UNCHARTED TERRITORY

Now that the disappointment of losing Game 7 of the ALCS has worn off Red Sox fans are now looking forward to and trying to predict what the current off-season will produce for their team as preparations for the 2009 season begin. However, trying to predict what direction general manager Theo Epstein will take to improve on the 2008 team is difficult to say the least.

For the first time since Epstein has taken control of the team, the Red Sox do not have any glaring weaknesses to address. Their starting rotation is solid and the lineup is not void of, or weak in run scoring potential. The bullpen could use some help and several players will be certainly be looking for bounce back performances. A couple of players seemed destined to be moved in a trade and the question of what to do with their free agent team captain will be debated for weeks to come. But within that brief and basic description of the current roster there is not one clear need Epstein has to address to place his team in position to challenge for a third WS title in six years. As currently constituted, the Red Sox roster is playoff worthy.

However, change seems likely. Trying to identify what those changes will be is the hard part to imagine.

As is the case in most off-season’s the Red Sox are considered to be in the mix for a high profile free agent. Slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira is the most coveted everyday player on the free agent market and Boston seemingly is well in the mix along with numerous other teams including the New York Yankees. Teixeira would help anchor the lineup along with a presumably healthier David Ortiz. However, acquiring Teixeira more than likely involves moving either Mike Lowell or Kevin Youkilis in a trade to accommodate his presence. That’s not an easy decision or task. Therefore the likelihood of Teixeira finding his way to a signed contract in Boston is not great by any stretch of the imagination.

Free agency is also a question from with the Boston organization. Team captain Jason Varitek is a free agent and agent Scott Boras has already claimed his soon-to-be 37 yr-old client is looking for a four-year deal in the area of $10 - $12 million per. There’s no denying that Varitek is valuable to the Red Sox in the field and in the clubhouse. However, his diminishing skills at the plate say he is not heading in the right direction for the Sox to commit to a long term deal. The Sox would like to sign Varitek to a two year deal and grab a young prospect in a trade to groom behind him. It’s unlikely Varitek leaves, but his next contract is a huge issue.

Coco Crisp has now become a hot topic of discussion. That’s because Jacoby Ellsbury struggled to take control of his opportunity to become the everyday centerfielder. Crisp played well down the stretch as Ellsbury struggled and that has given him some considerable trade value. Reportedly, five or six teams now have interest in Crisp. What the return would be on the centerfielder has yet to materialize. However, is trading Crisp in the off-season wise considering Ellsbury is still a question mark?

Those are just a few of the topics being discussed by the Red Sox and their fans. As stated earlier, the team is well positioned to move forward with or without considerable change for the roster. It’s just a matter of predicting what Epstein will do this off-season. And for the first time since he took control of the teams roster nobody knows exactly what Epstein will do during the off-season.