'09 Red Sox Taking Shape

After signing Rocco Baldelli yesterday, the Red Sox have added another important piece to their bench, agreeing with Mark Kotsay on a one-year deal. Kotsay helped the Red Sox in both the outfield and at first base after coming to the team from the Braves last August. In 2009, he will be able to back up Kevin Youkilis at first and give Terry Francona a more durable option than the often injured Baldelli in the outfield, a necessity considering the fragility of J.D. Drew. In the infield, the Red Sox could possibly have Julio Lugo as a "supersub." Lugo is capable of playing shortstop, second base, and third base. However, after being the starter in 2007 and in 2008 until he was injured, it is not a certainty that Lugo will accept a reserve role. If he doesn't, the Sox will have to find a taker for the remaining $16 million on his contract and find a utility infielder. Bringing back Alex Cora in that role remains a possibility. The Red Sox still need to find a catcher. Jason Varitek remains a free agent (who I eventually believe will return to Boston) but even if he comes back, the Sox need to get younger behind the plate. Texas prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia's name continues to be tossed around although no one is sure how high of a price Theo Epstein will spend (Clay Buchholz?) to land the "Salty Dog." Former Toronto catcher Gregg Zaun could be a possible option for the Sox. Currently, the Sox have just one major league catcher under contract and I'm not ready to live in a world where Josh Bard is the everyday catcher for the Boston Red Sox. (By the way, if the Red Sox do land Saltalamacchia, TheBostonInsider will have full rights over the "Salty Dog" nickname.) Here is what the Sox roster looks like right now... C: Josh Bard 1B: Kevin Youkilis, Mark Kotsay 2B: Dustin Pedroia, Julio Lugo SS: Jed Lowrie, Lugo 3B: Mike Lowell, Lugo LF: Jason Bay, Kotsay, Rocco Baldelli CF: Jacoby Ellsbury, Kotsay, Baldelli RF: J.D. Drew, Kotsay, Baldelli DH: David Ortiz Starting Pitchers: Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden Bullpen: Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Justin Masterson, Manny Delcarmen, Ramon Ramirez, Davis Aardsma, Bowden 1. Ellsbury - CF 2. Pedroia - 2B 3. Ortiz - DH 4. Youkilis - 1B 5. Drew - RF 6. Lowell - 3B 7. Bay - LF 8. Bard - C 9. Lowrie - SS Overall, this is a team that can contend with the free spending Yankees and the talent rich Rays in the A.L. East and win a third World Series in six years. They may not have made the big money signings that the Yankees have (Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett) but they have a solid lineup and a deep pitching staff. I'll take the team filled with professional winners over a squad of mercenaries any day.