I posted this earlier on mlbtraderumors, and I'll post here as well:

I think with Jed Hoyer becoming the GM of the Padres, the Sox will have a good chance at getting Gonzalez. If the Sox did attempt to trade for him over the summer, Hoyer will already be familiar with the frameworks of the deal, and will have knowledge of the prospects that SD would be getting in return. They may have to restructure the deal a bit, but I only see this move as helping the deal. "Sox and Pinstripes" had a good article on how to get Gonzo without giving up Kelly, Bard, Buchholz or Westmoreland:

http://www.soxandpinstrip...hholz-bard-or-kelly.html

The only roadblock I can see here is that its probably not the smartest decision to trade the face of your franchise as you first move. However, I think Hoyer, like Epstein, values prospects/youth and the deal will get done.

Aside from Adrian, the Sox should kick the tires on JJ Hardy and Stephen Drew. If nothing gets done there, then Alex Gonzalez is a fine starting SS for 2010, keeping the seat warm for Jose Iglesias. (We might have to get a stopgap for 2011 as well, but I like Iglesias as our SS of the future)

I'd much rather have Bay than Holliday. I think Holliday will want to stay in the NL anyway, and it sounds like he'll be a Met in 2010. Bay has been a solid producer, albeit streaky, since the trade. I can see 4 years at 16MM per getting it done- not bad given we gave Drew 5 years, 14MM per. Bay, as a #6 hitter is very productive. He's not a you-know-who replacement, and has, IMO, been unfairly labeled as such by some people given that they were essentially traded for each other.

At DH, platoon Lowell and Ortiz until their contracts are off the books in 2011. Lowell can also sub Youk at 3B and Gonzo at 1B (by playing 3rd and having Youk shift over)

Take a look at John Lackey and Aroldis Chapman. With Lackey, I'd hesitate to go for four years, but either way I don't think he'll be an Angel next year, especially given the anger we all saw when they took him out in Game 5. For Chapman, with the Sox depth of starters (which always seems plentiful in ST, and bleak by the time August rolls around), we could afford to start him in AAA, which he'll hopefully realize is beneficial for his development. Rushing him to the Majors on a big contract with some small market team (i.e. Orioles, Mariners) will produce lackluster results. Letting him develop his secondary stuff could make him lethal.

The Sox need an athletic backup catcher who can actually throw runners out. Nobody springs to mind in FA, maybe a guy like Mark Wagner.

As usual, and as has been said already, sign some reclamation pitchers-Harden, Bedard, Duchsherer. I don't think Webb falls into this category, and I think he'll ultimately stay in Arizona.

(Now heres the fun part)
If Joe Mauer hits FA in 2011, give him a blank check. Ortiz and Lowell will be off the roster, and V-Mart could DH (probably his best suited role as he ages) V-Mart could take most of the time at DH, maybe playing catcher every 5th day and DH'ing Mauer. That way both catcher can play close to 162 without too much of the wear and tear we see with most backstops. I would not hesitate to give Mauer 8 years, 22+MM per. He's that kind of player.

So, 2010 Lineup looks like:

C-Martinez
1B-Ad. Gonzalez
2B-Pedroia
3B-Youk
SS-Alex Gonzalez or Hardy
LF-Bay
CF-Ellsbury
RF-Drew
DH-Ortiz/Lowell

Bench
Lowrie
Lowell/Ortiz
Wagner
Baldelli


SP
Lester
Beckett
Buchholz
Matsuzaka
Wakefield
Harden/Bedard/etc.

AAA-Chapman (mid to late season call up)

CL-Papelbon
which reminds me, don't trade Pap, let him go year to year, getting about 10MM per, then when he hits FA, let him go and collect the draft picks, THEN put Daniel Bard in the closer spot

2011
DH-Martinez
C-Mauer
SS-Iglesias