Red Sox in Position to Make a Move in Standings, Roster?

Daisuke Matsuzaka got the Red Sox off to a great start on their 10-day/10-game West Coast trip last night in Oakland, holding the Athletics to two hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings in a 2-1 victory. The Red Sox now sit 6-games behind the Yankees in the A.L. East and 3.5-games behind the Rays for the Wild Card. It is not going to be an easy road for the BoSox to return to the postseason for the seventh time in eight years but it is still a realistic goal. As was mentioned in this space yesterday, starting pitching is going to be the engine that drives Boston into October. If Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz return from their injuries in top form and Matsuzaka decides that throwing strikes and winning games is more fun that walking every other batter he faces, the Sox starters will be in a great position to carry the burden of getting the team into the playoffs. Imagine having the luxury of setting up Jon Lester, Beckett, Buchholz, John Lackey, and Matsuzaka every five days? If the starting pitching lives up to its potential, the stress on the bullpen will be relaxed. Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard won't have to put out as many fires and a reduced workload on Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima should get them back on track. There is also hope that Triple-A call-up Michael Bowden can give Francona a reliable option in relief and that Felix Doubront - who has made three starts so far - can also transition into a reliever. One last area the team could make an improvement - for the remainder of 2010 and beyond - is in the middle of their lineup. While the first part of this post made a lot of sense, this trade idea stretches the imagination but it would make the Red Sox better now and better in 2011 and beyond. The target I want Theo Epstein to focus on is Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder. Yes, I know the Red Sox have a great first baseman in Kevin Youkilis but Youk's defensive versatility allows him to be a great third baseman as well which makes the incumbent third baseman, Adrian Beltre, expendable. Beltre is also expendable because he is basically operating on a one-year contract. He does have a player option for 2011 but based on his success so far this season (.333 BA, 15 HR, 58 RBI, .925 OPS) and his agent - the evil Scott Boras - it is likely Beltre will be on the market this winter looking for a long term deal that will pay him between $15-$17 million per year. That is money that I cannot see the Red Sox shelling out for a player with inconsistent results during his career. Now, the Brewers do not want Adrian Beltre. They are 9.5-games behind the Cardinals in the N.L. Central and 9-games behind the Reds for the Wild Card. By moving Fielder - who will be a free agent after 2011 and will probably be too rich for the Brewers to re-sign - they will be running up the white flag and looking to add pieces for their rebuilding process. One team the Red Sox could find a buyer for Beltre is the Padres. Expected to be at the bottom of the National League before the season started, the Padres now find themselves atop the National League West. One area they could use an upgrade is at third base, where they currently employ Chase Headley. The Red Sox could move Beltre to San Diego for prospects. Being that Beltre will become a free agent at the end of the year, it is highly unlikely the Padres will move any of their elite minor leaguer's but the Sox should get two or three solid players in return for Beltre, who would give San Diego another big bat to go along with Adrian Gonzalez. Using the prospects from the Beltre deal, Epstein could add one or two of his own minor leaguer's and offer the Brewers a solid package in return for the 26-year-old slugger. Epstein may also be able to pry reliever John Axford away from Milwaukee to strengthen the Boston bullpen. For 2010, Fielder would give Boston a versatile and powerful lineup. Assuming the injured starters return by the beginning of August at the latest, Francona could use this lineup over the next 2 1/2 months: 1. Jacoby Ellsbury, LF 2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B 3. Prince Fielder, 1B 4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B 5. Victor Martinez, C 6. David Ortiz, DH 7. J.D. Drew, RF 8. Mike Cameron, CF 9. Marco Scutaro, SS The added benefit of trading for Fielder (and signing him to a new contract) is that the Sox will have a premiere hitter about to enter his prime to add to the nucleus of Youkilis and Pedroia. Assuming that the team re-signs pending free agent Victor Martinez this winter, the team will have a powerful lineup that will make the team contenders for the next 4-5 years.