After several moves, Boston has settled on the 25 players who will open the season.

01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, March 29, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The official 25-man roster doesn't have to be submitted until Opening Day on Monday, but, with a few days to spare, the Red Sox already have gotten down to the required number.

Over the last few days, manager Terry Francona navigated around the clubhouse and spoke to the players still in camp who wouldn't be opening the season with the major-league club.

There were travel arrangements to be made, cars to be shipped north, and Francona didn't want to wait until the last two days of camp. Officially, the Sox still have 35 players in camp after three transactions yesterday.

But unofficially, said Francona: "We're at 26 with (Hee-Seop Choi the only player on the fence)."

Choi is set to start the season in Pawtucket, assuming he clears waivers. Choi still has options remaining, and the waivers are merely procedural, with little risk of him being claimed.

It's expected that Choi will clear the necessary waivers by the end of the week, at which time he'll officially be assigned to Pawtucket.

Yesterday, the Sox optioned relievers Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen to Pawtucket and had second baseman Tony Graffanino claimed on waivers by the Kansas City Royals.

That means catcher Ken Huckaby, utilityman Trent Durrington, infielder Enrique Wilson, utilityman Willie Harris, infielder Dustin Pedroia, outfielder Dustan Mohr and pitcher Mike Holtz will start the season in Pawtucket. In the case of Wilson, he must first accept the assignment. It was unclear last night whether Wilson would go to Triple A or elect to retire.

Mohr has an option in his contract that allows him to elect free

agency if the Sox don't purchase his contract by tomorrow, but with few apparent major-league opportunities for him, he's apparently willing to begin the season at Pawtucket.

"If he's going to be at Triple A," said Francona, "I think he'd rather do it with us."

Additionally, outfielder Gabe Kapler (Achilles tendon) and pitcher David Wells (right knee) will begin the season on the DL. Kapler isn't eligible to sign a major-league deal with the Red Sox until May 15 because he wasn't offered arbitration. Meanwhile, Wells' stay there will be short-lived, as he's expected to be activated April 12 after one rehab start at Triple A.

With the drama gone, here is the 25-man roster that will be submitted.

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

RELIEVERS (7): Lenny DiNardo, David Riske, Julian Tavarez, Rudy Seanez, Mike Timlin, Jonathan Papelbon and Keith Foulke.

CATCHERS (2): Jason Varitek and Josh Bard.

DH (1): David Ortiz.

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

OUTFIELDERS (5): Manny Ramirez, Coco Crisp, Trot Nixon, Wily Mo Pena and Adam Stern.

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