The Hot Stove

Lets do what all baseball fans love doing- talking about "next year". Boston fans love talking about next year. Even after the 2007 world series win fans were talking about next year before even enjoying the world series win. So what should the sox do to field the best team possible for 2009? Let's cover a few of the main issues. Issue #1- what to do with Varitek? Answer: sign him for a 2 year contract or let him walk. And if he does agree to a 2 year deal it needs to be under the condition that he only bats lefty. Enough with the switch hitting crap in which you bat .120 from the right side. In addition to this the Sox still need to acquire a decent catcher that can play 50% of the games to platoon Tek. if you don't sign Tek at all you make a trade with Texas for Saltalamachia because Texas has 4 catchers in their system. A ridiculous overload. Issue #2- pitching moves? Answer: The Sox don't have to do a whole lot with this I feel. They have a fantastic crop of young arms that can help them a great deal. Clay Bucholz is still slated to be a big league stud at some point. They also have guys named Bowden, Masterson, and Anderson. Combined with the top 3 guys (Beckett, Dice K, Lester) the pitching is solid. I wouldn't do anything big like go after CC Sabbathia. What I may want them to do is sign a low end deal with Brad Penny who is a free agent and is coming off an injury plagued year. Also, the Sox have picked up the option on Wakefield who can always give you at least 20 starts and go 10-10 Issue #3- do they go after Teixera? Answer- yes they should. Why the heck not? The Sox are one of the few teams that can even offer Mark a contract. The Sox need to get involved to at least jack up the price for NY, but even more so because with the absence of Manny they need a true clean-up hitter. You sign Tiexera, move Youk to 3rd base and trade Lowell in the spring. The market for 3rd basemen is extremely thin so moving Lowell shouldn't be too difficult if he's healthy. I feel these are the 3 main issues the Sox need to clear up. If I had to throw in a 4th issue it would be the bullpen, but when you have a guy like Papelbon out there it greatly reduces any issues a pen could have. They might need a legit set-up man if Masterson goes back to being a starter but I think it's time for Manny Delcarmin to step in and step it up. My one request for the love of all that is good and holy is for the Sox to let Mike Timlin walk away while he still has some dignity.