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The hot-stove season is less than a month underway, but the Boston Red Sox have wasted no time stealing plenty of headlines.

The Sox figured to be active players in the market this year, and the early rumors surrounding the team haven’t disappointed. They’ve been linked to many of the most prominent free agents and players available on the trade market and seem serious about rebuilding for 2015.

Keep in mind that the offseason rumor mill is an industry unto itself, and that many of the rumors you hear will be contradicted by additional reports just hours after they hit Twitter, MLBTradeRumors.com or whatever resource you use. That being said, reports as to what the Red Sox have been up to so far are instructive in terms of letting us know what the team is planning and how they operate under Ben Cherington.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the three biggest rumors associated with the Red Sox over the past few days and weigh the pros and cons of each deal being considered.

Red Sox Offer Six-Year, $110-120 Million to Jon Lester

According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, the Red Sox are legitimately pursuing Lester, offering the type of six-year contract that should at least bring the left-hander back to the table. Given that the Sox offered Lester a four-year, $70 million extension last spring, the team is clearly willing to spend more now to land its former ace.

Pros

The pros here are pretty obvious: The Red Sox need a top-of-the-rotation starter, and many fans and analysts alike are united in the belief that Lester should represent Boston’s top free-agent target.

Yes, $19-20 million a year is expensive, but that’s what pitchers of Lester’s caliber cost nowadays, and that’s on the low end of the spectrum. While investing in any pitcher is a scary proposition, Lester has the track record of health, performance and character you want to bet on.

According to Jeff Moore of Baseball Prospectus (subscription required), Lester projects as a top-end starter for the next three-to-four seasons. The Red Sox can live with whatever comes on the back end of the deal if Lester is truly that dominant through 2018.

Cons

The only real con here is the overall poor track record for long deals for pitchers in their 30s. Plus, adding Lester for $20-plus million per season will take a nice chunk out of the financial flexibility the Sox have built for themselves.

But assuming that acquiring Lester would indeed be a good thing, the real “con” associated with this offer is that it probably won’t be enough. ESPN Insider Jim Bowden (subscription required) predicted that Lester will receive offers in the six-year, $138 million range, and CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman even threw out a possible $189 million asking price for Lester.

That last number seems a bit crazy, and it’s hard to see a team truly going to those lengths for Lester. There’s no doubt that $110-120 million seems a bit low, though, and if that’s the Red Sox’s final offer, it would be surprising to see a Lester reunion this winter.

The good news, per WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford, is that the Red Sox are apparently willing to continue to negotiate. Plus, Lester’s agent, Sam Levinson, told WEEI.com that the Sox “showed great respect” to Lester through their recent offer.

Red Sox Make (or Prepare to Make) Offer to Pablo Sandoval

This situation is a bit less clear than Lester’s, as we’ve seen conflicting reports as to weather Sandoval has actually received an offer from the Red Sox to this point. Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com maintained early yesterday that the Sox were still waiting to get an offer out to Sandoval, while Cafardo stated that an offer’s already been made.

Either way, Sandoval was in Boston on Tuesday, and the Red Sox’s interest appears to be quite legitimate.

Pros

Sandoval would represent a massive upgrade over anything the Red Sox have had at third base for the past two seasons. He’s a good defender at this point in his career, brings a contact-heavy approach that the Red Sox lack and is an obscene postseason performer.

Adding Sandoval’s switch-hitting bat to, say, the fifth or sixth spot in the lineup would break up Boston’s litany of right-handed pitchers and would add depth and reliability to an offense that’s likely going to rely on four unproven players: Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Rusney Castillo and Christian Vazquez.

There are legitimate reasons to be concerned about giving Sandoval a long-term deal, but there’s no way to argue that he wouldn’t make the 2015 Red Sox much better.

Cons

ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reported that Sandoval had discussed deals in the five-year, $90 million range with both the Red Sox and Giants. The money involved is fairly reasonable at that level, but it’s understandable why some won’t want to give Sandoval a five-year deal.

On Wednesday, the Providence Journal’s Brian MacPherson gave a phenomenal breakdown of the assumptions many make about Sandoval, and his conclusions give reason for pause when you think about Sandoval in, say, 2018 and beyond.

Most notably, MacPherson shows that if Sandoval has to move to DH in a few years, he’ll actually be a below-average offensive player. Further, he notes that Sandoval is really better as a down-the-order bat than a true middle-of-the-order impact hitter.

Still, MacPherson also rejects the notion that Sandoval’s weight is destined to hurt his career later on, and cites a five-year, $90 million deal as reasonable in today’s economic climate.

Red Sox Among Favorites for Yoan Moncada

On Tuesday, Baseball America’s Ben Badler broke down the market for Moncada, a star Cuban infielder/outfielder who could be cleared to sign with a major league organization fairly soon. Badler included the Red Sox among the eight teams he listed as most likely to make a play for the 19-year-old’s services, though the details as to when Moncada will even be allowed to sign are sketchy.

Pros

What’s not to like about a 19-year-old stud prospect who Badler writes has more upside than Castillo or Yasmani Tomas? Moncada would be a prospect more in the Jorge Soler mold in that he’d need some MiLB seasoning before making it to the majors. But the Cubs should be pretty happy with Soler right now, and if Moncada can also play the infield, it would add tremendously to his value.

Plus, as Badler notes, because the Red Sox have already blown past their international spending allowance by grabbing Anderson Espinoza and Christopher Acosta, they’re really not further penalized by doubling down and making a play for Moncada too.

Don’t worry about where Moncada would play or who at the MLB level could potentially block him; too much talent is never a bad thing. It would be great for the Red Sox to acquire Moncada and figure out where he fits in their long-term plans later.

Cons

None, really. The biggest con I can think of is that Moncada isn’t a No. 1 MLB starter who’s ready to pitch right now, as that’s Boston’s biggest need. But given that the Sox can’t be penalized more and can always use more prospects, signing Moncada would be a coup.

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The Boston Red Sox figure to be active participants on the trade market this offseason.

Yes, they have plenty to spend and could sign several marquee free agents. But the Sox have holes in their rotation, in their bullpen and at third base, and given their glut of outfielders, first basemen and young, right-handed arms, they have the ammunition to make deals both major and minor.

There’s an argument to be made for hoarding all this talent, protecting against prospect attrition and injury alike. But you can also build a solid case that the Red Sox need more star power, as very few players on their roster right now are capable of serving as reliable above-average threats.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at three reasonable deals for majors players the Red Sox could swing this offseason:

Cole Hamels

It seems that as soon as the Red Sox dealt Jon Lester to the Athletics in July, the Hamels-to-Boston speculation began flying in at a startling pace.

At first glance, such a deal makes sense. The Red Sox need a front-line starter, and the Phillies badly need to rebuild. Boston has the type of young players and prospects the Phillies need, and the Sox could essentially duplicate Lester’s performance with Hamels.

The problem, of course, is that the cost in talent to acquire Hamels is likely prohibitive. The four years and $96 million still guaranteed on his contract are fairly reasonable by today’s standards, and it’s going to require a major package to get the Phillies to trade him.

There’s no dancing around this with a package based on Matt Barnes, Anthony Ranaudo or Allen Webster plus Will Middlebrooks. A deal for Hamels starts with Mookie Betts or Xander Bogaerts, or it probably starts with both Henry Owens and Blake Swihart.

As WEEI.com’s Alex Speier recently pointed out, there might not actually be a terrific incentive for the Red Sox to trade for Hamels rather than simply sign Lester. Yet if we’re looking at deals the Red Sox can make, this would top the list, as they join a select few—think the Cubs, Dodgers and maybe the Cardinals—who have the talent needed to acquire, and money needed to absorb, Hamels.

As FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reported earlier this week on Twitter, Hamels has a no-trade clause for 20 teams, and the Red Sox are on that list.

However, per The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, that hardly means the Red Sox can’t deal for him. Instead, it just means that Hamels has leverage and can essentially force the Sox to pick up his $20 million option in 2019.

The debate over whether the Red Sox should trade for Hamels is a reasonable one, but there’s really no doubting that if they want him, they have the pieces to get a trade done.

Mat Latos/Johnny Cueto

If the Red Sox don’t end up trading for Hamels, perhaps their most appealing next route would be to turn to Cincinnati, where the Reds have a plethora of pitching. Latos and Cueto are both very good starters, but both are slated to be free agents after the season ends.

Odds are the Reds will only be able to afford one, and that means they could be willing to ship off one strong arm this winter.

Cueto is coming off an incredible campaign and arguably the best season of his career. The right-hander threw 243.2 innings of 2.25 ERA ball, striking out 25.2 percent of the batters he faced while walking just 6.8 percent. The 28-year-old has missed time with injuries throughout his career, but when he’s healthy, he is a legitimate No. 1 or 2 starter.

Latos also has a checkered medical past, but like Cueto, there’s no arguing with his performance when he’s on the mound. The 26-year-old posted a 3.25 ERA in 102.1 innings in Cincinnati last season, striking out 17.9 percent of batters while walking 6.2 percent. His detractors point to diminishing velocity, but the results are still there.

The prospect of giving up significant talent to acquire a pitcher who’s spent time on the shelf is a scary one, but Cueto and Latos shouldn’t require the same type of megadeal any trade for Hamels would need. Forget about including Betts or Bogaerts here, because that’s not happening. And with Devin Mesoraco performing well last season, the Reds may not target Swihart, either.

Yet Owens would seem to represent a reasonable starting point for both teams. It would take more than just Owens, to be sure, but if the Sox sweetened the deal with, say, Manuel Margot, Garin Cecchini or Barnes, plus a few lesser prospects, the Reds might be inclined to listen.

The Sox have the cash to extend either Cueto or Latos for several years, and while we’re seeing that this is an organization generally loathe to give big money and years to pitchers, the Red Sox likely wouldn’t have to give either Cueto or Latos the type of megadeal required to land a Lester or a Max Scherzer.

There’s a strong argument to be made that the Sox should simply pony up the money and not give away talent to acquire pitching. But if they decide to hit up the trade market for an arm, the Reds are an appealing partner—especially when you consider that both sides could opt for a lesser deal involving Mike Leake instead.

Jason Heyward

The Braves have done a great job locking down young players they want to keep. From Andrelton Simmons to Julio Teheran, Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman, they’ve secured several key contributors for the next half-decade-plus, assuming some risk to protect themselves from losing key assets in bidding wars once free agency hits.

Yet the Braves have proven either unwilling or unable to sign Heyward to a long-term deal, and the 25-year-old outfielder is slated to hit free agency once the 2015 season ends. That’s led to plenty of speculation that the Braves could look to move Heyward this offseason, and it’s not hard to envision many teams lining up to acquire his services.

At first, Heyward appears to be an odd fit for the Red Sox, given their glut of outfielders. But if you’re willing to get a little creative, it’s still quite possible such a deal could work and make sense.

Considering he has just one year of control left, it’s unlikely the Braves would be able to wrestle Bogaerts or Betts away from the Red Sox. Also, like the Reds, the Braves own a promising young catcher of their own in Christian Bethancourt and may not have a ton of interest in Swihart or Christian Vazquez.

But Owens would seem to be a decent starting point, and if the Sox pair him with supplementary pieces like Cecchini or one of the young right-handers, the framework of a deal begins to appear.

That may seem like a lot to give up for an outfielder without explosive offensive numbers, but Heyward is very much a player whose true value doesn’t show up in counting stats. A career .262/.351/.429 hitter, Heyward is the type of all-around threat who impacts every facet of the game.

He’s a good baserunner capable of challenging for 15-plus steals a season. He has enough power to keep pitchers honest and at 25 there’s reason to believe more power could come. Heyward is an elite defensive right fielder who could be of immense value in Fenway Park. And he’s patient enough to fit into the high-OBP mold the Red Sox love.

Plus, if Heyward is acquired, the Sox can deal Yoenis Cespedes as part of a package to restock their system or acquire a cost-controlled arm to take the place of Owens.

Heyward may not fill the Sox’s biggest needs at first glance, but if the Sox can acquire and extend him, they’ll receive the rare opportunity to make a major acquisition of a player not yet in his prime. That doesn’t happen too often in today’s game anymore, and forming a long-term core around Heyward, Bogaerts and Betts is an enormously appealing notion.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Boston Red Sox figure to be among the most active teams in both the free-agent and trade markets this offseason.

They need to fill at least two spots in their starting rotation. They need to solidify third base. They need to bolster their bullpen, and they could decide they need a new backup catcher, too.

That means that in addition to spending money, the Red Sox are likely to make some trades. With logjams in the outfield, at first base and in the Triple-A rotation, the Sox are well poised to make a splash or two in the coming months.

And while players such as Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Christian Vazquez, Allen Webster, Brandon Workman and Jackie Bradley Jr. all lost their rookie eligibility last season, there’s still plenty of talent in the Sox’s system that can be used to acquire prominent major leaguers.

That being said, let’s take a look at the five prospects Boston should try the hardest to hang on to this offseason. Any of these players are movable in a megadeal—a package for Giancarlo Stanton or Chris Sale, for example—but the Red Sox should be judicious in their willingness to include them in lesser packages.

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The Boston Red Sox figure to be active players in the free-agent market, and they’ll need to be if they hope to compete once more in 2015.

The Red Sox need to add significant pieces to their starting rotation. They need to shore up their bullpen. And they must seriously considering pursuing upgrades at the hot corner and at backup catcher, too.

With a glut of young talent, live arms and outfielders, the Red Sox can fill some of these holes by turning to the trade market. Yet more are likely to be filled through free agency, as the Red Sox have plenty of cash to work with.

In fact, by WEEI.com’s Alex Speier‘s estimates, the Red Sox had about $52 million to spend this offseason. They’ve already spent $9 million of that retaining Koji Uehara, but that leaves plenty of cash left for one or two major acquisitions and some minor moves, too.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five free-agent “dream acquisitions” for the Red Sox. Keep in mind that these perfect deals exist independent of one another, and that they certainly represent best-case scenarios for the Red Sox.

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The St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants will face off in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday with the series tied at two games apiece.

The matchup between the two Senior Circuit heavyweights figured to be an even one, and it’s lived up to that billing through two games so far.

The Giants took Game 1 on the back of a dominating performance from Madison Bumgarner, shutting out the Cardinals in St. Louis. Then, the Cardinals enjoyed a walk-off solo homer from Kolten Wong in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 2 to even the series.

For Game 3, the Cardinals will throw Boston Red Sox import John Lackey against the Giants’ Tim Hudson in San Francisco in a battle of two veteran right-handed starters. It’s another fairly even matchup in what promises to be a very competitive series.

With the Cardinals and Giants so evenly matched, what does each team have to do to gain an edge in Game 3? Let’s take a look at a few keys for success for both teams, as well as what the NLCS has taught us about the Cards and Giants so far.

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2014 has been an incredibly turbulent year for teams in the AL East.

The standings look drastically different than they did a year ago, with the 2013 World Series champion Boston Red Sox dwelling in the division’s basement and the Baltimore Orioles poised to win the AL East crown for the first time since 1997.

Star players like Jon Lester, David Price, Robinson Cano and the immortal Mariano Rivera are gone, while new talents like Masahiro Tanaka, Yoenis Cespedes, Brian McCann, Nelson Cruz and Drew Smyly now call the division home. And an influx of young players like Dellin Betances, Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Marcus Stroman, Kevin Gausman, Jake Odorizzi and others should make the AL East entertaining for years to come.

Yet as much change as the past 12 months have brought for this division, the next 12 figure to bring even more upheaval. The Red Sox and Rays are both in the midst of rebuilding their teams. The Yankees have a lot of money coming off the books this offseason and a lot of holes to fill. And the Jays and Orioles face some tough decisions when it comes to retaining upcoming free agents of their own.

It is against this backdrop that teams will have access to an intriguing mix of free agents this offseason. With three free-agent aces in Jon Lester, Max Scherzer and James Shields on the market, plus a talented crop of hitters including Hanley Ramirez, J.J. Hardy, Melky Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Michael Cuddyer and Pablo Sandoval, there could be plenty of personnel changes ahead.

In short, while the divisions is pretty much locked up for 2014, it may very well be a wide-open race in 2015 depending on each organization’s offseason moves. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what could change for each team between now and April 1, 2015, and how such changes will impact the AL East landscape.

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MLB roster expansions are nearly upon us, and the Boston Red Sox certainly have no shortage of intriguing players they can call up once the calendar turns to September 1.

This is already a team loaded with young talent, to be sure.

Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts and Christian Vazquez play nearly every day, while Rubby De La Rosa, Brandon Workman, Anthony Ranaudo and Allen Webster are vying for starts. The bullpen has seen an infusion of youth from the likes of Heath Hembree and Tommy Layne, and relatively young players like Brock Holt and Will Middlebrooks are seeing plenty of time as well.

Yet, Boston could get significantly younger in the coming days, as the likes of many of its remaining top prospects could see their first taste of MLB action when rosters expand. Unfortunately, the Sox have so many deserving or intriguing candidates that some players will inevitably be left out.

To that end, let’s look at Boston’s five best prospects in the upper minors who are least likely to get a call to the majors in September, and who will have to wait for 2015 or beyond for the call instead.

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The Boston Red Sox continued their radical new approach to rebuilding on Saturday, announcing the signing of Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo to a seven-year Major League Baseball contract—reportedly worth $72.5 million—that begins in 2014.

Castillo rumors have swirled around Twitter and all parts of the Internet for weeks now. The Sox apparently outbid the Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies— among other teams—for Castillo’s services, adding another talented outfielder who should improve Boston’s major league team in short order.

The signing will have a significant effect on Boston’s lineup in 2015 and beyond, leaving the Red Sox with some interesting roster decisions to make this offseason. But the addition of Castillo is yet another sign that the Red Sox aren’t following the traditional path to rebuilding we’ve seen teams like the Cubs, Astros and Marlins use in recent years.

Instead of stockpiling prospects and completely tearing down their roster, Ben Cherington saw a weakness—a lack of power and overall productivity from the lineup—and has addressed it in short order. That means the Sox could be competitive again as soon as next season.

In the past month, Boston has added Castillo, Yoenis Cespedes and Allen Craig to its offense, building the foundation for what should once again be a fearsome lineup in 2015. A year ago, the Red Sox had the best offense in baseball. This year, they rank 27th. Next season, the turnaround could be just as dramatic, but in a positive way.

Yes, the Sox will need to do substantial work on their starting rotation this offseason, and the bullpen could use some bolstering as well. Fortunately, with an average annual value of just $10.36 million, according to WEEI.com’s Alex Speier, Castillo’s contract shouldn’t prevent the Sox from being major players in free agency.

And aside from potentially looking into some help at third base, the Sox won’t need to burn money on any hitters. With the addition of Castillo, the lineup for next year looks fairly set.

Most expect the 27-year-old Cuban to play center field for Boston next year, and his skill set is one that suggests he could lead off as well. Castillo hit .319/.383/.516 with 51 homers and 76 steals in five seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, but projects to hit for more power in the majors after adding 20 pounds of muscle to his now-chiseled frame.

Castillo should be flanked by Cespedes in right field and some combination of Allen Craig and Daniel Nava in left field, providing Boston with plenty of offense from the outfield. Shane Victorino should factor into the picture as well, but it would be unwise to count on him for any sort of meaningful contribution as he’ll be coming off a lost year and back surgery.

The Red Sox, of course, already had at least two younger options for center field in Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. There’s an excellent chance that at least one of these players—more likely Betts—could be dealt this winter for some pitching help.

But even if the Red Sox do keep all seven of their outfield options, there’s no long-term logjam, despite how it may seem. Cespedes, Victorino and Mike Napoli are all free agents after the 2015 season, meaning there will be a lot more space for playing time in 2016.

Odds are the Sox will try to extend Cespedes, but as we saw with Lester, that in and of itself isn’t a guarantee that a deal will be completed.

The Sox must also consider that, despite his phenomenal performance this season, David Ortiz is mortal. By the time 2016 rolls around, Boston could very well be in need of a new DH for the first time in more than a decade.

Projecting the lineup that far down the road is a fool’s errand, but it’s a positive that the Sox will have the likes of Castillo, Betts, Bradley, Nava and Craig all still under control in 2016 if none of them are dealt. Such depth also protects them from initial struggles from Castillo, as he very well could take longer to assimilate to MLB pitching than did fellow Cubans such as Cespedes, Yasiel Puig and Jose Abreu.

The Red Sox still face a long road if they want to return to relevancy in 2015. After all, the team is just 56-72, and while they have some promising pieces in place, they still need a revamped pitching staff and improved performance from many of their younger players.

But there’s genuine reason for optimism when it comes to 2015 and beyond, and Castillo is a big part of the reason why. If the Sox are truly able to go from worst to first to worst to first once again, Cherington very well may have created the new blueprint for teams who look to reload rather than rebuild.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Boston Red Sox have been one of the worst teams in baseball in 2014, and their offensive ineptitude is a big part of the reason why.

It’s been a dramatic turnaround for a team that ranked as baseball’s best offense in 2013. The Sox are 27th in runs with 483. They’re tied in fifth from last with just 94 homers. They’ve hit just .243/.316/.367 as a team, and their lack of extra-base pop is rivaled only by their lack of creativity on the basepaths.

Fortunately, with good health, a step forward from some young players and fast adjustments by new acquisitions, 2015 could bring just as dramatic a chance for the good.

Forecasting the Red Sox’s 2015 lineup at this point is a tall task. It’s unclear exactly who will be on the roster next year, and we’re not sure of any offseason targets the Sox may be eyeing. In fact, the Sox could sign Rusney Castillo in the next few days, according to MLB Trade Rumors, which would dramatically change the composition of the lineup from the get-go.

But if we assume the Sox will focus on pitching this offseason and leave their lineup relatively intact, we can start to estimate which players will see the most time at specific slots in the batting order. More useful than simply identifying where each starter will be on Opening Day is predicting who will spend the most time at each lineup position throughout the 2015 season.

With that in mind and restricting ourselves to players currently in the Red Sox organization, let’s take a look at how 2015’s lineup could stack up.  

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With their playoff hopes dashed long ago, the Boston Red Sox are left to evaluate the players on their roster with an eye toward 2015 for the rest of the season.

That’s a task that will become easier in September, when MLB rosters expand and the Sox are afforded the chance to view more players in a major league setting and to get their ever-increasing pool of young players some experience in the big leagues.

The Sox have a tremendously deep farm system rich in prospects in the upper minors, which should make September an exciting time. Fans will get to lay eyes on some heralded prospects for the first time, and Boston’s player evaluators will get a better idea as to who belongs in Boston’s 2015 plans.

To be sure, the Red Sox won’t be able to summon every interesting or deserving name to the majors next month. And don’t expect every player promoted to be wildly interesting.

Matt Barnes, Travis Shaw and Blake Swihart are names Red Sox fans will be familiar with, and their prospect statuses may suggest that we’d see them in September. None of these players is currently on the 40-man roster, though, and none play at a position of particular need for Boston right now.

Players like Bryce Brentz and Drake Britton do occupy spots on the 40-man roster, but they haven’t played well enough in the minors to warrant any sort of playing time in the majors this fall. Even if they’re thrown on the roster, don’t expect them to see any time.

And finally, players like Dan Butler, Ryan Lavarnway and Alex Hassan could all be promoted in September, but their futures with the Red Sox are so marginal that they’re not worth covering in-depth here.

With those caveats out of the way, let’s take a look at the six Red Sox prospects likely to see promotions in September who could have meaningful impacts on 2015 and beyond.

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