In what was the first real big day for the Red Sox in the off season, they dealt Coco Crisp to the Royals for right handed reliever Ramon Ramirez. The deal is a win/win for both sides. The Royals gain a top of the order bat who provides speed and defense and it sets them up for some more moves.

There is rumor that the Cubs are interested in either Mark Tehan or David Dejesus. Or perhaps, they can flip Crisp to the Cubs and keep they're players while they are still pre-arbitration or arbitration eligible.

But here's what I care about. The Red Sox get a player who most of the world has never heard about. A solid right handed reliever. In two and a half seasons Ramirez has posted a 3.62 ERA and has averaged almost a strike out per inning. Keep in mind his first season and a half was at hitter friendly/ pitcher unfriendly Coors Field as a member of the Colorado Rockies.

More importantly, he is the kind of young player the Red Sox covet. A live arm with plus stuff and still controllable as he is 2 seasons away from being arbitration eligible. He offers flexibility in late inning situations as he features a plus change up which gives him the ability to get lefty's out.

He won't necessarily come into camp as the 8th inning set up man to Papelbon as the Sox still have options in Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, and Justin Masterson.

And now we're back to that word again, flexibility. With this addition, it will be very interesting to see where Masterson ends up. If  Boston fails to sign a big name free agent such as A.J Burnett, or Derek Lowe (forget CC Sabathia o.k. Let the Yankees take those soon to be damaged goods) Masterson could easily find a spot as a fifth starter if Clay Buchholz doesn't straighten himself out. Or he stays put in the aforementioned group of relief corps where he hopefully continues to dominate, especially against right handed hitting.

The move also gives Boston financial flexibility. Crisp was due to make $5.5 million this season with an option in 2010 for $8 million. Combine this with the $20 million they won't be paying Manny Ramirez this year,$8 million for zero appearances by Schilling, $4 million for what most of us wish was zero appearances by Timlin, and say hello to Mark Teixeira, the best fee agent on the market.

Teixeira is exactly the kind of player the Red Sox need. A selective hitter who is hitting his prime and has 5 seasons in a row of batting over .300, hitting 30 or more home runs, and driving in over 100 runs. He, not Jason Bay, is the bat needed to replace Manny Ramirez. And unlike Manny he'll always remember to bring his glove with him while playing the field.

That's it. Two moves and you have to not only consider the Red Sox postseason bound, but World Series favorites.
A rotation that boasts a healthy Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Free Agent Aquisition/Buchhholz/Masterson.

A solid bullpen.

And this projected lineup. Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia (ROY/MVP), David Ortiz (hopefully healthy although very likely in decline), Mark  Teixeira, Kevin Youkilis, J.D. Drew, Jason Bay, Jed Lowrie (as I refuse to take Julio Lugo seriously as a major league player) and hopefully Jason Varitek. If that's not a solid team, I don't know what is.