FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein touched on a number of topics in a conversation with reporters today. Here are some highlights:

* He said that health is the biggest question mark with the team heading into spring with so many players coming off injuries.

“I know we say this every year but everyone I’ve seen looks to be in great shape and we’re all exited to get going,” Epstein said. “Health has to be the biggest question, it usually is, but in our case we have so many players coming off surgery, coming off injury that we’re going to keep a close eye on them. We look forward to a full squad of players coming together.”

Epstein said the Red Sox were going to have meetings on Saturday and Sunday with the medical staff to get full updates on the health of all players.

* Epstein echoed thoughts shared yesterday by Adrian Gonzalez, that his new first baseman appears to be ahead of schedule on his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery. Gonzalez had originally been slated to start swinging a bat around March 1.

“If he’s dong as well as he seems, we may move up the timetable,” Epstein said. “I think we all feel he’ll be ready by Opening Day. We’re excited he’s feeling so good and here early.”

* On the progress of Dustin Pedroia, who had surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot, Epstein said the team would be careful with him but nevertheless felt confident he would be ready for April.

“Obviously we’re going to take a conservative plan with him this spring,” Epstein said. “The goal is to get him ready for Opening Day, not the college exhibition games.”

Epstein also acknowledged Pedroia’s ups and downs over the winter, but said he thought that was mostly because the second baseman’s foot was immobilized for so long. A team source told ESPNBoston.com last month that Pedroia would have no restrictions during spring training.

* Starters Josh Beckett, Daiuske Matsuzaka and John Lackey were among the new arrivals at camp today. With Jon Lester already in Fort Myers, that brought the total number of starters in camp to four. Clay Buchholz is the only member of the rotation not in Fort Myers.

“I think [the fact so many starters arrived early] indicates they’re highly motivated and feel good about the winters they’ve had,” Epstein said. “Usually the guys who are 15-to-20 pounds overweight and didn’t pick up a ball yet are early arrivals because they’re kind of embarrassed.

“The guys who had really good winters and want to show off the shape they’re in, the progress they’ve made, they show up early. It’s nice to see these guys out here. Every single one of them [the starting pitchers] appears to be in improved condition, which is nice.”

* Asked specifically whether he though Lackey looked to be in significantly better shape than last year, Epstein said, “Yes, but I’ve just said hello to him. But my first impression with Beckett, Lackey and Matsuzaka is that they all look really fit and really strong.”

* Epstein also touched on Beckett and whether he could be poised for a bounce-back season after going 6-6 with a 5.78 ERA in an injury-plagued 2010 season.

“Josh certainly can do better than he did last year, he knows that,” Epstein said. “He had a really strong winter. The biggest thing is he didn’t hide at the end of last year, he took accountability for it. He knows there’s more in there, better in there. I wouldn’t bet against him going forward at all.”

* Epstein on Lackey’s struggles last season, his first in the AL East:

“John had a stronger second half than his first half. I think that’s a sign he’s adjusted to his new surroundings, the American League East. I look forward to a typical John Lackey season from him, too.”

* Epstein also talked about the makeup of the team’s bullpen. After lacking depth there last season, the Red Sox added some arms and created a surplus. The team will have more than a few pitchers competing for one or two spots in the bullpen.

“It’s no secret our pen wasn’t very good last year,” Epstein said. “We ran out of available options of guys who could come and compete and throw legitimate bullpen innings for us. That’s not a situation you want to find yourself in. Hopefully we’ll have more quality and quantity.

“There will be competition for the last spot or two. We should be stronger than we have been in a long time at the end of games, when [Daniel] Bard and [Bobby] Jenks are setting up for [Jonathan Papelbon]. [Dan] Wheeler is an important addition in earlier innings and we have a number of lefthanded candidates. I think we have the potential for a really good bullpen, but again, it doesn’t mean anything until we do it.”

* Epstein on Jenks’ transition from closer to a setup role:

“He’s a power pitcher who can throw strikes and shut down his inning. He’s somebody who’s proven capable of getting important outs in the ninth inning with his combination of stuff and fearlessness. We think he can take the same approach and use it earlier in the game.”

* Epstein on righthanded pitcher Alfredo Aceves, who was recently signed and could provide depth for the Red Sox, either as a starter or a reliever:

“He threw two good bullpens for us,” Epstein said. “He had back and hip issues last season and he broke his collarbone riding a bike [in this offseason]. But he passed our physical. Based on the bullpens he threw for us, he’ll have a normal spring training.

“He’s a versatile guy who will compete for a job in the bullpen and also provides valuable depth for us. One area in which we didn’t have tremendous depth [last year] was in starting pitching. We needed to add someone who can start major league games and compete in the American League East. He has an opportunity for us.”

* Lefty reliever Dennys Reyes, also recently signed, would seem to be in a similar position as Aceves. Epstein said Aceves was someone the Red Sox had interest in over the winter and that the Sox caught a break when a potential deal with another team (the Phillies) fell through.

“He‘s an interesting combination of a sinkerballer and can make lefties uncomfortable,” Epstein said.

* Epstein said pitching prospect Junichi Tazawa, who had Tommy John surgery last year, will be in big league camp and will throw off a mound, but it’s still questionable whether he’ll get into games. He’s in the last two or three months of his rehab.

* Bard and Kevin Youkilis were also among the new additions spotted at the development complex today.