Redsox offseason outlook

-Dan Eveline

Lineup:
C-Victor Martinez
C-
1b-Kevin Youkilis
2b-Dustin Pedroia
3b-Mike Lowell
SS-Jed Lowrie
LF-
CF-Jacoby Ellsbury
RF-JD Drew
DH-David Ortiz

Rotation:
Sp-Josh Beckett
Sp-Jon Lester
Sp-Clay Buchholz
Sp-Daisuke Matsuzaka
Sp-Tim Wakefield

Rp-Ramon Ramirez
Rp-Manny DelCarmen
Rp-Daniel Bard
Rp-Hideki Okajima
Cp-Jonathan Papelbon

Free Agents to Be:
Jason Bay-LF. very likely to leave, but will most likely be given a contract in the range of 4 years $60 million.

Alex Gonzalez-SS. $6 million option, most likely excersised due to he being a decent shortstop in a position that has eluded a good player since he himself played a few years back

Jason Varitek-C. $3 million player option, team option most likely will be declined. It may be time for Varitek to retire and latch on as a coach in the Redsox organization.

Takashi Saito-RP. Option declined, but very likely to resign for a lower price.

Billy Wagner-RP. Wants to close, so he'll likely decline arbitration, and become a free agent, however he'll need to decide whether he wants a big payday and accept and just be a relief pitcher (arbitration needs to be at least 80% of the previous contract), or decline and take his chances in the free agent market.

On a related note, there may be a chance that the Redsox try trading Papelbon to a team in a package for a player such as Felix Hernandez or Adrian Gonzalez (provided that Heath Bell gets traded first), or for a package of young cost controlled players.

What's needed:
A left fielder. A lot of people complain about JD Drew's contract. In essense the contract that Bay will be receiving will be a good comparison between he and Drew. He's on the wrong side of 30, and is a poor fielder. Matt Holliday, in limited sample size has hit very well in Fenway Park, but would cost an arm and a leg in the bidding war that (agent Scott) Boras will be lobbying for. What i'd advise is to sign Jack Cust if he isn't tendered a contract, or maybe a trade for Adam Dunn, both are high power, low average guys who play subpar defense, but would help the Redsox with the recent struggles of David Ortiz and the fragility of Mike Lowell.

A catcher. Sign a stopgap guy to backup for Martinez, maybe a reunion with Josh Bard. Trade for Chris Snyder of the Diamondbacks, who could very well be had for salary relief due to the emergence of Miguel Montero, or call up Luis Exposito, Tim Federowicz, or Mark Wagner, all of which aren't presently ready to succeed in the major leagues.

Attempt to sign some relief pitchers. With Saito likely to resign at a lower salary, the Redsox
should attempt to sign Will Ohman or possibly if he isn't looking for a closer role, a reunion with Brandon Lyon.

Acquire a starting pitcher. I envision the Redsox signing at least one low-risk high-reward starter such as Rich Harden, Erik Bedard, Justin Duchscherer, but one pitcher I could see the Redsox seriously signing as a reclamation project is Noah Lowry on a minor league deal. Since he's had an injury that has made him unable to pitch through the last season, he'll likely be had for little.

Try to acquire a power hitting corner infielder. Try to sign someone to spell Lowell at third, or to spell Youkilis at first so he can play third, because Casey Kotchman doesn't have the power of a first baseman. Possibly sign someone along the lines of Hank Blalock, who could be a perfect fit as the backup.

Allow the players in the minors to develop fully. Let Michael Bowden, Lars Anderson, Josh Reddick, the three catchers I mentioned above, and Cuban shortstop Jose Iglesias time to develop fully and be ready by either September callups, or by spring training in 2011.

2010 may be a very long year for the Redsox if they don't accomplish (m)any of the goals that I believe should be the keys to the 2009-2010 offseason.