As the Red Sox embark on the tag team GM era of Hoyer and Cherington (who had the advantage of having a COMBINED age less than most of their competition) with Theo Epstein somewhere behind the curtain either officially or unofficially pulling the strings, much works still needs to be done before the moving trucks head south in February.  The Red Sox offseason moves so far look like a coloring job by my four year-old: uneven and out of order, but, thankfully, no one has #### outside the lines… YET!

The biggest issue still remains two of the Red Sox top three offensive players, Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon.  Ramirez’s soap opera is going on 25 months now (if it hasn’t since the day they signed him) and, frankly,  is getting old.  The basic problem to do any deal is that the Red Sox want a trading parent to give the Red Sox more than they themselves think he is worth (Remember two years ago, anyone could have had Manny for zero compensation).  On any objective measure, his contract is 2005 is above market value and, yet, the Red Sox want equal trade value in return.  The Red Sox clearly would be more enamored with Vladimir Guerrero than Manny and Guerrero is making approximately $5 million less a season.  In order to move Manny, the Red Sox will have to eat some money (like the $11 million in the Rent-A-Wreck deal) or lower their trade demands.  The one thing that will continue to give this life is the dwindling years left on the contract and the attractiveness that may give a team that is going for it all in any given year (i.e. 2006 Mets).  And, hey, if the Phillies can move Jim Thome, anything is possible.  For everyone touting the Javier Vazquez acquisition as the cornerstone of a repeat let me suggest that trading Aaron Rowand for Thome to fill Frank Thomas’ spot as chronically disabled first baseman, will hurt the White Sox defense dramatically.  The guy is Jim Edmonds without the mustard.

Speaking of centerfielders with mustard, as far as Damon goes, replacing him in centerfield with a player such as Seattle’s Jeremy Reed would be a step down defensively and leave a gaping hole in the top of the batting order as newly acquired 2B Mark Loretta will slot in the first or second slots in the order, but the Red Sox will struggle to find another top of the order type hitter.  Reed’s .322 OBP won’t cut it for the OBP obsessed Sox and Trot Nixon has historically struggled from the top of the order and the demands of being in the two hole would further compromise his fragility.  Kevin Youkilis?  Please, he really hasn’t proven he can have competitive at bats at the major league level despite Stephen King and Stewart O’Nan’s obsession over him in Faithful, officially the worst book ever written (if I read one more story about a 40 something year-old “man” driving a broken down car from Hartford to Boston every night just to push kids out of the way for foul balls, I swore I would have killed somebody… probably myself).

Assuming a re-signing of Damon, the Red Sox line-up and needs like this:

	Line-up (9):		Bats	The Skinny
1	Johnny Damon	CF	L	Without him or a comparable top-of-the-line-up hitter (any available?), an impressive line-up drops down quite a few notches.
2	Mark Loretta	2B	R	His on base percentage since being traded from Milwaukee in 2002: .379 in 1,845 plate appearances.
3	David Ortiz	DH	L	Most important player in Red Sox history.
4	Manny Ramirez	LF	R	Something tells me I’d like Miggy being Miggy (or Manny being Miggy for that matter) better than Manny being Manny; however, even with the Orioles being the Orioles, they will, too.
5	Trot Nixon	RF	L	Health is a huge issue, 5-6-7 holes are questionable either way, but if he’s injured, there maybe a lot of three and outs before the top of the order.
6	Mike Lowell	3B	R	Hoping for a big bounce back, will draw the ire of fans if he struggles to start versus the consistency of Bill Mueller.
7	Jason Varitek	C	B	Need to rest him more during the season or another September/October fall off is likely.
8	Kevin Youkilis	1B	R	The “Greek God of Walks” needs to show he can swing the bat consistently – also need a left handed platoon hitter.
9	Alex Gonzalez	SS	R	Even Alex Cora would be an improvement over Rent-A-Wrek.

The most important line-up holes to fill for the Red Sox line-up are a starting shortstop and a lefty platoon first baseman.  After exhausting the Tejada option (aka – the 2006 World Series Championship option), the Red Sox likely will sign ex-Marlin Alex Gonzalez. At 1B, journeyman Roberto Petagine has the type of bat the Red Sox would want, but not the defense.  Ultimately, the Red Sox should be to use their excess mediocore starting pitching (i.e. Matt Clement) to pry Adrian Gonzalez loose from Texas.  In fact, if the Red Sox do lose out on Damon, the centerfielder on a layover in Arlington, Brad Wilkerson, could probably be acquired for a package including SP Bronson Arroyo. 

Bench  (4):			Bats	The Skinny
Adrian Gonzalez		1B	L	Very well could be the starting 1B if acquired.
Alex Cora		INF	L	Did a nice job in Boston last year… Does Uribe’s grounder make it through his legs?
Juan Encarnarcion		CF	R	If Enacrnarcion doesn’t land a starting job elsewhere, he’d be a nice fit – plus the Sox need a reliable RH bat off the bench.
Eddie Perez		C	R	If acquired, knows how to be a one pitcher specialist.

The Red Sox have plenty of questions and depth in their starting rotation.  It says here that the Red Sox head to Fort Meyers with David Wells as their #3 in a rotation that unfolds like this:

Starting Pitchers  (5):		Throws	The Skinny
Curt Schilling		R	The entire season is contingent on his recovery… no pressure though.
Josh Beckett		R	MRI results seem to have been cause for concern… first big start in Yankee Stadium will be quite interesting
David Wells		L	Resident malcontent and big mouth ogre for one more year; it’s a wonder no one else wants him.
Jonathan Papelbon		R	Huge upside, will be missed in the bullpen.
Tim Wakefield		R	How will he react without Mirabelli?

The Red Sox continue to look for bullpen depth (if you didn’t have enough of Rudy Seanez the first time, he maybe coming back), but we are going to assume the Red Sox final offseason move will be to use Bronson Arroyo out there this year in a middle relief:

Bullpen  (7):			Throws	The Skinny
Keith Foulke		CL	R	First shot to return to 2004 postseason form, will not have a lot of rope.
Mike Timlin		SU	R	Pro’s pro, 1st in line if Foulke doesn’t return to 2004 form.
Lenny DiNardo		LS	L	Quietly had a nice 2005, will get a chance to take over Mike Meyers lefty specialist role.  Status as only lefty will change during the season.
Bronson Arroyo		MR	R	Red Sox like his rubber arm out of the pen but was shaky in that role in 2004 postseason (helped immensely by A-Rod’s slap).
Guillermo Mota		MR	R	Very disappointing for a little over a season in Florida, a question mark just like the rest of the Marlins trade.
Chad Bradford		RS	R	More and more of a righthanded specialist, his job security would have to be considered highly questionable after an inconsistent 2005 (pitched half season after surgery).
Jamie Vermilyea		LR	R	2006 Rule V draftee from the Blue Jays; Red Sox like to keep their Rule V guys and with the need to develop bullpen depth, they will be tempted to.

Prospects and others not on the 25 man roster:

Manny Declarman (RHRP): Boston kid, will have an impact on 2006 season, although Red Sox desire to accumulate as many arms in the bullpen as possible will motivate the Red Sox to utilize his ooptions.  IF Arroyo is traded or moves to the rotation, it will significantly effect Declarman.

Craig Hansen (RHRP):  Closer of the future, still raw, like Declarman Sox will use his option status to build depth.

Jon Lester (LHSP):  Best lefthanded arm in the organization, could if accelerated to Boston if the need is there.

Dustin Pedora (2B/SS?): The Red Sox 2B or maybe SS of the future will be in Fenway this summer.

Wade Miller (RHSP): Surgery will likely cost him much of 2006.

Jermaine Van Buren (RHRP):  had a great year at Iowa (AAA) for the Cubs, ditto Declarman and Hansen.

Ken Huckaby (C): Non-roster invitee expected to be Wakefield’s personal catcher, but a Perez or Flaheryy type may afford Varitek more rest.

Andy Marte:  You mean we got a player for Rent-A-Wreck, too?!?  New can’t miss prospect, will get more AAA seasoning as the 3B/1B situation works itself out.

Adam Stern (OF): 2005 Rule V draftee, will probably start in 2006 for seasoning and because too many lefty bats on the bench already.

Kelly Shoppach (C): With Varitek in place for three years, likely to be used as trade bait… for hopefully more than Larry Bigbie.

Edgar Martinez (RHRP): Righthanded power arm could be accelerated if Bullpen Plan A does not work out.

 Greg