There remains little uncertainty with respect to the composition of the 2005 Red Sox 25 man roster but one unresolved item appears to be the fifth outfielder position, manned last season by eternal folk hero Dave Roberts. The Red Sox have two candidates for the role in former A’s reserve Billy McMillon and Rule V draft acquisition Adam Stern.

McMillon has made a career of the role, never amassing more than 153 at-bats in any one season despite having seen Major League action off and on since 1996. He is what he is – an OK fielder and an acceptable reserve hitter, capable of piecing together a good at bat but never with enough consistency to justify regular action.

I find Adam Stern to be pretty compelling. While many, like Bryan Smith of Wait Til Next Year for instance, believe that Stern has little chance of sticking with the Sox, I am not so sure. He had 27 stolen bases last season, plays a solid outfield and can get on base – all characteristics I want in a reserve outfielder. A native of Ontario, a former Nebraska Cornhusker and soon to be 25 years old, the Red Sox believe Stern to be a late bloomer. While his 2002 and 2003 left quite a bit to be desired, he fully recovered from a hamstring injury in 2003 to post a .322/.378/.480 line with Double-A Greenville this season. That line was good enough for a better EQA than Greenville teammate and Atlanta uber-prospect Ande Marte. Granted Marte is a third baseman and Stern an outfielder but the point is instructive. Stern has the potential to be a Major League contributor.

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