FORT MYERS, Fla. -- While Bobby Valentine reported continued good progress from Carl Crawford in the outfielder's return from left wrist surgery, the Red Sox manager did suggest Crawford's return to the major league club could be more than just a couple of weeks.
"It might realistic, but it doesn't seem it," said Valentine when asked if he believed Crawford could return two weeks into the season. "It might escalate, I don't know. Are we going to ask him to have 50 at-bats somewhere? Probably. So you have to do the math on that. ... I think we have a target, but it's not a bulls-eye."
Valentine reiterated the need for Crawford to take his progression day-to-day, and not get wrapped up in a target date for his return.
"The only think I know about that is you don't want to put anybody rehabbing under the pressure of a deadline," the manager said. "It can never be the calender or the schedule when a guy is healthy. It's not fair."
Valentine also said regarding the possibility of Crawford seeing game action before the team breaks camp, "I don't think it's likely."
Also of note from Valentine's morning media session at JetBlue Park was the confirmation that Pedro Ciriaco -- whom the manager didn't believe there was a fit for two weeks ago -- is in the mix for the 25th roster spot. Valentine did say, however, that Ciriaco's ability to steal a base (he leads the team this spring training with five) most likely won't be a deciding factor.
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