During baseball’s winter meetings last week, not much happened with the Red Sox, in terms of a big splash. But there was news.

Andrew Miller re-signed with Boston. And there was talk of moving reliever Daniel Bard to the rotation.

Both of the above moves beg the question: What about Tim Wakefield?

It seems more and more unlikely that Wakefield will get a chance to break the Red Sox wins records next.

Wakefield has 186 wins with Boston, six behind both Roger Clemens and Cy Young.

But Wakefield, 45, has not had an ERA under four since 2002, and he has been over five the past two seasons.

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* Jason Varitek seems another destined to become an ex-Red Sox player. He has batted .218 over the past four seasons and will be 40 next April.

Boston is committed to Jarrod Saltalamacchia as the starter. Former Sea Dogs catcher Ryan Lavarnway could push for the back-up job.

* David Ortiz is coming back to Boston, now that he has accepted arbitration. That guarantees him at least a one-year contract. But Ortiz wants more.

The reports are that the Red Sox offered a two-year deal at $18 million, and that Ortiz countered by asking for $25 million for two years.

Why pay that much? Do you hear anyone bidding against the Red Sox?

* Could Daniel Bard start? Of course he can. He was a starter for the University of North Carolina when the Red Sox drafted him.

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But is he needed more in the bullpen, especially with Jonathan Papelbon gone?

* The right field job is apparently Josh Reddick’s for now. Boston general manager Ben Cherington told reporters that he was comfortable with that, and with Ryan Kalish coming along to eventually challenge for the job.

But it is December. Look for Cherington to bring in another outfielder, and preferably a right-handed bat.

* Cesar Cabral was once again taken in the Rule V draft. Cabral, 22, a left-handed reliever, pitched in Portland last year (3.52 ERA, 46 strikeouts in 38 inning). The results were not always smooth, but the potential was there.

Cabral was taken by Kansas City and then traded to the Yankees.

The Yankees will have to keep Cabral on their 25-man major league roster all season or return him to the Red Sox.

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Last year, Cabral was drafted by the Rays, but eventually returned to the Red Sox.

* Former Sea Dogs are finding homes with other organizations, including two pitchers from last year — Tommy Hottovy (Kansas City) and Kyle Fernandes (Texas). Catcher Dusty Brown has also gone to Texas. Journeyman infielder Keoni De Renne is with the Pirates, and outfielder Brandon Moss signed with Oakland.

Still waiting to hear word on minor league free agents Ryan Khoury, Blake Maxwell, Daniel Nava and Mark Wagner.

* Charlie Furbush has been added to the guest list for the annual Sea Dogs Hot Stove Dinner, Jan. 13, at the Marriott Hotel at Sable Oaks, in South Portland.

Furbush, the left-hander from South Portland, made his major league debut with the Tigers this past season, before being traded to Seattle. He will join Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and outfielder Josh Reddick. For information on the dinner, contact the Sea Dogs (879-9500).

* Looking for gifts for that Red Sox fan in your life. Triumph Books has published an impressive coffee table book: Field of our Fathers: An illustrated history of Fenway Park, 1912-2012, by Richard Johnson (314 pages, $35).

With Fenway celebrating 100 years, there will be plenty of books and memorabilia around.


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