ESPN senior writer Buster Olney, in an interview on the Dale & Holley show, suggested that the Red Sox could be inclined to draw the line on a new deal for Jason Bay at four years given the concerns about his defense. Olney said that general managers and scouts with whom he has talked have described Bay as "basically a designated hitter playing outfield," which will temper the length of his contract.

"[Bay] provides the kind of power that the Red Sox need. But he’s basically a designated hitter playing outfield. That’s the assessment of most of the general managers and scouts that I’ve talked with. He’s so defensively challenged that he’s going to go very quickly to being a DH. If you’re the Red Sox, do you lock yourselves into a five-year deal with a guy who probably projects to DH after Ortiz leaves? I seriously doubt it," said Olney. "I do wonder whether Seattle or...

WILMINGTON -- Dennis Wideman remains missing from practice again on Thursday morning with an injured left shoulder -- the B's final practice before embarking on a two-game road trip through the NHL southland. The 26-year-old defenseman has been out of the lineup since going down with a left shoulder injury late in the second period of the win over the Islanders last weekend. There are no callups from Providence on the ice with the Bruins. Andy Wozniewski and Drew Fata would be the most logical defensemen promotions should B's coach Claude Julien need another healthy body for the road trip through Dallas and Phoenix. See the Big Bad Blog for more details.