It was a strange off-season for the Boston Red Sox. After their heartbreaking September collapse, the Red Sox parted ways with manager Terry Francona and GM Theo Epstein. Closer Jonathan Papelbon got a ridiculous deal 5 year deal from the Philadelphia Phillies and New Red Sox GM Ben Cherington dealt a few young players to rebuild the bullpen and sure up their one positional weakness- right field. After an exhaustive search process the Sox upper management finally settled on Bobby Valentine as the team’s new skipper, surprising just about everybody.

However, the one obvious question surrounding the 2012 team never seemed to get a definitive answer. The starting rotation, which failed the Red Sox so spectacularly in 2011, did not get the upgrade many Sox fans had hoped for. Edwin Jackson chose the Washington Nationals higher paying one year deal over the chance to win inBoston. The Nationals also beat out the Red Sox in the Gio Gonzalez sweepstakes. The high price tags that came with C.J Wilson and Mark Buerhle kept the team from entering the bidding and trade targets Matt Garza and Gavin Floyd have not been moved thus far.  While Roy Oswalt is still out there, he has already been clear about not wanting to sign with Boston.

With Clay Buchholz ready to start the season after a stress fracture in his back cut his 2011 campaign short, the Red Sox have a formidable 1-2-3 combo. In 2011, Jon Lester was not the Cy Young candidate he had been the two previous seasons, but he is still an excellent pitcher. Josh Beckett had his best season since 2007, despite a terrible end to the year and can be counted on to be well above average. After that, however, Boston has nothing but questions. Thankfully, John Lackey- perhaps baseball’s worst pitcher in 2011- is gone for the year following Tommy John surgery. Tim Wakefield has retired. Kyle Weiland has been shipped to Houston. The only back of the rotation starter from 2011 to return is Andrew Miller, who only received a minor league deal.

Ben Cherington didn’t completely ignore the issue, however. Instead of spending top dollar on good-but-not great free agent pitchers or trading the farm for a player like Michael Pineda or Mat Latos, the first year GM signed every available arm willing to take a minor league deal. He also announced that the team would attempt to move their flame throwing relief ace Daniel Bard into the rotation. Swing man Alfredo Aceves would also get a shot at starting. The team set the stage for one of the most interesting storylines this Spring Training: instead of playing it safe, Boston will hold a wide open competition for the last two rotation spots, a veritable cage match will decide who makes the Sox rotation.

No less than 10 candidates will compete for those two slots this Spring. With Pitchers reporting yesterday, here is a detailed look at each player and what they will need to do to secure their place.