Notes: Graffanino to get look at first

03/15/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- In a possible showcase outing for a trade, Tony Graffanino is expected to start Thursday's split-squad game against the Devil Rays in St. Petersburg at first base, a position he has not played in a Red Sox uniform.
Graffanino, who played first base in 22 games (14 starts) with the Royals last season before the Sox acquired him in a trade on July 19, worked out at first on Wednesday for the first time this spring.
"Obviously, I haven't done any work there at all this spring, so there's a chance that it may not be pretty," Graffanino said. "It's Spring Training, and that's what Spring Training is all about -- working on different things."
In seven games this spring, Graffanino, who is hitting .100 (2-for-20), has played both second and third base and been the designated hitter. Since being offered salary arbitration in December and signing a one-year contract in January, Graffanino has been the subject of trade rumors for much of the offseason and spring.
"I'd be lying if I said [the rumors have not had an effect] -- knowing that I'm in a situation or a clubhouse every day that I'm not going to be in," Graffanino said. "I kind of hoped something would happen already leading up to this point. I try not to think about it.
"I think my situation is unique in the fact that I really didn't have to be here. When I think about it, I'm still confused [about] why I was offered arbitration, which kind of forced me to come back here. That's why I don't understand that part of what's going on. ... I easily, in the offseason, could have signed with another team, maybe have a better contract -- a two-year deal or something where I wouldn't have to be going through this.
"But they offered arbitration and I had to come back. As much as I like being here and want to be [a part of the Red Sox], I was forced to sign knowing there was no place for me on this team."
Graffanino, who said he will play whatever position will afford him playing time and at-bats, said he has discussed his situation and potential trades with both general manager Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona.
"I've talked to both of them," Graffanino said. "I know Theo's trying. That's what I heard from Terry [on Tuesday]. Both times I talked to Theo, he's said there's stuff in the works, but for some reason, it doesn't happen. I know I'll end up somewhere doing something, but what that is or where, I don't know."
Boomer, Huck and Foulke stories: Left-hander David Wells is scheduled to pitch in a Minor League game Thursday at noon ET. Catcher Ken Huckaby, who is nursing a tweaked left knee, is scheduled to catch Wells. It will be Huckaby's third straight day catching, after doing so for Jonathan Papelbon in a bullpen session Tuesday and for Keith Foulke in a batting practice session Wednesday.
"The knee feels great -- no problems, no swelling," Huckaby said.
Huckaby, who hopes to be ready for game action this weekend, said Foulke was impressive in his Wednesday outing.
"He looked great," Huckaby said. "He did well with his fastball. The [split-finger] looked good [and the] slider was real sharp. Everything was good."
Ellsbury impresses: Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston's first-round pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, made an impression in the field and at the plate on Tim Wakefield and Curt Schilling in Wednesday's Minor League intrasquad game.
Ellsbury, batting leadoff against Wakefield, was not taking full swings because of a wrist injury. In two appearances, he bunted safely in his second at-bat and was a near miss in his first at-bat.
Asked if he knew of Ellsbury, Wakefield replied: "Yeah, after the first inning. He's lucky he didn't get dusted with my 75. I know he's hurt, so he's got to bunt. He's fast. [The second time], I was ready for it, but he still got the second one down. ... He can move.''
In the fourth inning, playing center field behind Schilling, Ellsbury made a diving grab to snare David Murphy's deep drive into the gap in right-center field.
"That was a fantastic catch," Schilling said. "And to someone that's as terrifically slow as I am, it looks even faster."

Source: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/