If the season were to start next week the Red Sox line-up would look like this in the field:

C-Victor Martinez
1B-Mike Lowell/Casey Kotchman
2B-Dustin Pedroia
SS-Marco Scutaro
3B-Kevin Youkilis
LF-Jacoby Ellsbury
CF-Mike Cameron
RF-J.D. Drew
DH-David Ortiz

I don’t really like this line-up that much as it doesn’t have any batter that the opposing pitcher would really be scared of. I think the biggest issue is at 1B but I don’t think they are going to be able to get a player like Adrian Gonzalez because I just don’t see the need for the Padres to trade him. While I think that Adrian Beltre would really tighten up the defense for the Red Sox I think that Mike Lowell is still a better hitter than he is. I just don’t see this line-up being able to score the kind of runs that the Red Sox are used to putting up.

The Red Sox had a trade in place that would have sent Mike Lowell and $9 million bucks to the Rangers for catcher Max Ramirez but the trade fell through due to Lowell’s need for thumb surgery to repair ligament damage in his right thumb. He will have surgery to repair his thumb shortly after Christmas and he should be out six to eight weeks causing him to maybe miss the start of spring training. The Red Sox are likely stuck with Lowell in 2010 despite really wanting to move him so that they could replace him with a better player. Lowell played in 119 games for the Red Sox last season and he was 129 for 445 (.290 avg, .811 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 17 homers and 75 RBIs. Lowell has now played four years with the Red Sox appearing in 539 games in which he is 598 for 2,026 (.295 avg, .829 OPS) with 270 runs scored, 75 homers, 348 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. It will be interesting to see what kind of attitude Lowell comes to spring training with knowing that the Red Sox don’t really want him anymore.

The Red Sox have signed 36-year old righty swinging outfielder Mike Cameron to a 2-year, $15.5 million dollar deal to play LF for them. Cameron played in 149 games for the Brewers last season and he was 136 for 544 (.250 avg, .795 OPS) with 78 runs scored, 24 homers, 70 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,829 games in his 15-year major league career and he is 1,610 for 6,440 (.250 avg, .788 OPS) with 1,013 runs scored, 265 homers, 926 RBIs and 296 stolen bases. This signing pretty much ends Jason Bay’s time in Boston. Cameron will upgrade the defense and speed of the Red Sox starting line-up but he just won’t be able to match the numbers Bay has put up with the bat.

The Boston Red Sox decided not to tender a contract for the 2010 season to 27-year old righty swinging outfielder Brian Anderson making him a free agent. Anderson played in 21 games for the Red Sox after coming over from the White Sox in a trade last summer and he was 5 for 17 (.294 avg, 1.028 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 homers and 5 RBIs. Don’t be fooled by how well he played for the BoSox as he is not a good hitter. It is possible that the Red Sox could miss his defense in the outfield but that’s about it.

The Boston Red Sox have signed 31-year old righty starting pitcher John Lackey to a 5-year, $85 million dollar deal. Lackey pitched in 27 games (all starts) for the Angels last season and he was 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. In eight seasons in the majors, Lackey has pitched in 234 games (233 starts) in which he is 102-71 with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. This was a outstanding move for the Red Sox as Lackey will give them another horse in the starting rotation. Lackey will likely slot into the #3 starter role behind Josh Beckett and John Lester giving the Red Sox an outstanding starting rotation for the 2010 season.