The Boston Red Sox placed catcher Josh Bard on "unconditional release waivers" today. The move apparently clears the way for George Kottaras to assume the No. 2 catching duties.

Boston has 38 players left on its major league roster, and three catchers in major league camp - Jason Varitek, Kottaras and Dusty Brown.

Kottaras was out of options and could not go back to the minors without clearing waivers. Brown seems destined for Pawucket.

Bard was signed in January as a free agent, to a $1.7-million deal, with a club option for 2010. But the contract was non-guaranteed, giving a hint that the Red Sox were not sold on Bard as a No. 2 catcher.

When Bard caught briefly for the Red Sox in 2006, he had trouble catching knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield. Kottaras has experience catching a knuckleball (Charlie Zink) in Pawtucket.

Kottaras, 25, came to the Red Sox organization at the end of August of 2006. He immediately was sent to the Portland Sea Dogs, and helped them win the Eastern Conference championship. He played all of 2007 in Pawtucket and was a September call-up last year and got into three games.

The Red Sox have said that their back-up catcher will play more than in previous years (when Varitek caught 4-of-5 games). Look for Kottaras to catch Wakefield, and to play against some opposing right-handed batters. Kottaras bats left (which is a weak spot for the switch-hitting Varitek).

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