There is nothing in the farm system or major league roster that I would not trade for Kershaw. Not only is he a 23-year-old stud who is only going to get better, he's got great mental makeup and is a great community guy.  Not happening though, but I would easily trade Lester (good contract) and anything from the minors for him.

Always been a fan of Buerhle, but when his stuff regresses a bit I think he's going to find trouble.  It would suck to get stuck with another big contract for a guy on the wrong side of 30.  But he is great to watch.  Throws strikes and works fast and has been a picture of consistency throughout his career.  No significant injury history either makes him very appealing still. 

I personally don't want CJ Wilson either.  As good as he has been, he's only been a starter for two years, and will be 31 next year.  Seems like the kind of thing that gets the Sox into trouble.  He's not a Lee/Halladay type either, so the age does bother me a bit.  Remember, when we got Becket he as 26, a much better age to take a risk on.

I think it might be time to trade Beckett.  He is getting paid like an ace, but he is coming off one of his best seasons (unlike Lackey), so I think there is some value there.  He has been quite inconsistent and has been very injury prone, which will not get any better as he gets older.

I agree that I don't think you could get someone to take Lackey if you paid all his salary.  Who would want him? Our best hope for him is that maybe after this divorce he can get his head right. I mentioned before that Cliff Lee once got sent to the minors while he was struggling through a divorce (I am NOT comparing Lackey to Lee in any way, just saying that maybe Lackey could return to his previous incarnation). 

The question that I really have is who is responsible for the so-proclaimed self-discipline problems that we may be finding more about in the upcoming weeks.  I don't think anyone in the rotation is untouchable if attitude is a problem.  Lester is the guy who has the most value, but is still our best pitcher from a consistency standpoint and health standpoint.  Buchholz would have very little value now I think coming off of an injury like he did, although like Lester, he is signed to a very reasonable contract. 

I really have no idea where they will go, especially if Theo leaves.  I am thinking that we may be entering a prolonged "rebuilding process" as far as the pitching goes.  Maybe Bard deserves a chance to crack the rotation?  Not sure his stuff would play down well. 

After watching the pitchers in the playoffs the past few days it makes me think that the Sox are much farther away from another World Series than many think.