Julian Tavarez and his son Trent could be spending lots of time together in Boston next season.

AP / Tony Dejak

BOSTON — After the Red Sox celebrated their second World Series victory in the last four seasons, each player went his own way to enjoy a much-deserved offseason. They scattered around the globe and the next time they get together will be in spring training.

Not everyone who wore a Red Sox uniform in 2007 thought he would return for 2008.

Pitcher Julian Tavarez left Boston with everything he owns. He cleared out his apartment because he felt there was no way he would return to the Red Sox. The veteran right-hander appeared in 34 regular-season games and compiled a 7-11 record with a 5.15 ERA. He was used as a starter and as a reliever, but when the postseason rolled around he was kept off the roster.

The day before Game One of the World Series against the Rockies, Tavarez appeared upset and at one point left the Red Sox clubhouse. So it was surprising when Boston exercised its contractual option on Tavarez immediately after the Series. That ensured he would be back for 2008.

“Honestly,” he said, “I was happy. But I was really surprised they did because I believed I wasn’t coming back after the way things went in the end.”

Tavarez asked his agent Scott Boras what he thought would happen, and Boras said he didn’t think Boston would pick up the option.

“I guess you never know about this game,” Tavarez said. “I thought I was going to be someplace else and I was already picking places to go.”

He told his son Jacob, who lives in New York, that he was going to try to hook up with the Mets so they could be closer. Barring a trade, Tavarez doesn’t know where he fits into the Sox’ pitching staff, especially since he was the odd-man out during the postseason. If, if fact, he does return, he’s ready to be an emergency starter or work out of the bullpen.

Being a member of the World Series champions is bittersweet for Tavarez. He did whatever the Red Sox asked of him last season and was the club’s fifth starter until Jon Lester returned to the majors in July after his successful battle over cancer.

Then when the postseason came, Tavarez had to watch from the outside looking in.

“I was upset,” he said. “I would have been more happy to be on the postseason roster because I was on the team all year. I wasn’t able to pitch to one batter in the postseason, and I would have been happy to pitch in at least one of the three rounds. But, I’m happy that we are world champions.”

Like many other players who were not on the postseason roster, Tavarez was still around the team in a normal day-to-day capacity and in the dugout to enjoy the run; they just couldn’t play.

“I gave my best energy to the team,” he said. “I was keeping the team awake and cheering for the guys. I was really happy how things ended because that’s something you’re always working for in your career — to be a champion. A lot of guys play 17 years and never get a ring, so it’s my first one in 14 years and I’m just happy how things went in 2007.”

No matter what happens, he said yesterday he’s ready for anything and will gladly work in any role the Red Sox put him in.

“I’ve always been there for them,” he said.

When asked if he’s happy to be back in Boston despite what happened in the postseason, Tavarez said he was.

“You have to be because how many people want to have that uniform on?” he said. “Until you play for the Yankees or Red Sox, you can’t say you play in the major leagues.”

The 14-year pro has also played for Cleveland, San Francisco, Colorado, the Cubs, Florida, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Until his stint in Boston, he said nobody ever knew who he was.

“It’s one of the greatest things about baseball, playing for the Red Sox,” he said. “I never realized that until I played here.”

jmcdonal@projo.com