It started with the trade for Adrian Gonzalez. The Boston Red Sox have been targeting Gonzo for the past few years and decided to pull the trigger and unload three prospects and a PTBNL to lock him up before he hit the free agent market at the end of the season. In a smart move to keep them from taking a big hit on the luxury tax, they won't announce the soon to come lucrative contract extension until after opening day.
Then, in a matter of 24 hours or less, the Sox agreed to a 7-year/$142 M deal with free agent left fielder Carl Crawford, the biggest position player name on the market. With the Crawford signing, Boston has filled their two biggest needs in the outfield and at first base all while beefing up the lineup from the plate. Still being talked about, the Red Sox are still targeting Dodgers catcher Russel Martin before the free agency period ends.
The New York Yankees have reportedly upped their 6-year/$140 M offer to free agent ace, Cliff Lee to a 7-year/possible $160 M contract. Let's just wait and see if the Sox don't come in and pull a Mark Texiera/A-Rod on the Skanks and take Cliff Lee from their grasps by marketing their newly built lineup as an incentive for Lee to want to pitch for a team that is built to win. I'm not sure if the Red Sox have the money for a third contract of that magnitude, but if they can afford a $700 M soccer team, anything is possible.
So here's a sneak peek at what I think the 2011 Boston Red Sox lineup should look like:
LF - Carl Crawford
2B - Dustin Pedroia
1B - Adrian Gonzalez
3B - Kevin Youkilis
DH - David Ortiz
RF - JD Drew
CF - Ryan Kalish
SS - Marco Scutaro
C - Russel Martin*
*If we don't get Martin, Saltalamacchia will bat ninth. If we do, maybe Martin bats 8th and Scutaro holds the bottom of the order to have a high OBP player turnover the order.
