Projected 2009 Boston Red Sox Line-up?

Question

Although I am probably jumping way ahead of myself, does anyone have any inside information or rumors of moves for the Sox in the off-season. Here is what I have heard so far. Please bear in mind that I am going completely off rumors and not stone-cold certanty.

Lineup

1 = Rafael Furcal - SS

2 = Dustin Pedroia - 2B

3 = David Ortiz - DH

4 = Kevin Youkilis - 1B

5 = Jason Bay - LF

6 = J.D. Drew - RF

7 = Mike Lowell - 3B

8 = Bengie Molina - C

9 = Jacoby Ellsbury - CF

Rotation

1 = Josh Beckett

2 = C.C. Sabathia

3 = Jon Lester

4 = Daisuke Matsuzaka

5 = Tim Wakefied

Bullpen

David Aardsma

Hideki Okajima

Manny Delcarmen

Will Ohman

Javier Lopez

Jeremy Affeldt

Justin Masterson

Jonathan Papelbon

LOOKS GREAT!! ANY SUGGESTIONS, RUMORS OR INSIDE INFO EXTREMELY WELCOME THANKS!!!

Answer 1

Ewwww.... anybody but Furcal & Jeremy Affeldt, or as I call him, Jeremy Awful... I'd rather have Furcal then Lugo though.. I believe Jed Lowrie will be our starting SS next year. Don't forget Mike Timlin. He's had better years, & has hit "dinosuar" status in age for baseball players, but I'd take him over other setup pitchers. I still think Masterson will be the 4th or 5th starter next year, especially when Schilling finally calls it quits. Dice-K may be our top starter next year considering Beckett has been so-so this year & barring injuries, again.

I hardly doubt Sabathia will be in Beantown, but it'd be great.

I'd still like to see Matt Holliday playing for the BoSox. I'll be watching closely during the offseason for all the teams who should be offering him a better contract.

Not seeing Varitek on there pains me.. Seeing Bengie on there makes me want to throw up. He couldn't cut it in the AL, & is hitting decent in the NL. Keep him in SF.... Same with Affeldt. Terrible in the AL, better off in the NL..

Who's gonna be on the bench?

Jed Lowrie?

Coco Crisp?

Sean Casey?

Alex Cora?

Hopefully Paul Byrd is only around for this year, b/c I like Clay Buchholz much better

Let's get Grant Balfour from TB, & Ron Mahay from KC, or Kuo from LAD. The bullpen would look good then, but I'm dreaming there

Answer 2

Ha, I like the look of such a lineup like that (except the exclusion of Varitek). Unfortunately, I HIGHLY doubt that the Red Sox roster would look like that next year. I'm pretty sure that the Yankees are going to snag Sabathia with their cash, and I don't think the Sox would sign Furcal because we still have a couple years left with that piece of c**p Lugo.

If we get Sabathia and Furcal, I vow, with you Y!A members reading and answering this question, to do ABSOLUTELY nothing that would significantly damage my physical well-being lol.

Answer 3

I like that except Varitek. Why didn't you put Varitek?? That guy's the man, but I doubt that this would ever happen. Let's talk about it in 09 =D

Answer 4

So it looks like with the additions of Affeldt, Ohman,  Sabathia, Molina, and Furcal, the Sox will have basically bought a large majority of their team...Yankees anyone...?