Deadline draws near

Sox have limited options

 

 

 The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were the first American League team to pull off a statement trade. Now, it’s time to see if the Red Sox respond.

The Angels announced last night they acquired first baseman Mark Teixeira — a deal that gives their offense a formidable middle of the order bat and kills any potential deal the Sox were in on for the Braves first baseman.

With Teixeira off the market, the chances of outfielder Manny Ramirez getting dealt have narrowed considerably and the Sox are again setting their sights on bullpen improvements. Sox shortstop Julio Lugo — a close friend and confidant to Ramirez — playfully proclaimed that he was “98 percent” sure the dreadlocked left fielder would now stay put.

In the past, Sox manager Terry Francona has always been upfront with Sox players that see their names surface in trade rumors, and he expects that will again be the case leading up to tomorrow’s 4 p.m. trade deadline.

“That has happened in the past, not this year. There’s no secret formula for anything, just tell guys the truth,” Francona said. “In the past, sometimes you can’t tell them (anything). Some things we don’t know but we haven’t gone through that.”

Meanwhile, the Sox have been linked to deals for veteran bullpen help with names like Seattle’s 38-year-old Arthur Rhodes and Houston’s 41-year-old Doug Brocail heading up a list that won’t cost A-list prospects.

Younger relievers with higher upsides like Atlanta lefty Will Ohman, Colorado left-hander Brian Fuentes and Baltimore closer George Sherrill are still on the board, but are commanding a premium price tag.

Many of the bullpen arms aren’t exactly household names, but Boston feels comfortable with a resurgent Hideki Okajima sharing eighth inning duties with Manny Delcarmen.

“We have a pretty impressive collection of guys that can throw hard, but when you watch a guy like Okajima and the way he can attack hitters — you realize there’s a lot of different ways this bullpen can get people out,” said Sox righty David Aardsma. “I think you have to feel like the ability is there in this bullpen.”