Fort Report: Minor league camp moved to City of Palms Park

There's not a whole lot to report since our last edition of the Fort Report, as the majority of this week simply involved players reporting to camp, taking their physicals, and participating in conditioning drills. Here's what we have for you...

• Minor league camp was moved over to City of Palms Park on Thursday, allowing the major-leaguers the run of the Player Development Complex.

• No real surprise, but Terry Francona informed the media that Michael Bowden, Junichi Tazawa, and Boof Bonser will all remain stretched out as starters throughout the spring.

• Word is that Madison Younginer threw an impressive bullpen session today. Younginer is undoubtedly hoping to start the 2010 season with Low-A Greenville, which is only minutes from his home in Simpsonville, South Carolina. However, Extended Spring Training and then Lowell might be the more-likely starting point for Youniger this year.

• Outside of Red Sox camp, catcher Rod Barajas is supposedly close to inking a minor league deal with the Mets. Once Barajas is signed, the 2010 draft order will be set. The Blue Jays would not receive compensation if Barajas agrees to a minor league deal.

• Alex Speier of WEEI.com has really kept on top of the minor-league info this week. In today's report, Speier notes that Jorge Sosa is stuck in the Dominican due to visa issues. He also talks with Pawtucket catcher Mark Wagner about his off-season in the Dominican, top prospect Casey Kelly about growing an inch over the off-season, and Kyle Weiland about his big league camp uniform number.

• NESN reports that the Sox are one of six teams interested in signing Cuban first baseman Jose Julio Ruiz. Ruiz is an athletic first baseman / corner outfielder who has shown solid on-base ability and excellent speed but limited power. The left-handed batter will turn 26 in March, and may require a major league contract.

• Rob Bradford of WEEI.com talked with right-handed reliever Scott Atchison about how his daughter's medical condition led him away from Japan and back to Boston.

• Keith Law of ESPN.com was on with WEEI earlier in the week discussing projections of Kelly and Ryan Westmoreland, as well as the lack of value of the RBI as a statistic.

• PawSox broadcaster Dan Hoard chatted with Dusty Brown about making his major league debut in 2009, the birth of his son in July, and entering his tenth year in the organization this spring.

• On Wednesday, Francona talked vaguely with the media about the open bench and bullpen spots on the big league club, the health of Jed Lowrie, and how he intends to use Tim Wakefield, Mike Lowell, and Bill Hall this spring, all of which could directly or indirectly affect the placement of some of the higher-level players in the system. Check out Peter Abraham's take on Francona's comments.

• Speier also talked with Sox prospect Stephen Fife earlier in the week, noting that Fife focused on cardio work this off-season and reported to camp in leaner shape than this time last year.

• Bradford also caught up with newly-reacquired Joe Nelson, who discussed his previous history with the Sox organization in which he got very familiar with Fort Myers and the Red Sox Player Development Complex.

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