During the summer I had high hopes for this offseason, currently not sure what all is out there for us to do in regards to a major splash. Moves that will likely be brought up or rumored I believe would be these:

Adrian Gonzalez - The offensive struggles this team had on the road is well documented and overall it is just inconsistent. However the Padres were almost something like 31-22 down the stretch and it is rumored that the Padres want to keep him. Unless Moorad and the new GM are hellbent on starting a rebuilding process, he isn't going to get moved. Not to mention we couldn't trade Buchholz in a deal unless we were scraping the entire farm system, which isn't happening. Just don't see this deal getting done unless something bizarre happens such as Jed Hoyer getting the GM job and valuing a mid tier prospect in our current farm system quite a bit and being able to not give up the top tier pitching prospects. However I see that as unlikely still.

Felix Hernadez - Probably the name that could be linked most with the team this offseason as it probably matches up best with our higher touted prospects. Presuming talks die down between the Mariners and Hernandez and the Mariners open up trading opportunities, guys like Buchholz and Kelly could be more expendible compared to a bat. Beckett is likely in his final years as a player here and I would presume that the front office would like to keep that line of two aces going. Again a lot will hinge on how the talks between the Mariners and him go, which if he wants to stay in Seattle, I don't see him being available.

Roy Halladay - Again he was linked to us during the offseason but like Gonzalez he is likely staying put under the new regime in Toronto. Also not sure his value is warranted by the likely price of the Blue Jays. He is aging and having injury concerns, just not sure I would invest a ton in him unless we are trying to just make a push for the 2010 World Series and then rebuild again which I doubt we want to do.

Prince Fielder - Probably the most likely of these guys to wind up here if you ask me. He is still young and will be going on 26 in 2010. Obviously the question concerning his weight could be brought about but with him being young I don't think the conern is to big in that instance. Could sign him to a long term extension if we are able to work out a deal, ala the Santana deal with the Mets.

In all if we whiff on Fielder, unless something shocking happens I think we just stand pat for the most part offensively and maybe take a chance on Beltre and make Lowell a very highly paid bench player.

It will certainly be an interesting offseason.

FenwayTheHardWay wrote:

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Someone please convince me that a plausible scenario exists where the Red Sox do not have both David Ortiz and Mike Lowell on the roster in '10. I would appreciate that greatly.

I unfortunately don't see a scenario that is realistic.

And I don't see Detroit moving Miguel Cabrera. I know they didn't like his drinking and what not but they aren't to upset over it to the point of trading him.

Even if they do, they are like us and need offense. I just don't see us having another offensive chips to make it enticing for them to explore a deal with us.