Opening Day is closing in, which means several players will be moving out, and Dustan Mohr and Tony Graffanino are atop the list.

01:00 AM EST on Thursday, March 23, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TAMPA -- A week from today, the Red Sox will play their final exhibition game in Florida, meaning some significant roster decisions must be made in the coming days.

With each passing day, the decisions are coming into sharper focus. Central to that process will be determining what to do with infielder Tony Graffanino and outfielder Dustan Mohr, two spare parts.

A number of teams continue to show an interest in Graffanino, with the New York Mets being the most intriguing possibility. Florida and the Chicago Cubs continue to be other potential landing spots.

The Mets came into camp with three candidates at second base, only to have Bret Boone retire and Kaz Matsui go down with a knee injury that will prevent him from being ready Opening Day. That leaves Jeff Keppinger as the lone candidate at second. One baseball executive yesterday suggested that unless the Mets make a move to deal for Alfonso Soriano, Graffanino is their most likely target.

As for Mohr, who is signed to a minor-league contract, his fate was sealed when the Sox obtained Wily Mo Pena Monday, blocking any chance Mohr had of making the roster as an extra outfielder. There are teams who like him -- led by the Philadelphia Phillies -- but since the outfielder has an "out" clause in his contract that allows him to elect free agency on March 30 if the Sox haven't purchased his contract, it's doubtful that a club would be willing to give anything of value for him.

Instead, look for Mohr to take his release next week and sign elsewhere.

For now, it's the Red Sox' intention to open the season with 11 pitchers -- their four starters (minus David Wells) -- Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett and Matt Clement) -- and seven relievers -- Keith Foulke, Jonathan Papelbon, David Riske, Rudy Seanez, Mike Timlin, Julian Tavarez and, likely, Lenny DiNardo.

The Sox will start the season without a lefty specialist in the bullpen. Former Red Sox lefty Rheal Cormier is available, and a Mohr-for-Cormier swap wouldn't be out of the question if Cormier's salary -- $2.5 million this season, with a $3-million option for next season -- weren't so high.

DiNardo will give the Sox a long man for the first 10 days or so, then sacrifice his spot to Wells, who, much to his displeasure, will open the season on the disabled list before being activated in time to pitch either April 12 or April 15, whenever the Sox first determine they need a fifth starter. The schedule gives them two off-days in the first eight of the season.

Outfielder Adam Stern must spend the first 17 days of the regular season on the 25-man roster to fulfill his Rule V obligations. Having carried him on the roster or the disabled list all of last season, the Sox aren't about to let two-plus weeks of roster time get in the way of making him their permanent property.

That means the Sox will open with five outfielders -- Manny Ramirez, Coco Crisp, Trot Nixon, Pena and Stern.

Add in the two catchers -- Jason Varitek and Josh Bard -- and DH David Ortiz, and the Sox are up to 19.

With six spots remaining, the Sox have room for infielders Mike Lowell, Alex Gonzalez, Alex Cora, Mark Loretta, Kevin Youkilis and J.T. Snow.

Veteran utility man Willie Harris, who can play both second base and center field, will start the season at Pawtucket and is expected to replace Stern when the latter's 17-day-stint is complete.

Once Stern is gone, Harris could provide speed on the roster and give manager Terry Francona a late-inning pinch-running option in addition to providing a defensive replacement for Pena.

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