Are you like me still a little down knowing that the Boston Red Sox won’t be taking on the Philadelphia Phillies tonight in Game 1 of the World Series. It’s hard I know but in the end the Red Sox got beat by the better team in the Tampa Bay Rays.
And now the offseason is upon us where we start to hear some wild rumors and possible free agents coming to the Red Sox. It’s also a matter of who won’t be a part of the Red Sox next season. No matter what though, the 2009 team is already looking good on paper.
- C – Kevin Cash
- 1B – Kevin Youkilis
- 2B – Dustin Pedroia
- SS – Jed Lowrie, Julio Lugo
- 3B – Mike Lowell
- OF – JD Drew, Jason Bay, Coco Crisp, Jacoby Ellsbury
- DH – David Ortiz
- SP – Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson (?)
- RP – Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Manny Delcarmen, Javier Lopez, David Aardsma, Justin Masterson (?)
Obviously we know they will either try to re-sign Jason Varitek or sign a free agent at catcher and they could move Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo. Either way, it should be an interesting offseason for the Red Sox which we will follow closely here at SOX & Dawgs.
Jonathan Papelbon was not a guarantee to close Game 7 if he had to be called upon.
If the Red Sox get Mark Teixiera, Kevin Youkilis has to stay with the team.
The Red Sox were proud of their 2008 season.
Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee says the Red Sox pitchers made mistakes during the ALCS.
Terry Francona explained the decison about not pinch-hitting for Jason Varitek throughout the season.
Curt Schilling checks in with two blog entries over at 38 Pitches.
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant and Providence Journal websites.
i think varitek will be resigned and the sox will pick up another catcher to help out.. we really need some help protecting ortiz in the lineup teixiera whom ever but we don’t inspire fear anymore …since you know who left….and i see us also picking up some bullpen help plus some starting pitching too…
I think they look for a shortstop, at least test the waters. Lowrie played well defensively and outhit Lugo but let’s face it my grandma could outhit Lugo and she’s been dead for 15 years. J.J. Hardy of Milwaukee is name I keep hearing he’s 26, hits about .285 20+ HRs and 75 RBI. Whether Milwaukee would deal him or not is another story.
Khalil Green is also supposedly on the block as a package with Jake Peavy. I don;t know a lot about Green he plays in the NL and on the west coast but from what Ive seen on recap shows he looks like a player. Peavy is a perennial Cy Young candidate but some think he may not be able to handle a big market media contingent or the pressure based on his few chances in big games.
The Sox need to find a catcher. I think Varitek comes back but short term, low or same dollars. They need to grab a top catching prospect from somewhere and now.
Mark Teixiera interests me Sox fans all want him but if you get him what do you do Youkilis and/or Lowell and you have some guy named Ortiz as your DH. If Teixiera played the outfield it might be better but I think I think the team is pretty set there. Bay is a good player, solid, dependable, smart. Fans love him. I like keeping both Crisp and Ellsbury just because Ellsbury can play anywhere and give guys breaks plus we proved this year you dont always stay healthy and having Crisp here the whole year was a bonus.
I also keep hearing some man love for Matt Holliday in a trade with Colorado but where do you play him? Do you move Bay? Do you move Drew? People like him for his power and his splits have been getting better but I’m still leary on power guys coming from Coors Field.
I think Masterson is better suited for the bullpen and I know while some have said he might start the Sox have always kind of projected him how he was used in the second half. He was much more effective in his last role. So that leaves a starting hole, two really because the other probable is Buchholz. Do yu bring back Wakefield? Byrd? Go trade route for someone like Peavy? Free agent market for Sabathia or Sheets?
I think you do need an arm or two in the pen as well and i’m sure they will find someone to fill that role.
This team is need of power. It was made more obvious with Ortiz’ injury but I think if they stayed pat everyday wise with a healthy Ortiz, Drew and Lowell and a full season of Bay they’ll be fine.
So in my book the glaring area’s become shortstop, catcher and starting pitching.
I see the starting 9 this way in ‘09
Ellsbury cf
Pedroia 2b
Youkilis 1b
Ortiz dh
Lowell 3b
Drew rf
Bay lf
Lowrie ss
Varitek c
I think Varitek is back on a 2-year deal. I really can’t see the Red Sox going any longer than that. I’d like to see them go and pry Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden from the Rangers. The Rangers have a plethora of catchers right now as they also have Max Ramirez.
I think Teagarden is more likely as the word is Texas may move Salty to 1b.