Speculative Food for Thought

Not a lot going on in Chicago over the last 24 hours, and that's pretty much the way it's probably going to continue. Boras usually doesn't have his clients sign ANYWHERE until Christmas morning (maybe his attempt at Santa Claus?), so if you looking for Holliday, Beltre, or someone of that nature to sign in the next few days I wouldn't hold your breath. There have been a few intriguing developments though.

Jason Varitek has NOT YET exercised his 3 mil player option and has until midnight to do so. If Scott Boras says he can find a starting gig for a year, would Varitek leave the franchise that he has been the General for for more than 10 years? I'm not sure if he does. There are ONLY two suitors that I could see that would want him to start (knowing that he could probably only start 100 games) they are both National League clubs: Nationals and Astros. The Nationals need some sort of guidance for their pitching staff and Varitek could be a MAJOR factor in aiding their growth as young pitchers. The Astros lost their staple in Brad Ausmus behind the plate and it seems to me a good fit with their ball club given that 'Tek has had experience with Roy Oswalt (WBC). This is going to go down to the wire, but he really needs to sit this one out, do all potential base runners against the Red Sox a disservice and retire with dignity.

The Red Sox are almost assuredly going to offer Billy Wagner arbitration, which is the right thing to do I may add, but what they may or may not have been expecting was for him to actually accept arbitration. This has all the makings of erection-inducing implications if the Red Sox have Billy Wagner back on their pitching staff. Here's where my heads at; Worst Case scenario: you just picked up a 2^nd lefty and an unstoppable 7,8,9^th inning combo with Bard and Papelbon. This also could make Papelbon a smidgen more expendable. There are maybe 3 teams in the Major Leagues that don't need Papelbon as their closer, so this could be used as a trade chip to help us land one of the marquis free-agents we covet. If that happens then we have Wagner as an insurance policy if we hand the reigns over to Daniel Bard. But if I'm Billy Wagner, I'm only 15 saves away from 400, yes he would get some opportunities when Bard needs rest, but do you think he'll get 15? Wagner has a decision to make, Championship or Save milestone, because odds are the teams that he signs with aren't going to be of the same clout as the Boston Red Sox.

Outside of the obvious I have compiled a list of people whom I think that the Sox should look at via trade/free agent:

Matt Lindstrom-The Florida Marlins, have already dealt one of their players to the Red Sox this offseason, and if Papelbon goes, he would be ANOTHER fire-baller that would be invaluable out of the bullpen. Lindstrom had problems saving games but having someone throwing 100mph in the 7^th or 8^th inning proved to be pretty vital for the Red Sox in 2009.

JJ Putz- Seems like the run-of-the-mill reclamation project that Theo is infamous for, and he has made it a point to say that if the offer was right that he'd accept a set-up role. The chance to win a World Series sounds like the 'right offer' to me.

Adrian Beltre- I'm of the opinion that Mike Lowell is not going to be part of the 2010 Boston Red Sox and if that's the case than we are going to need either a 1B while sliding Youkilis over to Third, or a 3B in replace of Mikey. He's a power hitter and an average if not above average defender.

Josh Willingham- If we don't sign either Matt Holliday or re-sign Jason Bay, I am completely OK with a platoon involving Jeremy Hermida and Josh Willingham in Left Field. You don't need to be a defensive mastermind to patrol the short porch in Boston and both of the players are young and have not yet hit their peak, for CHEAP.

Jack Wilson- As much of a defensive Whiz-Kid as Alex Gonzalez is, Jack Wilson is better. Pittsburgh signed him to a HORRIBLE contract, and all indications are that he doesn't want to sign an extension in Seattle, he may be a great pickup that will sure up our middle infield, he is also durable to boot.

That's about all I got for you today.

Stay Tuned

Ryan