Spiders to bypass SWD

By Ima Homer
Disassociated Press
BOSTON - For the first time in modern franchise history, Boston's Spiders will not be participating in the Spring Waiver Draft.
"We've always done very well in the SWD," Spidie Czar Dale Messmer said. "We got Ryan Freel that way, among others I can't remember right now because the drugs haven't kicked in.
"This year, we go into Spring Training with 33 guys fighting for 30 roster spots, so there will be no need for us to go fishing in the waiver pool."
Messmer added that the Spiders are entertaining trade offers to reduce their bloated bench to 30 by season's start.
"I don't know if anyone will want to make a trade with us," Messmer said with a shrug. "We're not exactly in a position of strength, and we're not looking for another Jason Bay for Carlos Baerga type of deal. We'd like to dump some of the sorry ass pitchers we have, all our pitchers if they would only let us implement our rules change that brings back the hitting tee."