The Infield

Two post in one week! Blogger may melt down due to this flurry of activity from me. But I am starved for Red Sox now that the season is over. From reading other blogs I seem to be just the opposite of everyone else because I tend to buy more cards after the season is over than during it. I have to get a Sox fix somehow…

On to the infield off-season projections/want list:

Catcher – It is a no brainer who is going to catch next year. Martinez will catch almost every game and rightfully so. The big question here is Varitek. His contract has a two-way option. The team can option him back for a year at 5 Million or he can option himself back at 3 million. I can’t see any way that Theo takes him back at 5 Million. I really don’t see Tek getting 3 million anywhere else so I think it will boil down to how much he wants to play. Take the 3 million to sit on the bench or sign for less to start somewhere else. Personally I hope he retires and they put him in as the bullpen coach.

1st Base – Our first baseman is awesome, great hitter and Gold Glover. I really expected a MVP type of season out of him this year. Unless the Sox trade for Adrian Gonzalez I see him staying at first and moving to 3rd when Lowell needs a break. Why mess with a good thing.

2nd – Pedrioa didn’t have the MVP season of a year ago but no complaints about him either. He is defiantly on of the elite 2nd baseman in baseball.

Shortstop – No matter what we do I am betting that Theo gets it wrong. I would be happy to stick with Alex Gonzalez. He has a great glove and actually hit pretty good this year. I have absolutely no faith in Jed Lowrie. He doesn’t seem durable enough to last a whole season. He looks like a backup to me. There are some Free Agent and trade options out there. Tejada is available. He may be a little pricey but he can hit better than any other free agent SS. Would he take a pay cut to make a run at a title?? If Seattle doesn’t pick up his option I wouldn’t mind seeing Jack Wilson here either. He has sick defense. I’m not into fielding stats but just from watching him I know he is a bad ass in the field. Then there is a rumor that we may get Hanley Ramirez back in a trade. I would love it but it won’t happen.

3rd – I really like Lowell. He is an old school, down and dirty player. Problem is he isn’t only old school he is old. (for a ballplayer) A-Rod had the same injury that Lowell had and he only took off the beginning of the season and never had another problem. Mike limped around on it all year and took tons of days off. This is another glaring hole with not much out there to fill it. Maybe Youkilis should move over from 1st and we just replace the first baseman. Because outside of Blalock and Tejada…

Next up will be the pitching staff.