Returning player: Nomar Garciaparra, SS
Exiting player: Cesar Crespo, Util
This is my hope, anyway. Crespo's "strength" is his versatility, but I think this is what makes him dangerous to a major league roster. The manager can't help but put him in on defense somewhere. Crespo is decent with the glove, but not so much that you want his bat in the lineup. Crespo's hitting has been abysmal: .169/.169/.225 (BA/OBP/SLG). He has shown no discipline at the plate - zero walks in 71 plate appearances (contrast to 25 in 179 PA with the Padres in 2001), with 17 strikeouts. Crespo has seen only 3.25 pitches every time up, indicating that he's eager to swing. With a .169 BA, I'm wondering why that is. He can't leave town soon enough for me.
Oh, and Nomar's .323/.370/.555 career batting line will be welcome in the lineup. Nomar's injury has allowed both Pokey Reese and Mark Bellhorn to be in the lineup every day, and they've both played well, but not up to Nomar's level. I expect Reese and Bellhorn to share playing time fairly equally at second base, with Pokey playing especially when Lowe pitches due to the number of ground balls he allows, and as a late game replacement. Bellhorn will also see time spelling Youkilis (and then Mueller) at third base, especially if either of them get into a batting funk. I see lots of playing time for both of them the rest of the way.
Returning player: Trot Nixon, RF
Exiting player: Andy Dominique, C/1B
Dominique has had a nice introduction to Fenway, getting a key RBI with his first major league hit over the weekend. He's a good hitter who really doesn't have anything to prove at AAA, but he's the guy with options, so he'll be the one sent out.
Like Nomar, Trot's .277/.366/.496 career bat (.306/.396/.578 last year) will be welcome back into the lineup. Early on, Nixon's playing time was largely taken by Gabe Kaplar, but he has been a sinkhole in the lineup, posting a .551 OPS. Brian Daubach and Gabe Kaplar have earned more playing time recently, and both have done much better than Kaplar at the plate (especially McCarty), but again, neither have fully replaced what Nixon is capable of.
Returning player: Ellis Burks, DH
Exiting player: Brian Daubach, 1B
It comes down to Daubach or McCarty, but McCarty is the better fielder at both first base and in the corner outfield positions, and I think the Sox will go with the glove in this case. Of course it helps that McCarty has swung the better bat, even against right handed pitchers, and there are a lot of lefty bats in the lineup already. (While McCarty also provides an "emergency pitcher" option, I doubt that will enter into the decision.) Brian Daubach has had a nice run with the Sox and remains popular with the fans, but at this stage of his career he's a replaceable entity.
Burks will move back into the role that he was signed for - DH versus lefty pitchers. David Ortiz has continued to struggle vs. LHP (.236/.257/.361, compared to .305/.392/.656 vs. RHP), and an effective right handed slugger will be welcome. If Burks hits well, I can see him spelling Kevin Millar on occasion, as Millar has had a bit of a struggle with the bat this season, too.
Returning player: Bill Mueller, 3B
Exiting player: Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Youkilis has been "as advertised", and even better than expected given his AAA stats, in his brief major-league career. The "Greek God of Walks" has reached base in all but one of his starts, and has posted a .318/.446/.477 stat line. Youkilis sees a lot of pitches, has drawn nine walks, had some timely hits and has been OK at third base. Still, Terry Francona sees him as a work in process, so Mueller will return to the starting lineup and Youkilis will return to AAA where he can play every day.
Returning player: Scott Williamson, RP
Exiting player: Jamie Brown, RP
I think the decision is between Brown and Anastacio Martinez, but Martinez has been much more impressive in (admittedly) limited action. Martinez has a 1.69 ERA/1.13 WHIP in 5 1/3 IP, vs. 5.87/2.48 in 7 2/3 innings for Brown. The saving grace for Brown may be that Martinez is more of a prospect, and may be sent to Pawtucket to get more important innings than he would see in Boston. Neither pitcher is likely to remain on a fully healthy staff, though. Williamson's return will give the Sox more options in the late innings in setting up for Keith Foulke.
Returning player: Byung-Hyun Kim, SP/RP
Exiting player: Anastacio Martinez, RP
When Kim returns, Martinez will be out. The real question is, what role does Kim play? The way Lowe and Arroyo have pitched recently, there may be a spot for BK if he rights himself in Pawtucket. Otherwise, he'll be a good long reliever/spot starter for the team.
Returning player: Ramiro Mendoza, RP (remember him?)
Exiting player: ???
The logical choice here is Lenny Dinardo, LHP, but Dinardo is a Rule 5 guy who has to stay on the major league roster or be offered back to the Mets. I like Dinardo, who has pitched well and is a nice LOOGY (Lefty One Out GuY), and I'd like the Sox to try to keep him. Mendoza appears to be a ways away yet, so my guess is that he comes in when somebody else gets hurt, or in place of Kim if he proves ineffective.
The Red Sox are poised to get a number of key players back between now and the all star break. They have played well despite all of the injuries, and are currently in a virtual tie with the Yankees for first place while posting the second-best record in the majors this season. I look forward to seeing a fully healthy team make it's charge toward the playoffs in the coming months.