The Red Sox will be without 33-year old righty starting pitcher John Lackey for the 2012 season due to Tommy John Surgery. Lackey was awful in 2011 for the Red Sox. He pitched in 28 games (all starts) for the Red Sox last year and he was 12-12 with a 6.41 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. He has now pitched in 61 games (all starts) in his first two years with the Red Sox and he is 26-23 with a 5.26 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Lackey has been a complete waste of money for the Red Sox since they signed him a couple of winters ago. Maybe he hurt his elbow drinking beer in the dugout during games.

The Red Sox have nine players set to be free agents after the World Series. Here is who I think is going and staying out of this bunch:

Jason Varitek: 39-year old switch-hitting catcher Jason Varitek played in 68 games for the Red Sox last year and he was 49 of 222 (.221 avg, .723 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 11 homers and 36 RBIs. The emergence of Ryan Lavarnway late in the year probably sealed Varitek’s fate in Boston. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Marco Scutaro: 35-year old righty swinging shortstop Marco Scutaro played in 113 games for the Red Sox in 2011 and he was 118 for 395 (.299 avg, .781 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 7 homers, 54 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. The Red Sox hold a $6 million dollar club option on Scutaro. If they decline it, Scutaro has a player option worth $3 million bucks with a buyout of $1.5 million bucks. If the Red Sox decline his option, I also think that Scutaro will decline and take his buyout as he will be one of the better SS available in free agency. PREDICTION: STAYING

J.D. Drew: 35-year old lefty swinging RF J.D. Drew played in 81 games for the Red Sox in 2011 and he was 55 for 248 (.222 avg, .617 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 4 homers and 22 RBIs. He is going to have to make a team next spring if he wants to continue his major league career. PREDICTION: GETTING KICKED OUT THE DOOR

David Ortiz: 35-year old lefty swinging DH David Ortiz played in 146 games for the Red Sox last year and he was 162 of 525 (.309 avg, .953 OPS) with 84 runs scored, 29 homers, 96 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has said that he doesn’t want to be a part of the drama anymore in Boston. PREDICTION: LEAVING AND MAYBE TO THE YANKEES

Tim Wakefield: 45-year old righty knuckleballer Tim Wakefield pitched in 33 games (23 starts) for the Red Sox in 2011 and he was 7-8 with a 5.12 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He seemed to be a favorite of Francona & Epstein. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Erik Bedard: 32-year old lefty starting pitcher Erik Bedard pitched in 8 games (all starts) for the Red Sox and he was 1-2 with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He pitched in 24 games (all starts) for the Mariners & Red Sox last year and he was 5-9 with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Jonathan Papelbon: 30-year old righty closer Jonathan Papelbon pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox in 2011 and he was 4-1 with 31 saves, a 2.94 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. The Red Sox thought that Daniel Bard would be able to replace Papelbon as the closer in 2012, but they can’t be certain of that anymore. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Dan Wheeler: 33-year old righty reliever Dan Wheeler pitched in 47 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox in 2011 and he was 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. The Red Sox have a $3 million dollar club option for 2012, but I don’t think they will be picking it up. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Hideki Okajima: 35-year old lefty reliever Hideki Okajima pitched in 7 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox in 2011 and he was 1-0 with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He has the option to become a free agent. PREDICTION: LEAVING

28-year old lefty swinging CF Jacoby Ellsbury had a injury ravaged year in 2010. He only played in 18 games for the Red Sox in 2010 and he was 15 for 78 (.192 avg, .485 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 0 homers, 5 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. But, in 2011, Ellsbury returned with a vengeance for the Red Sox. He played in 158 games for the Red Sox in 2011 and he was 212 for 660 (.321 avg, .928 OPS) with 119 runs scored, 32 homers, 105 RBIs and 39 stolen bases. Ellsbury also cranked 46 doubles and 5 triples in 2011 for the Red Sox. He is likely to have a legit shot at winning the MVP Award in the A.L., but for now he will accept being named the American League’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2011.

The Boston Red Sox finished with a 90-72 record which was good for third place in the A.L. East, 7 games behind the New York Yankees. The monumental collapse in September has already cost manager Terry Francona his job and G.M. Theo Epstein could be next as he is interviewing for the same job for the Chicago Cubs. As the great Judas Priest sings…..”If the man with the power can’t keep it under control, some heads are gonna roll!” That is what is happening with owner John Henry wielding the axe. Here are the things (other than the collapse) that stood out to me about the Red Sox in 2011:

TEAM MVP: 28-year old lefty swinging CF Jacoby Ellsbury nips 1B Adrian Gonzalez for this award in my mind. Ellsbury played in 158 games for the Red Sox in 2011 and he was 212 for 660 (.321 avg, .928 OPS) with 119 runs scored, 32 homers, 105 RBIs and 39 stolen bases. He was incredible for the Red Sox in 2011 as he really stepped up with power that he has never shown before. Ellsbury also finished the year strongly, so you can’t blame him for the Red Sox not making the playoffs.

BEST PITCHER: 31-year old righty starting pitcher Josh Beckett nips Jon Lester and Jonathan Papelbon for this honor according to me. Beckett pitched in 30 games (all starts) for the Red Sox this year and he was 13-7 with a 2.89 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He only gave up 146 hits in 193 innings this year for the Red Sox while whiffing 175 batters and walking only 52.

PLEASANT SURPRISE: 28-year old righty reliever Alfredo Aceves did whatever the Red Sox needed him to in 2011 as he even made some starts. He pitched in 55 games (4 starts) for the Red Sox this year and he was 10-2 with 2 saves, a 2.61 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Aceves gave up only 84 hits in 114 innings despite not having overpowering stuff as he whiffed 80 batters. Aceves really saved the bullpen for the Red Sox in 2011 as he worked often and he could handle throwing a lot of innings and pitches.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: This is a tie between 30-year old lefty swinging LF Carl Crawford and 32-year old righty starting pitcher John Lackey. Crawford was signed to a 7-year, $142 million dollar contract last winter by the Red Sox and he played like a $1 million dollar player in 2011. Crawford played in 130 games for the Red Sox in 2011 and he was 129 for 506 (.255 avg, .694 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 11 homers, 56 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Not only did Crawford slump with the bat in his hands in 2011, but his speed and defense were nowhere to be found. He was a complete bust. John Lackey was supposed to give the Red Sox a very solid starter for the middle of the rotation but he sucked in 2011. Lackey pitched in 28 games (all starts) for the Red Sox in 2011 and he was 12-12 with a 6.41 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. He gave up a stunning 203 hits in only 160 innings for the Red Sox this year! If Lackey was with almost any other team, he would have been like 4-15 with the ERA and WHIP he put up.

The Red Sox have decided not to pick up 52-year old manager Terry Francona’s options for the 2012 and 2013 season. Francona is now the scapegoat for a Red Sox team that missed the playoffs by one game, as they finished 90-72 (55.6%) in 2011. Francona couldn’t help that guys like Kevin Youkilis and Clay Buchholz were hurt down the stretch. Francona was 744-552 (57.4%) in his 8 years during the regular season as the Red Sox’ manager. Francona also led the Red Sox to a 28-17 (62.2%) record in the post-season. Francona was the manager who snapped the Curse of the Bambino by winning the World Series in both 2004 and 2007. The Red Sox are becoming spoiled brats now as they aren’t likely to find another manager with the track record of Francona, who likely won’t be out of work too long. Shame on the Red Sox!