cupofjoe1962

I am really not sure who will be gone next year, but 2011 quite a few
of our current players will be gone.

Will Jason Bay be back for 2010???
I would not break the bank on him. He is great when he is hot, but when
he goes cold... he is terrible.

In 2011 the following players will probably be gone.

Varitek - Has a $3 million player option for 2010 or a $5 million team option.
If he is back next year he will be gone in 2011.

Lowell - 1 year left on his contract - I doubt he will be brought back for 2011

Ortiz - Team has an option for 2011. If 2010 is like 2009 he will not be back
for 2011.

Alex Gonzalez - I doubt he will be back for 2011.

Beckett ??? FA after 2010 - Will he be back

Anybody else???

Who do we get as replacements.

I know Theo is interested in Adrian Gonzalez & Felix Hernandez.

Real World

There's 2 ways to look at it. You can say the Sox have positioned themselves to be flexible with their roster in the next couple of seasons. They have big dollars coming off the books, as well as positions available. First base, third, short, DH, the OF, are all open slots in the next two seasons. Roster flexibility is important in this league. The Sox, along with open spots, and deep pockets, have a solid minor league system that should allow them to aquire pieces for their major league team. They could theoretically go out there and trade for a guy like Adrian Gonzalez, or Felix Hernandez, while making a free agent run at an OF like Holliday. They have the resources to reload in a big way.

The flip to this is that they have needs, and there are no guarantees that they can fill them. Just cuz a free agent is on the market, it doesn't mean you're a guarantee to sign him. Also, making trades requires two teams to come to an agreement. If a team feels another is desparate, then they hold out for a kings ransom. Also, when it comes to aquirable players, you won't be the only team trying to get them. So the negative aspect is that there is nothing concrete, and no guarantees. Personally, I think the sox are in a good position. They have good pitching locked up, a solid neucleus in the lineup (think youk, pedroia, ellsbury, Lowell), deep pockets, and a stable of young players they can move for established talent. Plus, the Angles are a terrific team, so people shouldn't overreact about the state of the Redsox.

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"A theory that explains everything, explains nothing"

captain insano

isn't bobby abreu a free agent next year? i think he only signed a 1 year deal with the angels. hes a possible dh replacement and hes very familiar with francona from his phillie days. youk will be playing third next year i think so they could also just use Lowell as a dh. kotchman is still under contract and is a starter. i think Theo will go after roy holliday and felix hernandez again. great pitching will shut the best of line ups. what ever Theo does its going to be a extremely busy off season for the sox.

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IcyPatriot

If Theo can find a 1st baseman our infield is actually in good shape. I would resign A-Gon as we have several excellant SS's in the pipeline - especially if Iglesias needs just 1 year to get here.

I think a big problem for us now that he's not hitting his weight is Ortiz is limited to being a DH. I hope Theo moves on from the designated DH theory. I'd much rather see the position occupied by a player who can at least play 1/2 a season if needed as a position player.

That being said the pitching is in good shape ... we need to replace Ortiz and Drew but that's easier said than done when they still have contracts.

I think we need some coaching changes ... Not Francona and Farrell but a hitting coach change might well be in order ... a good place to start.

patsfanofNC12

I think they keep Ortiz, when he can hit high 20's in homerun's and drive in 99 rbi's while having a crappy season through most of the year it is still valuable. He lit it up the 2nd half of the season. I think next year he plays the whole year like he did this 2nd half and no one wants to ditch him. Varitek needs to go. Lowell has been great, but I can only see as a reserve infielder with the hip. Keep Gonzalez for right now. Also resign Bay, first full year in Fenway still turned out good and he was 2nd in the majors with 119 rbi's. Beckett will probably stay.

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Double G

The problem with sports today is the guaranteed contracts. Once a guy loses it, you are stuck with him unless you want to dump him and eat the salary.

I remember when Lowell tore it up in the 2007 World Series and decided to stay here how happy I was; he's a shell of his former self, that hip injury has gutted the guy.

Ortiz and his one hit in the Angels series was a disaster, he looked more like the player we saw in the first few months of the season than the player we saw in the last few.

Despite all the dough this team spends, this team was not very well put together and they've got holes at short, third, catcher, DH and left field. They need a decent back up catcher, not a guy who can't hit and can't throw out anyone. They need a decent utility outfielder too. Del Gas Can has to go as well. Too bad they can't work out a deal to keep Wagner, he throws gas from the left side and would be a nice three headed monster with Bard and Papelbon in the pen..............

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HarkDawg

papi- cut
Wake-Cut



sign-Holliday
sign- V-Mart
Lowell=DH

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WhiskeyBreath

Replace Drew? Why?

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IcyPatriot

Think he's on the back nine with that body ... that being said I'd be very intrigued to see JD Drew as a DH ... He could be a good one and also be a reserve outfielder at the same time.

I've said this before - I don't want anymore DH's who suck in the field ... it really hampers the lineup. If we could move Ortiz I wouldn't mind seeing Mike Lowell and Drew share the DH duties and give them @80 games on the field.

WhiskeyBreath

DH'ing Drew really hurts his value. He plays a great defensive RF, especially in Fenway.

If we can get this type of season from Drew for the remaining 2 years he has on his deal in Boston, I will be very happy. People are really underrating the type of year this guy has had.

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