Pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers, Fla., in less than a month, and we don't know which catchers will be reporting to Red Sox training camp. You're not really comfortable with a combination of Josh Bard, Dusty Brown and George Kottaras, are you?

There is, however, reason for optimism that the group of pitchers coming together in City of Palms Park will be the best and deepest in baseball this season.

Let's face it: Pitching depth is no longer measured by a five-man rotation. It is measured by the 12 pitchers taking part in Terry Francona's traveling road show.

Right now, Francona will have tremendous depth in both starters and relievers when he opens training camp next month.

The rotation already had a terrific core in Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka, who combined for a 46-19 record last year. And that includes Beckett's disappointing 12-10 season.

Tim Wakefield is back after throwing 181 innings a year ago. Although he won only 10 games, he has 164 career wins with the Red Sox.

Then General Manager Theo Epstein went to work adding depth to the mix. First, he picked up Brad Penny, guaranteeing him only $5 million. Penny is coming off an injury-plagued season but had 32 total wins in 2006 and 2007.

Next, Epstein shocked most experts by signing John Smoltz. Again, there is little risk in the signing -- the $5.5 million guaranteed is short money by today's standards.

Epstein again appears to be "buying low" on a future Hall of Famer who has not posted an ERA higher than 3.50 in the last 13 seasons.

Smoltz also is coming off injuries, but Epstein was impressed after watching him throw a bullpen session last month.

That gives the Red Sox six starters to work with in the coming season. It also allows them to keep Justin Masterson in a relief role, where he excelled last season. The bullpen is the team's biggest strength entering 2009, something it hasn't been at the start of a season in a long time. (Anyone remember the bullpen by committee in 2002?)

Jonathan Papelbon is one of the best closers in the major leagues. Setting up for him in the late innings will be returning relievers Masterson, Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima.

Added to that mix are Ramon Ramirez (acquired in the Coco Crisp trade) and Takashi Saito (released by the Dodgers after posting a 1.95 ERA in three seasons, striking out 245 batters while walking only 52 in 180 appearances.)

Javier Lopez is coming off a career year (2.43 ERA in 70 appearances) and can round out the bullpen as a lefty specialist.

Meantime, Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden will be pushing to join the big league roster. Right now, they will have to wait their turn.

"We could've just brought back the same pitching staff we had and felt like we were OK," said Epstein, "but we undoubtedly would've been in the position of having to go out and look for pitching – probably a lot of pitching – once the attrition of the season took hold.

"We wanted to add a couple of starters and we wanted to add some relief help."

Epstein has done both. And while the staff will have its hands full with the lineup of All-Stars in New York and the young talent in Tampa, it should have the depth to weather the grind of an AL East marathon that begins in Fort Myers when the pitching staff comes together for the first time in early February.

Tom Caron is the studio host for Red Sox broadcasts on the New England Sports Network. His column appears in the Press Herald on Tuesdays.