The 2009 MLB Season has come and gone, and in the next few months and years, the Boston Red Sox could lose one core, and start building another. The decisions this offseason for the Sox boil down mostly to head vs. heart- namely, what do you do with Jason Varitek? The guy is your captain. He’s been rock solid behind the plate, for much of his career. However, he clearly isn’t what he once was. His bat has lost its pop, and he can’t seem to throw runners out consistently. However, a one-year, hometown-discount deal might not be such a bad thing, if you look at the backup catchers around baseball. If Jason would accept being relegated to that position, he could be the class of the league. Jose Molina is the backup of a World Series Champion, for God’s sakes. Jose Molina. Let that sink in, and watch Jason Varitek start to look better.
There are two guys that need to be locked down ASAP to ensure a Sox championship run. First, Jason Bay needs to stay in left. Don’t let him walk to St. Louis. For the love of God, don’t let him walk South to cozy multi-bajillion dollar Yankee Stadium. Bay loves Boston, and he wants to stay. Just offer up the cash. Also, and this is a priority for the end of the season, if need be- don’t let Josh Beckett go anywhere. He’s said he wants to stay a Red Sox, but that free agency will be a business decision. Don’t let it get that far; the guy is the most intimidating pitcher in baseball and is, for lack of a better term, absolute money in the postseason (OK, there’s probably a better term, but I like saying “absolute money”). Lock him up literally forever.
Oh, and one last thing- avoid Aroldis Chapman. Please. Sure, he could be absolutely dominant. But he could also flame out. He had the most wild pitches in the Cuban League, which, last time I checked, is not the MLB. You thought AJ Burnett was a ripoff? Try Aroldis on for size. Just let him flock somewhere else. If the Yankees get him, I guarantee he’ll be awful. See: Hideki Irabu, Kei Igawa, Jose Contreras, et. al.
i agree with locking down beckett for a long contract but he needs to get back to form,we need bay to return as well just as long as he doesnt slump as he did in certain months of the season.i also agree to avoid getting chapman cause theres no telling how he would perform under pressure and i mean (boston pressure).i do think going after adrian gonzalez is a absolute must at any cost..only because are pitching is pretty deep starting and relieveing and i also think adding roy halladay would make are starting rotation feared in the american league.
I think Adrian Gonzalez and Halladay would be incredible pickups. If the Sox could only pick up one of them, however, I still go Gonzalez. The Sox have a deep rotation that should only get deeper as prospects graduate. However, the farm system lacks any guaranteed impact bats at first base (Lars Anderson seems to have regressed a bit). Either way, this team should be viciously good for years to come.