With most jobs already decided, there are relatively few issues facing the Boston brass.

01:00 AM EST on Saturday, March 18, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Less than two weeks remain of the Red Sox' stay in Florida, but the decisions in compiling the 25-man roster are basically down to one or two.

As if the case with most contending teams, spring training is about conditioning, not competition. Most of the Sox' jobs were spoken for long before players arrived.

Not that there isn't some intrigue remaining. The Red Sox need to be convinced that Keith Foulke is healthy. More interesting, potentially, they must convince David Wells that it's in his, and the team's, best interest to sit out the first three series of the season. That tug-of-war could be the most compelling development of the spring.

A look at how the roster shapes up for April 3 in Texas, where the Sox open the season. It could then change quickly and significantly.

STARTING ROTATION (4): Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett and Matt Clement.

Clement could still be dealt, but for now, he has to be considered the fourth starter. Wells, whether he likes it or not, is the extra man for the first 12 or so days of the season, with the Sox looking to place him on the DL before Opening Day.

BULLPEN (7): Foulke, Mike Timlin, Rudy Seanez, David Riske, Julian Tavarez; Bronson Arroyo, Jonathan Papelbon.

So much of the bullpen depends on Foulke's effectiveness and availability. For now, Timlin, Tavarez and Seanez are the setup crew, with Riske available for the sixth or seventh, Arroyo as the long man.

Papelbon's role is undefined. He could close if Foulke can't. Eventually, he's going to be part of the rotation, but that may require a trade or an injury. But with

nothing left to prove at Triple A, he should open the season here.

DESIGNATED HITTER (1): David Ortiz.

Ortiz won't return until Monday at the earliest as he plays for the Dominican Republic in the WBC, but the Sox are holding a spot for him.

INFIELD (6): Mike Lowell, Alex Gonzalez, Mark Loretta, J.T. Snow, Kevin Youkilis and Alex Cora.

Lowell is the everyday third baseman, with Gonzalez at short, Loretta at second and Snow and Youkilis splitting time at first. Youkilis can also move back to third on occasion to give Lowell some rest.

Cora is the utility play, able to play second, short and third. Willie Harris is insurance, but it's hard to imagine a scenario where makes the team unless he catches on as a second utility man and sixth outfielder.

Tony Graffanino is still here, but won't be when camp breaks. Dustin Pedroia, sidelined for much of the spring due to a strained shoulder, lost a chance to show what he can do, but won't be far away if something happens to one of the regulars. The same goes for Alejando Machado, whose ability to play the outfield makes him even more valuable.

CATCHERS (2): Jason Varitek and Josh Bard.

Ken Huckaby was a longshot to stick even before his knee acted up and cost him valuable time. With two weeks to go in camp, he has yet to catch Wakefield in a game. That, of course, is a prerequisite for the backup spot.

OUTFIELDERS (5): Manny Ramirez, Coco Crisp, Trot Nixon, Dustan Mohr and Adam Stern.

Ramirez, Crisp and Nixon, from left to right, are the starters. Mohr has hit well and solidified his grasp on the right-handed-hitting platoon partner for Nixon, though the Red Sox continue to seek outfield help in trade talks.

Stern may not be with the team all season, but the Sox have to keep him on the 25-man roster for the first 17 days to retain their rights to the former Rule V pick. Stern can run and throw, and his showing at the WBC has only boosted his stock. If he were right-handed, he might beat out Mohr. Because he's not, he's probably bound for Pawtucket on April 20.

It would seem impossible that the Sox, having gone to great lengths to keep him around all of last season, would lose him now when just 2 1/2 more weeks will make him their permanent property.

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340