I would like to see most of this team come back. I don't think there are any gaping holes besides SS (I think Drew will be improved next season) and if Lowell doesn't come back, I have two ideas to replace him.
One - trade for Garrett Atkins of the Rockies. They've got Ian Stewart ready to roll there and they need to open up a spot for him. Atkins is the most likely candidate to leave.
Two - This one is a doozy. Package Coco Crisp and Jon Lester, throw in two of the upper tier prospects, put them in a shiny box and send them down to Florida for Miguel Cabrera. Miggy is getting ready to murder the Marlins in arbitration and I can see them moving him soon. Ortiz could take him under his wing, perhaps help curb his weight problem and get him straightened out. Play him at 3B for a season and then move him to LF once Manny's contract expires in 2008 (assuming the Sox decline both options).
- Now all that leaves is re-signing Schill and tweaking the bullpen and all of a sudden your 2008 team looks like this:
1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. 2B Dustin Pedroia
3. DH David Ortiz
4. 3B Miguel Cabrera
5. LF Manny Ramirez
6. RF J.D. Drew
7. 1B Kevin Youkilis
8. C Jason Varitek
9. SS Julio Lugo
10. C Kevin Cash
11. INF Alex Cora
12. INF/OF Eric Hinske (bring him back cheap)
13. OF Brandon Moss
14. SP Josh Beckett
15. SP Daisuke Matsuzaka
16. SP Curt Schilling
17. SP Clay Buchholz
18. SP Tim Wakefield
19. RP Jon Papelbon
20. RP Hideki Okajima
21. RP Manny Delcarmen
22. RP Mike Timlin
23. RP Kyle Snyder
24. RP Scott Linebrink??
25. RP Luis Vizcaino??
The last two guys are FA and could be decent pickups. I know the Cabrera thing is a pipe dream, but Florida's running low on prospects since they keep calling them up and Miggy's got a chance to be a Hall of Famer. I would do cartwheels if they were able to bring him in.
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