What I Think The Red Sox Might Be Doing

Things are pretty quiet with the Red Sox these days which is quite a different story than it was after their 2004 World Series championship. Back then the team lost Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe and Orlando Cabrera to free agency and people in Boston feared it might be another 86 years before the Sox won the Series. This time it is so much more calm. The team has a base of young talent that will keep them competitive -- at least -- through the middle of the next decade. Theo Epstein and his scouts and minor league staff have produced players ready to perform on baseball's biggest stage. The one mark against Theo is his hit-or-miss track record in free agency. While I don't disagree with him letting Pedro walk after 2004, I question his decision to let Lowe and Cabrera walk, especially after they were replaced with Edgar Renteria (who I did love at the time) and Matt Clement. Will 2007 be a different story for Theo? I think so. The Red Sox have already resigned Curt Schilling. It was a smart move on both sides and I certainly expect Schill to carry the back end of the Boston rotation in 2008. Next up is Mike Lowell. Lowell and the Red Sox should come to an agreement as soon as possible. Lowell (leadership, defense and power) is perfect for the Sox and the Sox (Fenway Park, Green Monster and adoring fans) are perfect for Lowell. Let's hope 3-years/$42-million gets it done. The question for the Sox after Schilling and Lowell is what to do next. That young base of talent -- Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon, Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester, Manny Delcarmen and Clay Buchholz with Craig Hansen, Justin Masterson and Jed Lowrie on the way -- come extremly cheap. This is a time for the Red Sox to make a significant move that may be unpopular at first but will give them an offensive force for the next decade. Yes, I'm talking about Alex Rodriguez. Think about it for a second. It makes sense. Manny Ramirez is nearing the end of his Hall of Fame run and who better to plug in behind Big Papi in the Boston lineup? A-Rod, once a hero in these parts (when he wanted to give back money to come here but was shot down by the Players Union) and then a villain (too many reasons to list), could become the ultimate hero. Larry Lucchino always loved to make the "Evil Empire/Star Wars" reference between the Yankees and Red Sox and A-Rod could easily play the part of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader/redemption in the end role. In 2008, the Sox lineup (with A-Rod) would look a lot like this: 1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF 2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B 3. Alex Rodriguez, SS 4. David Ortiz, DH 5. Manny Ramirez, LF 6. Mike Lowell, 3B 7. J.D. Drew, RF 8. Kevin Youkilis, 1B 9. Jason Varitek, C Good luck getting through that lineup. And unlike the awesome New York Yankee lineups from the past few years that didn't win the World Series, that Boston lineup would be supported by a Josh Beckett/Daisuke Matsuzaka/Jon Lester/Clay Buchholz/Curt Schilling/Tim Wakefield starting rotation and a Jonathan Papelbon/Hideki Okajima/Manny Delcarmen/Mike Timlin/Craig Hansen bullpen. What's not to like? There would be some issues with bringing A-Rod to Boston. The Sox would have to find a taker for Julio Lugo (the Astros or Cardinals -- if Eckstein walks -- have a need), repair A-Rod's image in the Boston clubhouse (I'm sure 'Tek could forget the past and Papi is a reported close ally of Rodriguez) and make room on the payroll (not that big of a problem with all the young guys making less than a million each and Manny's money probably coming off the books after '08). You may hate him today but I'm sure once Theo pulls off this move (for 7-years and $210-million) that the A-Rod jerseys will be flying off the shelves.