Not everyone in big league camp this year for the 2012 Boston Red Sox was going to make the team. Cuts will have to be made.

Well Bobby Valentine made his first cuts of spring training on Friday as he sent eight players to minor league camp.

Here’s the release from the Red Sox:

Boston Red SoxThe Red Sox today announced that they have reassigned four players to minor league camp, optioned outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin and third baseman Will Middlebrooks to Triple-A Pawtucket and optioned left-handed pitcher Drake Britton and second baseman Oscar Tejeda to Double-A Portland.

The announcements were made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington.

Among the reassigned players are right-handed pitchers Tony Pena Jr., Chorye Spoone and Alex Wilson and outfielder Juan Carlos Linares.

With today’s moves, the Red Sox now have 56 players in Big League Camp, including 36 players from the 40-man roster, two players on 60-day disabled list and 18 non-roster invitees.

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