Red Sox Notes: Shoda, Coello, Bishop

Don't let all that snow in Boston fool you, Spring Training is fast approaching.  Here's some of the latest BoSox news out of Fort Myers, Florida..

• As we learned last night, the Red Sox are closing in on a deal with Japanese left-hander Itsuki Shoda.  A major league source told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe that Shoda has been invited to minor league camp and would have to win a job to stay with the organization.  The figures on the deal are not yet out but Abraham writes that the cost to the Red Sox is minimal.
• Robert Coello, who was designated for assignment on Wednesday, is still working out at the Red Sox minor league training facility while he waits to hear where he might be playing baseball this season.  The 26-year-old should be able to draw interest from clubs after turning in a 3.86 ERA with 10.9 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 107 1/3 innings for Boston's Double-A and Triple-A affiliates as a swingman.
• Alex Speier of WEEI.com profiles the story of Te Wera "Beau" Bishop and how the New Zealand softballer was discovered by the BoSox.