Positions filled: 2B(All star candidate)…Top 2 starters(Among the 15 in the American League)… C(Starter and back up)… 1B(Elite glove and bat)…. Closer(among the top 5 in the game)…. CF(Tremendous talent who is still developing)… Very good farm system…. Solid set up unit in the pen…RF(Not an ideal guy but someone who is consistent) … Very stable organization
Question Marks: Age and health of respected veterans at 3B(Mike Lowell) and DH(David Ortiz)…. Can this club afford to lose stud LF Jason Bay’s bat…. Can Clay Bucholz be counted on as the #3 man after a strong final 2 months… Where do veteran starters Tim Wakefield and Daisuke Matsuzaka stand…. Does this team commit to closer Jonathan Papelbon long term…. Do the Sox have enough bats to compete with the Yankees… Who plays SS
Improve from within: This team has some options internally ranging from SS Jed Lowrie, who has major health issues to newly acquired OF Jeremy Hermida. The club appears set to redo their everyday line-up at several spots with Bay, Lowell and Ortiz all candidates to be replaced by younger and more athletic players. Several young pitchers led by flame thrower Daniel Bard, a closer in waiting, and Michael Bowden can also be difference makers.
Budget: Sox have over 92 million dollars tied up in 12 players and will more than likely to be around 140 million in salary when the 201- campaign starts. Important to note the payroll has decreased the past 2 seasons. The team should spend on a LF, SS and another starter.
Off-season priorities:
1- LF- Whether it be Bay or Matt Holliday, this team needs a big bat in left. The Sox cannot afford to lose out on both after screwing up the Mark Teixeira negotations last season. A 30 homer, 120 rbi stick is needed here, Both of these guys fit the bill.
2- SS- The club did not pick up Alex Gonzalez option(all stick, no bat) and cannot go into 2010 depending on the injury prone Lowrie. The free agent market has some decent names , among them ex Sox Orlando Cabrera and Miguel Tejada. This might be an area where the Sox look to trade. Sox management really blew it in 2005 when they did not extend Cabrera, who is a winning player.
3- SP- Ideally, the club would like to add another top 3 starter to help Beckett and Lester. Club has been linked to John Lackey on the free agent market as well as Roy Hallday and Felix Hernandez via Trade Obvious that the Sox covet another front line starter. Look for GM Theo Epstein to also sign a reclamation project type, ala Brad Penny and John Smoltz.
Store this away: I would bet you a beverage of your choice the Sox sign SP Rich Harden to a deal heavy on incentives. Another name to consider at SS? How about Mets SS Jose Reyes, who had leg issues in 09. The Mets do not have a great farm system but have middle infielders at high A and AA. If the Mets do not start out well and are not contending by May 2010, they might move Reyes.
What I would do:
1- Sign Jason Bay-5 years/75 -80 million…. I covered this guy with the Pirates and he is a damn good player and better guy. Loves Boston and fits in. Not that sold on Holiday, who struggled in the AL. Wach my Mets sign him!
2- Trade Mike Lowell, Move Kevin Youkilis to 3B and trade for Padres 1b Adrian Gonzalez- With or without a big bat in LF, the Sox need another top power source. Gonzalez, who plays for the witness protection program known as the San Diego Padres, would hit 45 homers in Boston. He has a great glove and would be the Mayor of Boston! Love Mike Lowell but he can be moved for pennies on the dollar if the Sox do not take much back. This club ate Julio Lugo’s deal last season, so I know they will be able to do this. Teams like St. Louis Cardinals or Philadelphia Phillies could use him. Phillies almost signed him after 2007.
3- Trade for Roy Halladay- What I am about to say will give all of my Boston friends a heart attack… The Yankees have chips in play to make this deal—- P Phil Hughes, OF Austin Jackson, maybe even 2B Robinson Cano…GM Theo Epstein must do everything in his power to prevent this. If he allows this guy to go to the Bronx, god help him.( I would have fired him for Teixeira last season BTW)
Prognosis: This is a solid team that will add 5-6 new faces in 2010. I like everything about them except one thing- they are in a division with the New York Yankees. This team spends but cries poor and victim when ever someone gets more from another team.(Teixeira, Johnny Damon,etc) Yet, when they win the bid for Dice K by over 20 million, that is ok.? Need 2 bats to contend in the tough AL.
