If I'm the Red Sox, I'm operating under the assumption that Gonzalez is a pipe dream (because more than likely he is). Therefore, the only way to
really improve their offense for next season is through free agency (Bay/Holliday) and hoping that Ortiz can bounce back and/or Lowrie can finally stay healthy
and break out.
So since the chances of the offense making a significant improvement aren't great, I'd like to see the Red Sox go out and try and put together the best rotation in baseball. My first choice is for them to work out a trade for Halladay and extend him 4-5 years (as more of a sinkerball pitcher, he's expected to age well), but there are some complications with that scenario since Toronto is in the division. Now assuming Hernandez is also a pipe dream ("because more than likely he is") that leaves Lackey as the next best option. If they could work out a 4-year deal, I'd be all for that. He's not someone who's expected to age poorly, so the Sox would probably be paying for a #2 pitcher for the bulk of the contract.
I wouldn't mind seeing the Red Sox try and upgrade drastically on the left-side-of-the-infield defense by signing Alex Gonzalez/an all-defense, veteran SS and/or Engel Beltre for 3B. But their main focus should be on getting one of the big LFers and acquiring a one of the aforementioned starters. Easier said than done, I know, but I feel that this is the best and most efficient way to improve the team significantly for next season AND the future.
So since the chances of the offense making a significant improvement aren't great, I'd like to see the Red Sox go out and try and put together the best rotation in baseball. My first choice is for them to work out a trade for Halladay and extend him 4-5 years (as more of a sinkerball pitcher, he's expected to age well), but there are some complications with that scenario since Toronto is in the division. Now assuming Hernandez is also a pipe dream ("because more than likely he is") that leaves Lackey as the next best option. If they could work out a 4-year deal, I'd be all for that. He's not someone who's expected to age poorly, so the Sox would probably be paying for a #2 pitcher for the bulk of the contract.
I wouldn't mind seeing the Red Sox try and upgrade drastically on the left-side-of-the-infield defense by signing Alex Gonzalez/an all-defense, veteran SS and/or Engel Beltre for 3B. But their main focus should be on getting one of the big LFers and acquiring a one of the aforementioned starters. Easier said than done, I know, but I feel that this is the best and most efficient way to improve the team significantly for next season AND the future.
