2010 Red Sox Lineup - Why Not?

by abbreviatedman on Aug 27, 2007 2:33 PM EDT Comment 12 comments

C - Likely to be a FA. Guys like Kottaras and Still and Egan have a chance, but not much, especially on a team that expects to contend.
1B - Youkilis/Anderson/Carter/FA Youkilis is likely to be moved back to 3B after Lowell leaves, Anderson may not be ready then (though he is in High A now), and I'm not a huge Carter fan. Also likely to be a FA.
2B - Pedroia, so long as he keeps performing
3B - Youkilis, although he's in a serious slump in the young career of a not-that-young player, and when he's over 30 and expensive he may not be worth it. Middlebrooks won't likely be ready then, either. Possibly another FA.
SS - Lugo, if he ever turns it around. No other internal candidates, so maybe the Sox continue their game of Musical Shortstops and get another one.
LF - Manny, if they keep picking up his $20 million options. It was questionable whether he was worth it before this year, doubtful he'll be worth it after this year's performance. No other internal candidates.
CF - Crisp. He's got a pretty friendly contract. Though for that same reason, if the Sox think Ellsbury's ready, they would find plenty of takers for Crisp.
RF - Drew. See Lugo comment above.
DH - Ortiz, so long as he can stay healthy.

SP1 Beckett
SP2 Matsuzaka
SP3 Buchholz
SP4 Lester
SP5 Wakefield/Bowden/Masterson/Hagadone/FA

RP1 Papelbon
RP2 Delcarmen
RP3 Bowden/Masterson/Hagadone

Notes: This is an excellent young rotation (expect for Wakefield if he's still around making his $4 million). Same with the bullpen, though who knows with the average lifespan of a reliever.

On the other hand, this is an old lineup, with Pedroia and Crisp being the only ones under 30, and Crisp barely at that. Could be Ellsbury in CF, giving them still only two genuinedunder-30 hitters. Sox will need either some young impact hitting prospects or trade for some youth/sign some youth to still have an effective lineup at this point. On the other hand, their rotation will be cheap (well, in seriously relative terms), costing something like $35 million, with a similarly cheap pen, leaving them over $100 million for the lineup if their payroll stays at its current level. Here's hoping they spend it wisely.

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If the Sox want to move Crisp

Atlanta's a good candidate.

Perhaps as part of a broader deal including surplus pitching moving South and a SS (Escobar or Lillibridge; presumably not Renteria) going North? A tandem of Pedroia/Lillibridge up the middle would be nice for them, and Atlanta will want to fill CF cheaply. They'll probably want more than just Coco, though.

by mraver on Aug 27, 2007 3:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Lowrie

He could replace Lugo by 2009.

by odo31 on Aug 27, 2007 3:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's

if he can play SS. Depends on who you ask, but my general rule of thumb is that if there are enough people doubting a prospect can play a position, then they probably won't be able to by the time they fill out enough to play in the majors.

by abbreviatedman on Aug 27, 2007 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wakefield

They way he is pitching this year, I wouldnt be suprised to see him stick around for another few years, even though he is 41 years old this year. His knuckler is as good as ever folks.

by PapaMolina on Aug 27, 2007 4:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jason Place.

couldnt he replace JD Drew?

or maybe Ryan Dent at SS/OF

by kofanis0880 on Aug 27, 2007 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Place...

Maybe, but I'd be willing to wager that Drew will pick things up next season. He's just too good to play the way he has this season.

As for Dent, it's hard to project a player who just signed. Maybe he'll slot into the 2010 lineup, but it's too early to say.

"People think it must be fun to be a super genious, but they don't know how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world." - Calvin

by RVachon on Aug 27, 2007 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bard,

He may fit into that 5 starter roll as wellb

by kofanis0880 on Aug 27, 2007 5:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

At this point

he is the second coming of Edwin Jackson

by jbg3004 on Aug 27, 2007 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nah.

Jackson pitched in the majors.

by abbreviatedman on Aug 27, 2007 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Out Field

I believe Josh Redick and Ryan Kalish have a chance to be there by 2010 and make an impact.

Also do not count out Ty Weeden at catcher.

by jbg3004 on Aug 27, 2007 5:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I imagine this lineup

will look vastly differnt from that in 2010. Lots of FA will be added imo. Why wouldn't Ellsbury in 3 years? He'd likely be an upgrade over Crisp right now.

by Havok1517 on Aug 27, 2007 9:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ellsbury

I completely agree that in 3 year Ellsbury will be manning CF in Fenway, but don't knock Crisp too much. Yes, he had a horrible start, but the man has been pretty sick the last two months or so.

"People think it must be fun to be a super genious, but they don't know how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world." - Calvin

by RVachon on Aug 28, 2007 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs