Tavarez surprised his option was picked up

Julian Tavarez was surprised that the Red Sox picked up his $3.8 million team option back in November.

“I didn’t think they were going to do it. I was happy they did, but I was surprised. I didn’t think they were going to pick it up.”

He was left off the playoff roster in 2007, but he was a big contributor all year. The Red Sox very well may have missed the postseason without his 23 starts and 134.7 IP.

Tavarez doesn’t read the papers in the offseason, so he didn’t know that Schilling had been injured.

“I come to spring training and I say, ‘Hello. Good morning. How are things going?’ And they said, ‘You have a chance to be No. 5 in the rotation.’ ” “I wasn’t happy Schilling is hurt. Schilling is a good man and I’m sad that Schilling is not healthy. We’re going to hold a spot until he comes back.

“In my mind I will change a little bit about thinking, ‘OK, I’m going to be a starter in spring training.’ I’m not coming to spring training wondering what I’m going to do. Now I know I’m a starter.”

Whether he remains a starter for long will depend on the health of the rotation, and the club’s strategy for Buchholz. 

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