How bout those Red Sox??

With the end of 2009 comes the painful reminder of the Yankees winning the World Series. After beginning their series with the Yankees 8-0. Such high expectations. There were injuries and the World Games that prevented Dice K to get in proper shape and eventually sit out with "tired arm".

Can the Sox keep enough of these players together and add the right ones to move back on top? It is a tough question. Jason Bay doesn't appear anxious to come back,which surprises me. Victor Martinez is staying but what does that mean about Jason Varitek who is arguably the glue that keeps this team together. The pitching staff is solid but the OF minus Jason Bay is hurting and Mike Lowell is getting older as we speak.

Lets break it down.

1st base- Kevin Youkilis is very solid, an All-Star however they may need to move him to third. If they do for now all they have for 1st base is Casey Kotchman. Now don't get me wrong, Kotchman is an adequate 1st baseman but not going to put them over the hump. Is it possible they will go after Adrian Gonzalez? If not they need to leave Youk at 1st base. Aaron Bates is at least a year or two away. Hank Blalock an often injured corner inielder may help if the price were right. Adam LaRoche hit well in short stay last year and may be a option. However I am not sure either is a better option than Lowell.

2nd base- Dustin Pedroia. Enough said. In an era with an abundance of good hitting 2nd baseman Pedroia ranks up with the top ones.

SS- Well they didn't take the option on Gonzalez so that leaves them with Jed Lowrie. Jose Iglesias is a top prospect but won't be with the big club soon. A good fielding established SS is needed not so much a hitter but someone to solidify the middle. Lowrie is an average defensive SS and not much better at the plate. Miguel Tejada may want a big number. He is beyond his prime however, the options here are not aplenty. Marco Scutaro had a good year and the Sox would be getting him on the upswing but I think he is the best option at this point. Orlando Cabrera coming back would be a nice surprise but the Red Sox are not known for bringing players back.

3rd base- I think Mike Lowell is primed to be a back-up. He can fill in at 1st and third and try and save his back. He could DH against tough lefties. It is time, he has played exceptionally over the years but is wearing down. So where do we go?? To me there is no question I would go all out to sign Chone Figgins. Put him with Ellsbury and Pedroia and the Sox would be very dangerous when Youk,Ortiz and Martinez come up.There aren't very many other options after Figgins. Mark Derosa is good so is Melvin Mora, neither is big upgrade from Mike Lowell. Get Figgins.

OF- Ellsbury and JD Drew are a good start. Without Jason Bay the Sox are hurting in the power department. They picked up Jeremy Hermidia from the Marlins. Unless his numbers improve drastically he is not the answer. Josh Reddick filled in last year and did a decent job however I think it best he start the year in Triple A where he can get everyday at bats.

So that brings us to free agents. Everyone wants Bay and Holliday. Honestly I don't see the Sox getting either. Believe me when I tell you I would love to see one of them in Boston as I am a huge fan going back to the Tony Conigliaro days but I just don't see it. I wrote in a prior article I would love to see the Mets sign Jermaine Dye. If the Sox could get him it would be a good fit. I might even take a shot at Rich Ankiel who showed some pop in St. Louis. He is injury prone and a very streaky hitter. The sleeper here could be Mike Cameron. An above average defender Cameron still has pop in his bat and will drive in runs. Injuries have plagued him however I like this option.

C-  V-Mart will catch however he will spend some time at first and DH. The Sox could look for a catcher and move Martinez to 1str base, but it is doubtful that will be the road they take.

DH- David Ortiz. Have to give him another year to see if he is done. To look at his numbers you would think it isn't so bad. He struggled all year and in the clutch he disappeared. Without Bay they can't get away with another year like 2009. Lowell could help here and Martinez will get some at bats here also.

Starting Pitching- This is where the Red Sox should shine. Beckett,Lester,Bucholz, Wakefield. Not a bad 1st four starters. Now the fifth will probably be Wakefield at 42 years old and the four will be Dice-K. Dice-K needs to come to camp in shape and ready to pitch. He was a major disappointment last year and the feeling was he just didn't work very hard. Of course the Sox do have to pick up Beckett's option but I can't believe that will be an issue. Maybe a B-type pitcher Jarrod Washburn or John Garland would do nicely.

Relief Pitcher- Papelbon is a stud! With Bard primed to pitch the 8th and Del Carmen along with Ramon Ramirez in long relief the Red Sox bullpen is solid. Junichi Tazawa could start and also go long relief.

The Red Sox pitching for the first time in many years will have to carry this team. They have holes in their lineup however, with a good defensive SS and Figgins at third the Sox will change their reputation from power to speed. I also think it is imperative to re-sign their leader Jason Varitek to back up Martinez. It should be interesting.