Attention Red Sox fans and other knowledgable baseball people:

How do the Red Sox plan on using this guy (Justin Masterson) in the future?

Currently he's in the bullpen but it's not all that uncommon for younger pitchers to begin their careers in the pen because of a logjam in the rotation.

Is Justin Masterson going to be a 4/5th starter or is he projected to be the future 8th inning setup man for Papelbon?

I know the Sox rotation is pretty loaded but I've heard conflicting reports on his projected use.

Any and all comments would be great appreciated!!!

Thanks in advance.

We all know he came over from Arizona as the prized prospect in the Dan Haren trade.

In the 2007 handbook he was rated by Baseball America as the Diamondbacks #3 organizational prospect (behind Upton and Young).

In the 2008 handbook he was rated by Baseball America as Arizona's #1 organizational prospect due to the graduations of Upton and Young.

On Rotowire's July Top 100 Update, John has him rated as the #7 prospect overall.

Currently at Oakland, he's hitting .270 with 3 HR,19 RBI,11BB,45K in 196 AB.

Should he still be considered a top OF prospect with great upside or has his stock fallen?

I have just read the newly updated Prospect lists, both on Rotowire and on Baseball America.  It is very interesting to me to view the differing opinions on players.

On Rotowire, John has C Matt Wieters has his #1 prospect, while Baseball America has SP Clayton Kershaw as their #1 prospect.

Both are very fine players with a ton of upside, obviously... but of the two, which do you guys think will have the better/best Major League career?