Boston Red Sox: Daniel Bard and 5 Pitchers Playing for Spots in Bullpen

With closer Andrew Bailey and Mark Melancon already settled into the Boston Red Sox bullpen, who else would be on the short list to get the other openings in a depleted bullpen?

Daniel Bard should not be a starter based on his struggles in recent games after being brilliant in in his first appearances of the spring. These starts were longer than what he has been used to.

Other pitchers in the hunt are Michael Bowden and even Ross Ohlendorf is making a run for one of the spots.

Vicente Padilla

Vicente Padilla has appeared in four games this spring and the Boston Red Sox have been pretty happy with the results. His 4.50 ERA is a good start in the 10 innings that he has pitched.

Padilla has found life on his fastball and has hit up to 95 on the gun at times. His slow-arching curveball is something that has put him back on the map as more of an asset in the bullpen.

I know Padilla does not want to work out of the bullpen, but he could see work as a long reliever if other starters struggle or a spot start here and there when the Red Sox need him.

Alfredo Aceves

Alfredo Aceves did everything for the Boston Red Sox in 2011 and his spring has been the strongest of any bullpen guy in the system.

Aceves has made three appearances so far in spring training and his 1.00 ERA is the lowest among pitchers with nine or more innings pitched.

He has struck out eight batters in these nine innings and will be a great seventh inning or maybe even closer during the season for the Red Sox.

Watch out, Andrew Bailey.

Daniel Bard

Daniel Bard has not had success so far in spring training while trying to stretch out to be the fourth starter in the Boston Red Sox rotation.

Bard has a 7.11 ERA this spring in three starts. He has allowed 10 runs in 12-and-a-third innings and has only six strikeouts.

There are other pitchers fighting for the last two sports in the Red Sox rotation and manager Bobby Valentine still isn't sure if Bard will be a starter or in the bullpen. Bard should be the setup man in Boston, but that is only because the bullpen would be in shambles without him.

Michael Bowden

Another strong performance by a young arm this spring training.

Michael Bowden has pitched well in five appearances and has a 1.50 ERA in his six innings of work. He also is 2-2 is save opportunities.

His K/9 is 9.00 and he could be a great innings-eater since he has been mainly used as a starter in the farm system for the Boston Red Sox.

Ross Ohlendorf

Another right-handed pitcher out of the bullpen, Ross Ohlendorf has been pretty solid in his six-and-two-thirds innings of work this spring.

Ohlendorf has a 2.70 ERA in those three games he has appeared in, but he also has walked four batters in those innings of work.

It will be interesting to see what the Red Sox will do with Ohlendorf going forward, as he has mainly been a starter his entire career.