MLB found the Red Sox guilty of using improper package deals to funnel more money to top prospects and circumvent signing rules in 2015 when Ben Cherington was general manager. As punishment, five improperly signed players were made free agents and the Sox were temporarily banned from signing any international amateur players.

For the first time since 2014, the Sox will field one team in the Dominican Summer League instead of two. The organization does not have enough players to fill out two rosters after being prohibited from signing international players last summer.

Penalties imposed by Major League Baseball six months ago will leave the Red Sox with one fewer minor league team for the coming season.


Aly Gonzalez will manage the DSL team assisted by eight coaches. The Red Sox otherwise made only minor changes to their minor league staffing.

Kevin Boles will manage Triple A Pawtucket for the fourth consecutive year. Bruce Crabbe, Rich Gedman and Bob Kipper return as coaches.

Carlos Febles will again manage Double A Portland with Kevin Walker as his pitching coach. Lee May Jr. moves up from Single A Greenville to become hitting coach. Mickey Jiang also will be on the staff.

Manager Joe Oliver, pitching coach Paul Abbott and hitting coach Nelson Paulino all return to Single A Salem.

Darren Fenster returns to manage Greenville for the fourth consecutive year and again will have Walter Miranda as his pitching coach. Former Sox player Wilton Veras will be the hitting coach.

Iggy Suarez will manage Rookie League Lowell again with Lance Carter returning as pitching coach. Nate Spears, a former Red Sox infielder, was promoted to hitting coach. He was a coaching assistant with Greenville last season.

In the Gulf Coast League, Tom Kotchman returns as manager along with pitching coach Dick Such and hitting coach Junior Zamora. Angel Berroa and Nick Green will be on the staff.


While the Red Sox once had an infielder named Nick Green, this Nick Green played 11 seasons in the minors for the Angels, Brewers and four independent league teams.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.