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Available closers include Ryan Madson, Francisco Rodriguez, Brad Lidge, and Francisco Cordero.
The Sox also could trade for a closer. Colorado is reportedly willing to discuss Huston Street.

By now, it appears clear that the Boston Red Sox won't be making a killing in any compensation deal for
Theo Epstein. The issue has essentially been treated as an afterthought, with MLB commissioner Bud Selig
evidently deciding that the clubs had more pressing matters -- hiring managers, building staffs, roster moves --
which is why he backed off his earlier pledge to step in and resolve the issue.

At this stage, it would come as a surprise if the Red Sox receive more than a run-of-the-mill prospect or two
from the Chicago Cubs for Epstein, although the sides have reached agreement on one issue, according to a
major league source. Epstein, who this week hired an area scout from the Red Sox, Matt Corey, and promoted
him to national cross-checker, will be prohibited from adding anyone else from the Red Sox for a period of
three years.

A's ship Andrew Bailey to Boston

Bobby Valentine has found his new man for the back end of the Boston bullpen.

The Oakland Athletics traded All-Star closer Andrew Bailey and outfielder Ryan Sweeney to the
Red Sox on Wednesday for outfielder Josh Reddick and infield prospect Miles Head and minor
league pitcher Raul Alcantara.

"I'm excited, obviously," Bailey said. "It's an organization that continues to win each and every
year and they're definitely a contender each and every year.

"I'm grateful that the Red Sox saw value in me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited about being
a Red Sox."

In the deal, Bailey gives the Red Sox a reliable ninth-inning guy to replace the departed Jonathan
Papelbon, who signed a $50 million, four-year contract as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies
in November.

"Andrew's a proven top-quality closer in the American League. He's done it for three years and has
had a lot of success," said general manager Ben Cherington. "He's converted a very high percentage
of his opportunities. He's got the stuff and we really like his makeup for Boston."

Report: Jenny Dell to replace Watney

NESN has yet to announce it, but former ESPN AccuScore anchor Jenny Dell will replace Heidi Watney
as Red Sox in-game reporter, according to The Boston Globe.

Watney left NESN recently and took a job in California with Time Warner Cable.

Dell is a UMass graduate who worked on and off-camera for ESPN, most recently involved with the
Winter X Games. Her AccuScore video segments, which broke down weekly NFL match-ups, were a
popular standard feature on ESPN.com.