FORT MYERS, Fla. -- With a vacancy in the ninth inning, it would seem the Red Sox have two choices to replace Craig Kimbrel as their closer -- Ryan Brasier or Matt Barnes.
Those were the two names cited by Dave Dombrowski last November when he first was asked about the 2019 bullpen. And more than three months later, with no free agent relievers added on major league deals, it would appear to be the same scenario.
But manager Alex Cora isn't ready to concede -- or announce -- anything.
"For me, it's too early to answer that one,'' said Cora, in brief remarks with reporters Monday. "I have to talk to the players first before I answer that. We have some capable guys who get outs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. What Barnesy did last year was amazing, if you look at the regular season and the playoffs, getting the 3-4-5 guy from the seventh inning on. And Brasier was amazing.
"But for me, it's just too soon. I have to sit down and talk to them. I don't want anybody to come here, trying to win a job on the first day of spring training. So, I'll talk to them, we'll figure it out and we'll talk about it.''
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