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Red Sox expect to start early

Andrew Miller, the Sox’ reliever of the year in 2012, chats with John Farrell prior to the Baseball Writers dinner.matthew j. lee/globe staff/Globe Staff

Felix Doubront and Franklin Morales reported to the Red Sox complex in Fort Myers, Fla., last week and will soon be joined by fellow pitchers Clay Buchholz, John Lackey, and Jon Lester.

Manager John Farrell, who arrives in Florida Feb. 1, said it was his understanding that many of the pitchers will arrive “well in advance” of the Feb. 12 reporting date.

Farrell was in Fort Myers Sunday to meet with Doubront and Morales.

“He looked in great shape,” Farrell said of Doubront. “You see some physical maturity take place, and that’s been the case with Felix.”

Doubront was 11-10 with a 4.86 earned run average in 29 starts last season.

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New left fielder Jonny Gomes, who was in Boston this week for some promotional activities, is eager to get to spring training.

“It’s a new team in a lot of ways,” he said, pointing out the eight free agents added to the roster. “That can be a good thing when you’re trying to change direction.

“I think we have a lot of guys who don’t take being in the big leagues for granted but are championship-caliber players.”

Breslow official

The Red Sox announced their deal with lefty reliever Craig Breslow, which was agreed to on Saturday. He received two years with a team option for 2015. Sources said the deal is worth $6.25 million with the option worth $3.9 million. In 63 appearances for the Diamondbacks and Red Sox last season, Breslow, 32, went 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA. He held opponents to a .206 average, and lefthanded hitters were 7 for 38 (.184) against him.

Awards time

The Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America handed out a number of awards at its annual banquet Thursday night.

Dustin Pedroia was named the team MVP, Will Middlebrooks was Rookie of the Year, and Clay Buchholz was Pitcher of the Year. Jarrod Saltalamacchia received the Tim Wakefield Award for community service.

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Andrew Miller was the Relief Pitcher of the Year and Jackie Bradley won the Greg Montalbano Minor League Player of the Year Award. Daniel Nava won the Lou Gorman Award for perseverance and Pedro Ciriaco the Unsung Hero Award.

Mike Aviles won the Jackie Jensen Award for spirit. Cody Ross was the Media Good Guy and Terry Francona won the Judge Emil Fuchs Award for long and meritorious service.

R.A Dickey win the Tony Conigliaro Award. Worcester native Tim Collins of the Royals won the Ben Mondor New England player of the year.

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo was the MLB executive of the year. He was in attendance along with manager of the year Buck Showalter of the Orioles.

Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy won the Dave O’Hara Award. Former Globe columnist Bob Ryan and retired Lowell Sun writer Chaz Scoggins also were honored.

Miller, Aviles, Bradley, Saltalamacchia, and Nava were on hand, as was Francona.

Heavy hitters

The Red Sox sent a delegation to have lunch with Mayor Thomas Menino. Farrell, general manager Ben Cherington, and new special assistant Pedro Martinez were in the group . . . Could Martinez, who last pitched in 2009, stage a comeback? “No. No. No. Don’t even think about me coming back,” he said. “No. No. No. I don’t think so. Those three, four years I’ve been away really made clear that I don’t belong on the field anymore.” . . . Martinez played with Shane Victorino in Philadelphia and predicted that Red Sox fans would enjoy watching the new outfielder. “Victorino is an interesting person,” said Martinez. “You’re going to have a lot of fun with him. He’ll run through a wall for a fly ball.” . . . Martinez on the state of the Red Sox: “I think we have a ways to go. We have to work hard and keep the team healthy. That has been the key the last few years. We haven’t had it. We haven’t been healthy. I think the team needs to get healthy first. But I think the team has talent. You have the pitching nucleus to actually do it. If you want to do anything in baseball, you have to do it through pitching.”

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