When the Red Sox acquired Adam LaRoche today, it was more than acquiring a left-handed power hitting first baseman. It allowed Theo & Co. to keep their top prospects for a possible blockbuster deal.

I'm sure Theo is done looking to acquire any more first basemen. Victor Martinez isn't happening. Adrian Gonzalez is not even available. The trade for LaRoche insured those things. 

Before I even begin about this, I don't want to come across as some bandwagon Red Sox fan who is jumping off the edge. I thought there was absolutely no need for a SP two weeks ago. I was concerned about a hitter, but now, this is a serviceable Plan B.

Theo is very concerned about the starting pitching. Outside of Beckett and Lester, the rotation ERA is 6.31. Smoltz has not preformed. Penny wasn't anything special when he was winning and now that has stopped. Daisuke will be out until September. Wakefield just got placed on the DL.

Look at Theo's comments about the price of prospects and about making another impact-type deal. He certainly sounds like he's going to definitely at least look into things.

Do I think a deal for a pitcher is going to happen? Probably not. But I think the Red Sox are going to look hard into Roy Halladay.

Here's my pipe dream :

Blue Jays trade Roy Halladay & Vernon Wells to the Red Sox for Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Justin Masterson and Casey Kelly (Blue Jays wanted a stud SS, and Kelly can pitch or play SS for them).

The Sox would be able to pick up the salary from Wells and that would replace another top prospect.

I sure would like to see these Sox in the playoffs:

1. Pedroia 2B

2. Drew RF

3. Youkilis 3B

4. Ortiz DH

5. Bay LF

6. Wells CF

7. LaRoche 1B

8. Varitek C

9. Green SS

1a. Halladay

1b. Beckett

3. Lester

4. Smoltz

I know I'm outside my mind, but I'm not jumping off of the edge.

via blogs.eveningsun.com

These negotiations are nearing the end, finally. It is being reported tonight, that the Yankees and Scott Boras have been talking about parameters for a deal. One might suddenly get worried upon hearing this news, but Boras initiated these negotiations. This is pure speculation, but if Boras initiated these talks, then I believe Boras was trying to make a last ditch effort before Teixeira makes the nearing decision. 

Let's break down the reported offers:

Angels- 8 years 160 million, maybe a little higher.

Orioles- 7 years 140-150 million.

Yankees- No concrete offer.

Nationals- Most likely 8 years 160 million at least.

Red Sox- Rumored anywhere from 165 to 184 million. 

The Red Sox have significantly bid higher then the Angels. The Red Sox have supposedly made the highest offer. Should the Nationals decide to up their offer, they would have to significantly out bid the Sox. We should all but rule out the Orioles, as they have come up short in their effots to sign the Maryland native.

As long as the Yankees don't make an overwhelming bid, the Red Sox should end up with their prize. For Teixeira to sign with the Angels, they would have had to blow him away with an offer to make up for the gap that has the Red Sox leading the Halos because of their better geographic position.

Boras has called the Yankees in hope of forcing the Sox to up their bid. The Sox FO are very intelligent, they understood that the Yankees weren't going to be serious bidders for Teixeira and thus called Boras's bluff. 

Peter Gammons is reporting that the Sox and Teixeira aren't far apart. This is good news for the Sox as reports were flying out that the team and Teixeira were more than 20 million apart. 

It has also been reported that Teixeira was impressed with the Red Sox front office when they flew to meet him. Another plus.

Teixeira, according to Boras, is eliminating teams and the sweepstakes will be over shortly. With the Red Sox fitting every major category for Teixeira (offering the highest bid, consistent proven winner and on the East Coast) good chances are he'll be a Sox before Christmas.

I believe that Boras knows Teixeira is going to go to the Red Sox, he just wants a little more money from them. The Sox have the oppurtunity to go a little higher, but not much more as the team will still need to pay for a large part of Mike Lowell's contract. The only possible way that these negotiations could play out, is if one of the Nationals or Angels improve their offer. The Angels are believed to be unwilling to do so, but such is not the case as nothing has been reported on that front. 

PREDICTION: Sox sign Mark Teixeira 8 years 176 million

Boras: "We have recieved a number of offers"

He declined comment on which teams made the offers or how many teams made offers.

He also declined to set a timetable for the slugger.

Boras

As of right now, the Angels still have not made an offer to Teixeira. I wonder if the pathetic Orioles or Nationals made one.

Tony Mass still thinks he's a Sox come Opening Day

Q & A

Orioles' team president Andy MacPhail understands that the Orioles won't be competitive for a season or two and expects to be in the process, at the very least. 

Predictions:

1. Josh Beckett

2. Jon Lester

3. Daisuke Matsuzaka

4. Justin Masterson

5. Tim Wakefield

1. Jacoby Ellsbury

2. Dustin Pedroia

3. Mark Teixeira

4. David Ortiz

5. Kevin Youkilis

6. Jason Bay

7. JD Drew

8. Jason Varitek & Saltalamacchia/Teagarden (Platoon)

9. Jed Lowrie

CL- Papelbon

SU- Okajima

SU- Ramirez

MR- Delcarmen

What do you guys think? Theo has already hinted that Masterson could be moved to the rotation. Link:

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081119&content_id=3684498&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

Recently, Theo has said that he wants the Sox to be average at least in every position. He also said that, the Sox can choose to be above average, or even elite (his word) in some positions. This is a good philosophy to have, of course.

Looking at the reality of Teixeira coming to Boston, or lack therof, the Red Sox could and should be players in other positions to upgrade offensively.

What are some positions that the Red Sox could upgrade at, to make a difference? Shortstop, catcher and possibly third base comes to mind.

This is pure speculation, but what if the Sox were able to add a better shortstop?Could JJ Hardy become available from the Brewers? Suddenly, one of the Red  Sox' weaknesses becomes a strength and we upgrade from an average Lowrie, to an elite Hardy.

I'm unaware if Doug Melvin wants to deal his young shortstop, but if so, the Sox should look to upgrade.

Hardy would command some very nice prospects. Would a package of Lowrie, Buccholz/ Masterson, and Bowden get the job done?

Another position the Red Sox will most likely become average/ above average at is Catcher. Varitek should be better next year, but it is not a guaruntee. A trade for one of Texas' young catchers would push the Sox to be at least average at catcher, a position, where the Sox were well-below average last  year.

The Red Sox will look into the Teixeira sweepstakes, but in the end the Mike Lowell situation will be the end to that dream. If the Sox were able to acquire Hardy, it would continue the Epstein philosophy of adding young and talented  players.

Back in May, when the Brewers visited the Sox, it looked like Hardy would be a perfect fit for Fenway as he crushed two homeruns against Beckett.

 A Hardy trade, would allow the Sox to sign a SP like  Derek Lowe. This is mere speculation, but it would be nice for the Sox to have a better longterm shortstop other than Lowrie.

1. Pedroia 2B (until Ellsbury can prove he can consistently get on base)
2. JJ Hardy (Usually hit #2 in Milwuakee)
3. David Ortiz DH
4. Kevin Youkils 1B
5. Jason Bay LF
6. Mike Lowell 3B
7. JD Drew RF
8. Jason Varitek/ Saltalamacchia C
9. Ellsbury CF

I would agree with a somewhat platoon of Varitek/ Saltalamacchia. This lineup would give us good balance and would give the Red Sox more options in free  agency this year.

What do you guys think?

Many of us would love to see Mark Teixeira manning 1st base for us next year, as would I, but this just simply isn't realistic.

To have Teixeira  play 1st base, many things would have to happen.

1) Trade Mike Lowell. Consider this:

What team would trade for a guy BEFORE Spring Training coming off of a hip surgery? A player that his splits are better in Fenway. If there is ANY chance of the Red Sox trading Mike Lowell, they would have to pick up 80%+ of his contract.

2) The Red Sox would have to beat the Angels AND the Yankees in an ultimate bidding war

The Red Sox would have to beat the Angels, who are looking in their couches for extra money that they could give to Tex. The Angels might not even resign Frankie Rodriguez because they need the money to pony up to Scott Boras and Teixeira. The Yankees are merely saying "Bring a wheelbarrow to our Vault and you can take as much as you want- 6 times a week".

3) Why would the Red Sox block Lars Anderson?

As most fans know, the Red Sox have one legitimate power prospect in Anderson. He also plays 1B, so why would the Red Sox block him? The only way I don't see Anderson in Fenway by 2010 is if he gets traded for a stud pitcher.

Reasons to think the Red Sox could sign Mark Teixeira:

1) Has everything we're looking for:

• Great Glove
• Switch hitter
• Takes his BBs
• Averages 35 HRs
• Works the Count
• Ultimate Professional
• Doesn't strike out much (93) compared to 97 BBs.

2) Scott Boras

Many Boras clients are Red Sox players: Cora, Drew, Ellsbury, Varitek and Matsuzaka. Boras loves the Red Sox ownership and with all of the obvious reasons Boras could sell Teixeira right into the middle of the order.

3) When you least expect it:

Theo Epstein had a very uneventful offseason last year, aside from the Johan Santana sweepstakes. He has declared that most likely, this will not occur. Theo has made some moves that we have not seen in the near future: JD Drew, Julio Lugo and most notably Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Conclusion: Would I love to have Teixeira in the middle of our order for years to come? Sure. Are the odds in the Red Sox favor? I don't believe so.

Don't give 'em any hope. If you let them win a game in Fenway, then you are one more Halo win away from a deciding 5th game.

Those Angels fans at Halos Heaven think that just because of OJ, that somehow they are going to beat the Champs? Here's the link: http://www.halosheaven.com/2008/10/4/628009/1995#comments

I got some news for them, the Boston Red Sox have beaten the Angels 11 straight postseason games, and its not going to stop now.

Bring on the brooms!

The 2007 Red Sox were nearly invincible, they possessed the ingredients to a championship. They were stockloaded with a deep lineup which featured the terrorizing duo of Papi and Manny along with other key tablesetters like Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury. The 2007 Postseason Red Sox also had Josh Beckett, the second coming of Bob Gibson. Don't forget about their bullpen, because it too was anchored by clutch pitchers like Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon.

Yes, those Red Sox were the real deal. They fought back from a 3-1 ALCS hole to the Cleveland Indians. But suddenly, these 2008 Red Sox are considered dead and are pronounced underdogs against a "superior" Angels team, which the Sox swept last year on their way to their second world series title in four years.

Sure these 2008 Red Sox have had their troubles with injuries and the trade with Manny Ramirez, but they're here aren't they? Remind me, but I believe the Red Sox will be playing October baseball tomorrow.

The Red Sox have dealt with adversity all year long. In March, their season started in Japan after they almost didn't make the trip due to a conflict with a payment for their coaches and other team officials.

In April they were hit with Josh Beckett's ailing back. Halfway through the month, the Sox were hit with the flu bug.

In May, David Ortiz fractured the sheath around his tendon and he was forced to miss more than two months of baseball, but how were these Sox to respond? Who was going to make up for the lost production?

Enter J.D. Drew. Drew became Ortiz, showing incredible amounts of power. In late June, the Red Sox started encountering some problems.

Manny Ramirez decided to go gangster on us and decided to push the Assistant to the Traveling Secretary. It is speculation, but not confirmed, that he also took three straight pitches against Mariano Rivera and the New York Yankees with the winning run on third base.

In late July, the 31st to be exact, the Red Sox made their second trade deadline deal that sent a star out of Boston in the past decade (Nomar Garciaparra).

The Sox had a path split into two directions: either they could limp into September and watch the playoffs at home or they could roar back into contention and prove to their fans that they are still the Defending World Series Champions.

The Red Sox, thankfully, chose the latter. With Jason Bay, the key player the Red Sox got back in the Ramirez deal, the Red Sox had a .642 winning percentage.

On their quest towards a playoff spot, though, the Red Sox suffered key injuries to their team. Their depth, like earlier in the year, was questioned. Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell (WS MVP), and J.D. Drew went down with different assortments of injuries.

Again the question was asked: Who is going to step up and help this team make it to the postseason? Newly acquired players like Paul Byrd and Mark Kotsay filled the holes and other players like Jed Lowrie and Coco Crisp made huge offensive and defensive contributions to get the team where it stands now: in the Playoffs.

Tomorrow night the Red Sox will face off against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Jon Lester (16-6) will get the ball in Game 1 and even though its not Josh Beckett, who will get the ball in Game 3, its still a damn good pitcher. Jon Lester pitches with heart and he has made an 180 degree turn around from a couple of years ago.

Don't fear Red Sox Nation, these Angels may flash their guns, but you are still the Champs.

These Sox have something that the other playoff teams don't have: they have the tools and experience to come up huge in the postseason.

The Red Sox have experienced adversity, injuries and yet still find themselves in great position to repeat as World Champions.

PREDICTION: Red Sox in Four Games.