The ever-changing role as a Red Sox pitcher for Alfredo Aceves has taken a new twist.  Bobby Valentine has announced that Aceves will be the new closer in Boston while Andrew Bailey is on the mend from thumb surgery.  Aceves will be ready for Thursday afternoon’s game against the Detroit Tigers.

Aceves, 29, started this spring as a candidate for the Red Sox rotation, but lost out to Felix Doubront and Daniel Bard.  His value to the Red Sox bullpen made him hard to relegate to the rotation.  His versatility in 2011 included 4 starts, 2 saves, and 114 innings over 55 games.  Aceves is clearly the new “Tim Wakefield” in Beantown.  However, unlike Wakefield, Boston reporters have seen him pouting and upset at his role this spring.  Aceves clearly wanted to make the rotation, but he has shown to be too versatile for his own good.  There has been no comment from Aceves yet on whether he’s happy to be the new closer or not, but speculation is that he’ll like the spotlight.

Valentine also mentioned Wednesday that Mark Melancon will be available to close for the Red Sox should Aceves not be available on a given day.  There is no timetable for Bailey’s return, or whether he will be asked to close games when he does.  One certainty is that Red Sox fans will be following Josh Reddick’s career with Oakland  very closely.  He was traded for Bailey in December, and was loved in Boston.  Also be sure that Jonathan Papelbon’s consistency and health will sorely be missed in Boston by July, and looks like he would have been worth overpaying for in free agency.