ForeverYoung

No when we let Victor Martinez walk is when we lost our catcher, and that was because Theo was invested in his reclamation project Salty. Don't get me wrong Salty was a great grab, and can work as a day to day catcher but the Red Sox need a force behind the plate and that was Martinez. Lavarnway looks like a descent catcher, and a stellar bat. I think Shoppach was brought in mainly to teach Lavarnway and Salty how to throw out runners. They will let Lavarnway sit on the active roster as part-time DH and insurance against Ortiz's slowing bat, and allow Bobby V to sit Papi when he is too tired to run out fly balls. I personally think that one of the more important aspects of this year will be if Lucciano and Cherington can convince Varitek to come on as a catcher's/Pitcher's coach. If he really wants to come back as a player I am willing to bet he is wearing a cubs uniform next year, Theo will pay his salary just to mentor his pitchers. Bringing 'Tek on as a coach allows us to not waste his salary towards the luxury cutoff, and instead bring in someone like Edwin Jackson or Joe Saunders. Let me ask everyone, what is the potential they try and teach Lavarnway how to field in Right? I know most Catchers goto 1B when their knees are shot, but how about moving him to the fence before his knees blow out. Or is he just too much of a liability out there, similar to if they moved Crawford over there?

1. Lester 2. Beckett 3. Buchholz 4. Aceves 5. Miller Still don't think Bard makes the starting rotation over Aceves, He goes back into the setup role for Bailey. Andrew Miller makes a stunning recovery in Spring Training and learns how to be a reliable pitcher and moves Aceves into the 5th spot by the end of the year.

Boras called this a "pillow deal" somewhere for Madson to rest his head for a year and try again next year with less of a closer market. If I were Madson, I would choose a different agent next year. Boras' decision to slow play the Phillies 4yr 44 Million deal bit Madson on the arse. Good deal for the Reds who can let Cordero come back as setup or just let him walk. It doesn't make Cincinnati a contender, but lets Madson close a couple games and not strain too much. Possibly see Cincinnati throwing him to a contender following the all-star break as well, Madson may still wear a Sox Jersey if Bailey fails and Bard makes the starting rotation.

I don't think they are seriously in the Fielder market any longer, Rizzo has proven that. Although it could have just been a move that Theo could just not pass up on. Rizzo will not be that great of a trade chip in the future because the Angels will be shopping Morales and Trumbo, so the market for 1B will be pretty flooded. I think this was a move to put themselves out of the Fielder chase with a viable option, and wait until Zambrano and Soriano's contracts clear to go after some core players.

Honestly, I think the luxury tax limit that Ben has placed on this off-season is mainly in place so that next year we can go out and try and get some big guns. Have you seen the 2013 Free Agent Starting Pitching list? It is very loaded and I think we will make a legitimate run at a couple of these players and if we exceed the limits this year we will get hit with a gigantic penalty when we exceed it in 2013. So I think he is looking to get someone to eat 200 innings and hope that our offense can power enough games to carry the Starting pitchers. Also, I think he is banking on one of the "reclamation" projects (right-handers Brandon Duckworth, Charlie Haeger, Will Inman, Doug Mathis, Tony Pena Jr., Carlos Silva and Chorye Spoone; left-handers Jesse Carlson, Rich Hill and Justin Thomas) making the starting rotation. I see him trying to patch a starting rotation together with assets he already signed, and Platooning Sweeny and Kalish (When healthy) in RF and than making a run at a big name next year. Possible Starting Pitchers in 2013 Free Agent Class: Starting Pitchers Scott Baker * Joe Blanton Matt Cain Fausto Carmona * Kevin Correia John Danks Jorge De La Rosa * R.A. Dickey * Scott Feldman * Gavin Floyd * Zack Greinke Jeremy Guthrie Cole Hamels Dan Haren * Tim Hudson * Colby Lewis Francisco Liriano Kyle Lohse Derek Lowe Shaun Marcum Daisuke Matsuzaka Brandon McCarthy Brett Myers * Carl Pavano Jake Peavy * Anibal Sanchez Jonathan Sanchez Ervin Santana * Joe Saunders James Shields * Jake Westbrook * Randy Wolf * Carlos Zambrano * Outfielders Michael Bourn Marlon Byrd Melky Cabrera Matt Diaz Andre Ethier Curtis Granderson * Josh Hamilton Torii Hunter Carlos Lee Angel Pagan Carlos Quentin Aaron Rowand Luke Scott Ryan Spilborghs Ichiro Suzuki B.J. Upton Shane Victorino Reggie Willits Delmon Young * – player whose current contract includes 2013 option

Why? His last contract was 2/13.35 with Diamond Backs in beginning of 2010. Granted the SP market is small, but no one has exactly been breaking his door down to sign him. Yes he has a No-hitter under his belt but it was a 8 walk No-Hitter.

My Christmas wish would be for an Edwin Jackson signing. I'd settle for Joe Saunders, but I would prefer Edwin Jackson. If Santa is generous I would ask for Andrew Miller to figure out how to throw strikes, Dice-K to recover a little quicker than half the season, Bobby Valentine to shut his mouth, and Josh Beckett to start working with Daniel Bard to teach him a curve ball.