The Boston Red Sox retained control of catcher Dusty Brown by placing him on the 40-man roster (Brown was going to become a minor league free agent).

That leaves Boston with five catchers on its 40-man roster.

At least one has to go.

Jason Varitek turns 36 next April. He has one year left on his contract. I'm going to take a chance and say he stays.

Doug Mirabelli, 37, is the Sox back-up catcher (a.k.a. Tim Wakefield's personal catcher). If Wakefield is healthy enough to return, chances are the Red Sox will re-sign Mirabelli and his .202 batting average. If Wakefield is done, so is Mirabelli.

Kevin Cash turns 30 in December. He can catch the knuckleball but, like Mirabelli, he cannot hit (.176 in Pawtucket last year).

George Kottares turns 25 next May. He came to Boston in the David Wells trade. Supposedly stronger offensively than defensively, Kottaras hit only .241 in Pawtucket last year.

Brown (26 next June) may be a sleeper. Excellent defensively, with a quick, strong throw to second, Brown is improving with the bat. He hit .268 in Portland this past season, and is hitting .276 in the Arizona Fall League.

While Cash seems to be the odd man out, teams usually like to have one veteran catcher in Triple-A. But it seems likely Brown will be in Pawtucket after two seasons in Portland. And I don't think the Red Sox are giving up on Kottaras after one year.

Cash is likely to be gone. And the jury (i.e. the Sox brass) could still be debating Mirabelli. It would be nice if the Red Sox had a catcher that could spell Varitek more (and extend his career). It is possible they bring in someone else for the No. 2 job (and, yes, knuckleball receiving experience is a plus).

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