemed to fade into mediocrity in the '08 season. Although he seemed to reach back into his bag of tricks (Perhaps that's what he's looking at during his delivery) in the '08 playoffs, his specter of mediocrity looms large coming into this season.

I see this becoming the year Oki begins to get his time squeezed a bit. Tito will cherry pick him as a late inning lefty-specialist for a majority of the season.

Justin Masterson—He became the defacto set-up man towards the end of '08, but never seemed to lock down the look of a true top-flight reliever even though he showed many bursts of promise.

Look for him to secure a steady job as the seventh inning guy. This could really help shorten the game for a rotation that has it's days making it past four innings, never mind six.

Ramon Ramirez—This guy begins the three-headed monster I see having a real chance of being a top of the line set-up man for the Sox in '09.

His fastball is in the high 90s, he would have been closing for Kansas City if they didn't have the most dominant small-market closer in the game, and his demeanor on the mound just has the look of closer-in-waiting. My worry is that he hasn't done it in the pressure cooker that is Boston. I see him getting a shot at the role, but not until later in the season.

Manny Delcarmen—With three years of steady improvement under his belt, Delcarmen is the reason the Sox felt no pain in sending away top prospect Craig Hansen last year.

Delcarmen, a Boston native, has been a struggle to watch in the clutch at times, but seemed to put the worst of it behind him last year. If his progress continues this year Delcarmen could turn into a bonafide set-up man, and could be the first to be thrown into the role.

Takashi Saito—A bad elbow, needs Tommy Johns surgery, and left off the Dodgers postseason roster in the second round. Saito has a lot of reason to have had a terrible 2008 season.

Oh, but wait, he didn't! Despite being injured Saito put up 41 innings of work that were spectacular. He saved 18 games, put up a 1.19 WHIP, Had a K per 9 of 11.49. Saito also has an off-season of rest the thumbs up from the Red Sox medical staff. I see no reason why the set-up job isn't his to lose. He may be 38, but boy can he still pitch.

And well...if all else fails we could put John Smoltz back there!