Beltre Signs With Boston

After a long courtship, the Red Sox have signed free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre to a one year deal with a player option for a second year. Beltre spent last season in Seattle but had a down year statistically. Adrian improves the defense on a team that was near the bottom defensively last season. With the acquisition, Kevin Youkilis can remain at first where he has become accustomed. It’s early still but the Sox lineup is shaping up something like this: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Martinez, Youkilis, Ortiz, Drew followed by Cameron, Scutaro and Beltre in some order. That sounds pretty nice to me. Let me know when it is March!

Is the Halladay Frenzy Over?

Roy Halladay appears to be headed to Philadelphia in a three-way trade with Toronto-Philly-Seattle. What does this mean for the Sox and Yanks? With the apparent signing of John Lackey to a 5-year deal, I think the Red Sox have one of the strongest rotations in baseball with Beckett-Lackey-Lester-Matsuzaka and Wakefield. With a healthy Matsuzaka and Wakefield providing double digit wins, this Red Sox rotation may even be better than their inter-division foe New York Yankees. The Yankees send the formidable trio of Sabathia-Burnett-Pettitte out at the front end of the rotation but then where do they turn? Joba has proven to be anything but reliable and who do you follow him up with? Sergio Mitre? Who? As a Sox fan, I’m ok with Halladay heading to the National League and out of the AL East. Although they won’t be facing Doc multiple times in the 19 games against the Jays, the Sox do make a trip to Philly in June. Now the Sox can focus on Mike Cameron to replace the soon to be departing (and therefore demonized) Jason Bay. Now what about third/first base?

Bay Remains Top Priority

Jason Bay is still atop the Red Sox list of priorities this winter. With winter meetings ongoing, the Sox still keep a close eye to their current outfield. While names like Holliday are viable replacements, Bay proved worthy last year to hold down a position in the heart of the lineup for years to come. Jason belted 36 homeruns and drove in 119 while slugging .537. Throw in 94 walks, 142 hits and 103 runs and that’s tough production to replace. With Bay you’ve got a known commodity that can handle the fans in Boston and the hostilities in the Bronx. I think the Sox need to get this inked quickly so they can focus on other needs during the off-season.