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Before I get started, a tip of the cap from all of us in Red Sox nation to Theo Epstein, our maverick genius, our watchful protector, our Dark Kni-…never mind. But I stand in awe of what the 37 year old son of Brookline, MA has accomplished.

For the services of Adrian Gonzalez, he still managed to keep Jose Iglesias and our draft picks. Under the cover of darkness, he locked up one of the most complete outfielders in the game and disrupted the Yankee-Lee negotiations with his free hand.

For his next trick, he avoided any long, bloated contracts for relievers and secured the services of two solid bullpen arms, one from a division rival. Bruce Wayne he is not, but it wouldn’t surprise me to find a cape and mask in his secret lair.

Lost in the frenzy over the immediate impact the new additions will make, I’m equally amazed at how well Epstein & Co. has set up the Red Sox to remain successful over the next several seasons. As much excitement as the 2011 campaign holds, I am equally looking forward to the team’s potential 2, 3, and as much as 5 years down the line. Here are a few reasons why…

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Does any other MLB fan find it weird when a team goes out and buys former superstars, seemingly anticipating that putting them back together will magically bring back the spark from seven years before?

It’s happening again this year, and it’s certainly not the first time that two World Series champions have played on entirely different teams together. It’s just weird to have it happen in the AL East and for it to not be the Yankees doing the purchasing.

Today it was announced that Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon (2004 World Series Champions) will be joining the recently depleted/farmed out Tampa Bay Rays. It’s not unrealistic that Tampa Bay would sign a few players (practicality says they needed to do so after losing the talent they let walk out the door over the offseason for nothing in return), but this is not the Tampa way.

As a Red Sox fan in Minneapolis, I take a lot of guff: “They’re just like the Yankees” tends to be the weapon of choice from the loyal Twins fans up here. I don’t understand the argument, and this latest move by the Rays emphasizes the point that I attempt to make every time I am forced to defend a contender in the AL East that doesn’t have the highest payroll. If you want to contend in a competitive division, money must be spent. The difference between the Red Sox and the Yankees, is the Red Sox spend money to keep talent, whereas the Yankees spend money to acquire talent.

In order to amass the team that Theo Epstein has over the last 10 years, talent acquisition had to take place, but talent retention and development also took place. I don’t see the same technique employed by the Yankees nor the Rays. After the 2007 World Series, the Red Sox had some decisions to make – they let Alex Gonzalez walk, but they retained staples (home-grown staples) like Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jonathan Papelbon, etc.

Of course, not all of the talent of the 2004 and 2007 squads was drafted and developed, Manny, Papi, Curt Schilling, ‘Tek and the gang were acquired through trades and free agency – but it was a balance.

The Yankees transaction history from this offseason alone could easily take an article to chronicle, but the song remains the same in New York – the core four plus the highest paid free agents of any given year.

I thought the Rays were more like the Red Sox (develop and retain) than the Yankees (catch and release, then buy). With these signings today, coupled with the exit of solid talent such as Carl Crawford and Rafael Soriano, I begin to wonder about the managerial know-how of their front office.

I’m not complaining mind you, as a Red Sox fan, I’d love to see Tampa and the hipster doofus that is Joe Maddon fall into last place where they belong, but it is sad to see a team that took the division from the Yankees last year (with one of the smallest payrolls in the league) go from the top to the bottom.

Perhaps it is too early to speculate, but given the performance of Manny and Johnny in 2010, I think it’s safe to say the 2011 Rays can only hope for the same outcome as the Red Sox of 2004 enjoyed.

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It’s hard not to be giddy with anticipation right now if you’re a Boston Red Sox fan. 

Coming off a frustrating season in which the team finished 7 games back in the AL East and had to watch the playoffs on their flat-screen TVs just like the rest of us, the Red Sox went out and acquired Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, two of the most coveted players in the game, both in the early part of their prime. 

Red Sox Nation has not seen such a major retooling of the lineup since the early 2000’s, when the team added Manny Ramirez (’01) and David Ortiz (’03), and in the process established themselves as a perennial 90-plus win team and championship contender.  And this time it happened in just a matter of days instead of several years.

Sure, the Red Sox still face some minor offensive questions heading into spring training.  Will Crawford bat leadoff or third?  Where will Jacoby Ellsbury hit in the lineup?  Will Boston have some struggles against left-handed pitching, given that Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis are their only dangerous right-handed bats?

But these concerns truly are minor.  The Red Sox are going to score runs, and they’re going to score runs consistently.  They were second in all of baseball in runs scored last season, and the combination of Gonzalez, Crawford, a healthy Ellsbury, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia should at least rival the production the team received from departed free agents Victor Martinez and Adrian Beltre, along with the array of outfielders that frequently found their way into the lineup last year (Bill Hall, Darnell McDonald, Ryan Kalish, Jeremy Hermida, Mike Cameron, and Daniel Nava). 

The real reason the Gonzalez and Crawford additions should be celebrated is because they set the Red Sox lineup up well for the long run. 

Both players are under 30 years old, while Martinez and Beltre are on the wrong side of 30.  Crawford brings across the board production and skills, while Martinez becomes more and more one-dimensional as he gets older and is able to catch fewer and fewer games.  Gonzalez’s production in San Diego was held back by the worst ballpark for hitters in the majors, whereas Beltre, much like in 2004, is coming off a career year as he went in search of a new contract. (Beltre surpassed 100 RBIs and a .320 batting average in both his 2004 and 2010 contract years, but has not driven in 100 runs or hit above .276 in any other season since 2001.) 

But while GM Theo Epstein did very well to acquire two major assets who should serve the team well for years, the Red Sox 2011 season will all come down to the performance of the pitching staff, and the starting rotation in particular. 

The Red Sox finished 22nd in baseball in ERA in 2010. Few saw it coming, the Sporting News’ 2010 Red Sox preview, for one. The Sporting News wondered if the Red Sox “have enough offense” and their main concern with the pitching staff was “Who will be left out of the rotation,” since Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, John Lackey, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, and Clay Buchholz all seemed like strong options.  The Sporting News preview gave the Red Sox pitching staff an A grade–an evaluation which was the norm among baseball experts at the time.

Lester certainly held up his end of the bargain, and Buchholz developed into a dominating ace-caliber starter faster than even the most optimistic fan could have predicted.  Wakefield and Matsuzaka’s struggles should not come as too great a surprise.

The real problem was that Lackey struggled mightily in his move from the AL West to AL East, and no one anticipated that the bottom would fall out completely for Beckett.

The Red Sox also ranked near the bottom of the league (23rd) in bullpen ERA, which came as a major surprise after they finished in the top 10 in 2009.   While Daniel Bard established himself as the team’s closer of the future, Jonathan Papelbon had a sub par year, and no other reliever registered an ERA under 4.  Hideki Okajima and Ramon Ramirez, who each played key roles in the bullpen in 2009, fell off considerably. 

Papelbon should rebound heading into a contract year.  And the Sox beefed up the bullpen with their offseason acquisitions of Dan Wheeler and Bobby Jenks.  Wheeler makes for a very solid addition.  He knows what it takes to succeed in the AL East, and has done quite well in each of the last three seasons in Tampa Bay.  While Jenks’ name recognition probably rates higher than his actual value at this point, it would not be surprising for him to register a strong year pitching in middle relief rather than the pressure cooker of the ninth inning. 

In the end, despite all of Epstein’s impressive moves this winter, the Red Sox 2011 season will be largely determined by two players that were already on the team last year: Lackey and Beckett.  There are real questions about whether each is breaking down physically and can return to their former level of performance. 

If Lackey and Beckett each continue to falter, Sox fans will have to hope for many 11-9 victories this summer. But if at least one of them can turn things around, the Red Sox have to be considered a World Series favorite. 

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Don’t believe what you have read about Bobby Jenks over the last couple of years—the former ChiSox closer has not lost his stuff. Jenks’ troubles in Chicago largely stemmed from a large dose of bad luck and an even larger menu of problems he had with his old boss, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.

The righty still has pretty decent stuff, but it says here that his arrival does not necessarily signal an end to RHP Jonathan Papelbon’s tenure in Boston—as was conjectured by Peter Abraham in today’s Boston Globe.

My guess is that the Red Sox will go into arbitration with Pappy, then swallow hard and pay his salary—which will be in excess of eight figures after the arbitration award is made. But I don’t expect them to ship him elsewhere in the interim or to let him walk at the end of the 2011 season, at least not without making a concerted effort to get his name on a long-term deal.

The organization’s recent offer to Mariano Rivera doesn’t mean the team is ready to turn its back on Pappy. The bottom line is the Sox had a chance to add a Hall-of-Fame closer while simultaneously hurting the Yankees, and they would have been foolish not to do so, if at all possible.

But that kind of opportunity rarely presents itself and the team would have been foolish not to explore the possibility…and it doesn’t mean they have washed their hands of Papelbon all together.

Jenks will provide the club with insurance against injury (or continued decline) in the short-run and leverage (in negotiations) in the long-run, as well as a fall back position for 2012 if Papelbon should depart at the end of the 2011 season. Jenks has been promised the opportunity to compete for the closer’s role when and if Papelbon departs. But that doesn’t mean the club will usher Pappy out the door to make room for Jenks.

The front office was never enamored of Papelbon’s proclamations that he would eventually test free agency and seek to establish a record for the highest salary ever paid to a closer, nor were they pleased that he has thwarted their efforts to get his John Hancock on a long-term contract, a la Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis.

But Pappy softened his stance last offseason after a rough ’09 and his historic playoff implosion, and it seems likely that he now understands he will never land a record-setting deal in free agency.

While Papelbon’s 2009 numbers appear pretty good (1-1, 1.85), a closer look reveals he struggled throughout the campaign:

His WHIP topped 1.00 (1.147) for the first time since his rookie season.

His OPS-against reached .600 (.600) for the first time since his rookie season.

His overall strike-percentage dipped to a career-low of 65 percent as his walks-per-9-innings-pitched surmounted 3.0 (3.2) for the first time since his rookie season.

His strikeout-to-walk ratio, which had ranged between 5.6 and 9.6 over the previous three years, slipped to a pedestrian 3.17—not exactly the stuff of an elite closer.

And then nearly every one of those numbers got worse in 2010 (with the exception of strike-percentage, which increased just one point, to 66 percent). He finished the year at 5-7, 3.90, with 37 saves (but had eight blown saves). So, does that mean the Red Sox are ready to turn things over to Jenks? Hardly!

Whether the club decides to make a long-term, big-money commitment to Papelbon will largely depend on how he performs in 2011. If he returns to the form he had in 2006-08, then it seems likely the Sox will attempt to get his name on a two- or three-year deal (with the club’s preference for a two-year deal).

As I stated earlier, Jenks numbers from 2010 look pretty bleak on their face: he finished 1-3, with a career-low 27 saves and a 4.44 ERA. He also posted a whopping 1.367 WHIP. The bloated ERA can be explained (in large part) by a .354 BABIP… otherwise, none of his numbers are dramatically different from his career numbers.

He has had a career-long battle with bases on balls (2.9/9 IP), and his career OPS is .642. His strike-percentage has declined each of the last four seasons (68-67-66-65%), but he has never posted a mark of 70 percent or above (which Pappy did in both 2007 and 2008). Jenks’ career strikeout-to-walk ratio is 3.04.

By comparison, Papelbon has better career numbers across the board and, in fact, many of his worst-year numbers are comparable to Jenks’s career AVERAGES—which means that even at his worst Papelbon offers what Jenks has done, on average—throughout his entire career.

THAT is the guy you think Theo and Company want to transition to? It says here the answer to that question is “no,” and that if the answer is “yes” then the Sox front office is operating with flawed logic.

It is my theory that the Red Sox would have moved on to Rivera, for obvious reasons. But lacking that, GM Theo Epstein reverted back into chess-mode—strategizing five moves ahead of everyone else. As a keen strategist, Theo has provided his ballclub with insurance and leverage.

Jenks provides the team with both, and lengthens the bullpen nicely—but he does not provide them with a replacement for Papelbon (at least not if they want to win the World Series in 2011).

I believe the Red Sox will wait to see how Papelbon performs in his contract year. And, as has been the organizational norm under this ownership and management, if he re-gains his form of a few years ago the club will approach him with a multi-year deal at the end of the season—on THEIR terms.

Then it will be up to Pappy whether he wants to stay and compete for a world championship each year, or whether he wants to move on for a bigger contract.

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What do Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford have in common? 

Their prior teams couldn’t afford to keep them. 

Boston’s general manager, Theo Epstein, stepped in with gold-lined pockets and pocketed them all.

Everything Epstein touches, however, does not turn to gold.  Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez were traded by Epstein for Beckett and Lowell in 2005.  Ramirez has MVP talent at shortstop.  With the exception of 2004, the Sox have struggled at shortstop forever it seems. 

Epstein helped the Sox to sign Crawford on Dec. 8 for forever (seven years) and $142 million.  It was the ninth largest contract in baseball history. 

A talented young man still on the major leagues upswing, Crawford is 29-years-old.  At 6’2,” 215 pounds, he’s in his prime.  Last season, he won his first Gold Glove, stole 47 bases, slugged 19 home runs and batted .307.

He could bat leadoff, and give the Red Sox the second coming of Ricky Henderson.  I believe Crawford is capable of winning an MVP in 2011.  He’s just now entering his prime.

“One thing I believe about Carl is he’s not yet fully developed.  There is still room for improvement,” his former Tampa Bay Rays coach, Joe Maddon, said. 

Other teams know it.  The Angles reportedly offered Crawford $108 million.  Recruiting Crawford for his team, Torii Hunter must’ve been listening to Soulja Boy songs upon hearing the news. 

“I’m sitting here in a daze right now, like, what the heck just happened? I’m crushed, man.  I could have sworn he was coming here,” Hunter said.  Here, would be the Los Angeles Angels.  What  happened was who but Epstein?

He is the executive vice president and general manager of the Red Sox. 

Hired in November 2002 at 28-years-old, he was the youngest general manager in MLB history.  He won the first World Series in 86 years by the Red Sox in 2004.

He resigned in October 2005, but was rehired in January 2006 and won a second World Series in 2007.  In 2008, Epstein traded Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers for Jason Bay, who became an American League All-Star in 2009.

His management style is to provide the club’s manager with certainty at almost every position for several years.  He wants to give the Sox the best chance to consistently make the playoffs.   

In his shot-calling duties, he considers as many alternatives and opinions as possible.  More so to consider the ramifications of every single deal rather than trying to win now, he’s rarely hasty. 

Epstein showed steely confidence by allowing Orlando Cabrera, Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe to become free agents.  He wanted to stock the farm system with draft picks. 

In MLB, organizations get draft picks as compensation for losing their free agents.  Boston lost free agent Victor Martinez to the Detroit Tigers.  Declining salary arbitration, Adrian Beltre and Felipe Lopez became free agents on Nov. 30. 

Boston could still sign Beltre and Lopez.  Through compensation, however, the Red Sox stand to own five of the first 50 draft picks in 2011.

Born in New York City—once the writing and publishing Mecca—Epstein is now 36-years-old.  He grew up, just a few miles from Fenway Park, wanting to be a Red Sox executive.  His family consists of several famous writers.   

His screenwriting grandfather and great uncle won Academy Awards for a certain screenplay called “Casablanca.”  His father, Leslie Epstein, heads the Creative Writing Program at Boston University and has for over 20 years. 

Theo’s sister is a successful writer for television.  He’s a talented writer in his own right.  He was the sports editor for the “Yale Daily News.” 

He was named Major League Executive of the Year by “Baseball America” in 2008.  “Sporting News” named him their Executive of the Decade.  “Sports Illustrated” placed him No. 3 on its list of top GMs/Executives of the Decade (in all sports).

Boston should be at or near the top of the standings until at least 2015, but one never knows.  Most of Boston’s key players are signed through at least the 2014 season. 

Jarrod Saltamacchia could prove to be a worthy replacement for Victor Martinez.  At $418, 580, he’ll be a bargain if he turns out to be.  The Red Sox pitching staff is still superb.  Gonzalez could become the best slugging first baseman the Red Sox have ever had. 

Although he went from sports editor to general manager, Epstein is not the best general manager ever, in my view.  Hanley Ramirez would’ve possibly set all kinds of records for shortstops with the Red Sox.

Respectful challenges to opinions and assumptions via vigorous debate are known to be constant for many professional sports operations staffs.  Under Epstein, the Boston Red Sox are no exception to the corporate American rule.

He could have to make some more exceptional moves for the 2011 season, but he’s not a freewheeling fool.  He’s made few glaring mistakes, but he’s strengthened weaknesses on the Red Sox roster as a rule. 

Former Los Angeles Lakers general manager, Jerry West, and R.C. Buford of the San Antonio Spurs own more championships than Epstein.  Mitch Kupchak of the Lakers and Joe Dumars of the Detroit Pistons are tied with him.

Brian Cashman of the New York Yankees has won four World Series.  Epstein has at least two more World Series to win before he can claim to be better than Cashman.  He appears to be well on his way in building a team to help him catch Brian. 

I’d give Epstein a solid B+ for helping to build a perennial championship contender in Boston.

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In the wake of Red Sox GM Theo Epstein channeling his inner Daniel Snyder and finally winning an off-season I find it interesting how investing somewhere around $300 million in your offense can make your fans forget what the real problem was last year-pitching and defense.  

While it’s exciting to see the likes of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez being brought to Boston—two players I’ve personally speculated for the last two seasons about seeing here-their presence does nothing to solve the real problems of last season-pitching.

Following the addition of John Lackey last off-season, creating what was supposed to be one of the strongest 1-2-3 punches in the league in terms of starting pitching, the Red Sox saw a decline from the prior season in the following statistical categories: Runs and runs allowed per game, complete games, shutouts, walks issued, and strikeouts.  To be fair another category also increased from ’09 to ’10; errors, which increased by 45 over the season before last.

What’s truly scary about the addition of Gonzalez and Crawford is the perception that offense was the problem in Boston last season, when in fact not much could be further from the truth. In the AL last season the Red Sox ranked second in runs scored, home runs, and RBI’s, trailing only the Yankees in runs and RBI’s and the Blue Jays in home runs.

While the best hope for a return to glory might seem to be hoping that John Lackey improves upon the third lowest ERA he’s ever posted (4.44), or that Josh Beckett can get away from posting the lowest strikeout total in a season since 2002 when he was 22 and only won 6 games for the Marlins, adding players of the caliber of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford that can help all over the field-and not just in the batter’s box-certainly can’t hurt.  

Of course neither can replacing Adrian Beltre and his team’s second worst 19 errors essentially with Gonzalez -who has posted double digits in errors in a season only once-probably won’t hurt either as the defensive prowess Beltre was supposed to bring to Boston never really materialized.

At the end of the day I think I speak for all Boston fans when I say: Welcome to Boston Carl and Adrian, it’s great to have you here.  Just so long as those same Boston fans don’t forget where our actual problems were last year…

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The Boston Red Sox have fired their second warning shot across the bow of the American League East by signing Carl Crawford to a seven-year deal valued at $142 million, according to multiple media outlets and first reported by the Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham.

The ink likely still wet on the trade sending Adrian Gonzalez to Boston, Theo Epstein and the Red Sox ownership group have dug deep into their pockets and managed to deliver Crawford the largest single payday in Boston since the signing of Manny Ramirez.

When the deal is finalized, the Red Sox will have committed themselves to roughly $300 million within a week’s span, and Epstein will have staked his legacy to the performances of these two superstars.

Always reluctant to sign players to such lengthy and lucrative contracts, Epstein has earned a sometimes wise, sometimes miserly reputation across baseball. Given that reluctance, Epstein certainly is setting himself up for close scrutiny. Whether these deals prove sagacious will write much of Epstein’s story as the boy-wonder GM.

Also, when the deal is finalized, Boston will have acquired perhaps the fastest, finest defensive outfielder in the game today. The 29-year-old Crawford put up a 21.2 UZR/150 in 2010 en route to winning his first Gold Glove award.

Combine that defensive prowess with roughly 54 stolen bases per season and an 851 OPS last year, and one can understand why the four-time All Star and 2010 Silver Slugger could electrify both the Red Sox franchise and the Fenway Faithful in every facet of the game.

For breaking Red Sox news updates, follow Peter on Twitter at BoSoxUpdate.

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Just moments ago it was announced Theo Epstein pulled another fast one on Red Sox Nation by signing Carl Crawford to a seven year, $142 million deal.  The deal comes as a relative surprise since, even though the Red Sox loved what Crawford brings to the table, they already acquired the big time left handed bat (Adrian Gonzalez) and historically do not go on these Yankee-like spending sprees.  Regardless the Red Sox front office has responded to last seasons disappointing third place finish, much like the New York Yankees prior to the 2009 season, by making some franchise altering moves.

Prior to last weekend many in Red Sox fans were sensing doom and gloom, especially when it became known the Yankees could be going after Cliff Lee AND Carl Crawford.  However, after the trade for Adrian Gonzalez the fans’ appetite for off season drama was filled, at least for a day.  It seemed like mere minutes after Gonzalez press conference that everyone wanted to know what Theo Epstein had planned next.  Many were looking at the bullpen (including myself), a cheaper right handed leftfielder, such as Magglio Ordonez or Josh Willingham, but no one really expected this.  Carl Crawford signing was merely an awesome idea to many Red Sox fans, considering what his price would be after Jayson Werth literally was signed for twice his worth, but never the less, Theo Epstein delivered.  

Some may say this deal is not smart for a player whose game is predicated  on speed but the front office has proven it is willing to spend on a marquee free agent (John Lackey does not count) and stay competitive in an ever improving division.  Regardless of how Crawford and Gonzalez perform this season no one can say the Red Sox did not try to become a World Series contender for years to come.

However, let’s just assume Crawford and Gonzalez perform as they are expected to and imagine a lineup like this:

1. Ellsbury

2. Pedroia

3.Gonzalez

4. Youkilis

5. Crawford

6. Ortiz

7. Scutaro/Lowrie 

8. Saltalamacchia

9. Drew

That is a lineup with 105 wins written on it.  Obviously the pitching will have a lot to say about that any wins, but the point is it is an extremely potent lineup.  

Some may wonder as to why Crawford, known for his speed, is in a power slot like the fifth spot, but it seems fitting since he does not want to lead off, Pedroia is the number two hitter, period, and Gonzalez and Youkilis have more power.  Plus with Drew batting ninth, the Red Sox could have three lead off type hitters (Drew is considered a lead off hitter because of his on-base percentage abilities) in each third of the lineup.  

Does Carl Crawford signing instantly mean this team should be pre-ordering rings?  Absolutely not.  I still maintain the biggest key to this team’s success is the bullpen, specifically Jonathan Papelbon having a bounce back year, and if Josh Beckett and John Lackey gain regain at least a shadow of themselves.  Either way Theo Epstein and the Red Sox brass have provided the most anticipation for Opening Day since 2004. 

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And just like that, the power has shifted in the American League. According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, Carl Crawford has agreed to a seven year, $142 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. 

Just days after trading for first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Theo Epstein and company made the biggest splash of the Winter Meetings thus far by signing Crawford.

It was previously believed that Crawford would not make a move until Cliff Lee was signed.

In theory, Crawford may have hoped that if the Yankees could not acquire Lee, they would throw more money his way.

However, with a contract as lavish as this reported deal, it is understandable why Crawford would wait no longer. 

Now, the question looms: What does this mean to the rest of the American League? Are the Red Sox front-runners for a World Series run? 

Coupling Crawford with the newly-acquired Adrian Gonzalez, the Red Sox will boast one of the league’s best lineups. Crawford, who will play left field as he did in Tampa Bay, will likely lead off, followed by Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz. 

Jacoby Ellsbury will also be in the mix.

It is likely that with such a powerful lineup, Ellsbury will bat ninth, however, this makes the Red Sox that much more dangerous.

With the speed of both Crawford and Ellsbury, the Sox will boast two of the league’s best leadoff hitters as the lineup turns over each game. Both players have the ability to turn walks or singles into doubles with their speed. As a result, the Sox power hitters will have twice as many opportunities to knock in runners from scoring position. 

Another part of Crawford’s game that is often overlooked is his power. Last season, Crawford hit 19 home runs while driving in 90 runs. While he will not have as many opportunities to drive in runs in Boston, he will certainly benefit from the short porch in right field. 

The Red Sox will also return a strong starting rotation and bullpen in 2011.

While the pitching staff underachieved as a whole in 2010, if starter Josh Beckett and closer Jonathan Papelbon can bounce back, the Sox will also have one of the best staffs in baseball. Following stellar seasons from 26-year-old starters Clay Buccholz and Jon Lester, Boston has a rotation with the ability to shut down opponents on a nightly basis. 

With two blockbuster deals, the Red Sox have put themselves ahead of the pack in the American League. The New York Yankees, who were also in hot pursuit of Crawford, are undoubtedly concerned after seeing the Red Sox acquire two of the league’s best position players available. 

These deals put even more pressure on Yankees GM Brian Cashman to make a deal for Cliff Lee.

The Yankees pitching rotation was a disaster in 2010, as dismal seasons from starters A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez derailed the Yanks’ World Series hopes. The Yankees needed another top-end starter to compete in the American League prior to the Red Sox transactions. Following these mega-deals, the acquisition of Cliff Lee is more imminent than ever.

Howver, even if the Yankees are able to sign lefty Cliff Lee, this deal immediately puts the Yankees in a hole in the American League East. Carl Crawford was not the priority for the Yanks. While they would have loved to have him, he was essentially a backup plan if the team was unable to acquire Lee.

However, if there was one team in baseball the Yankees did not want to sign Carl Crawford, it was the Boston Red Sox.  

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Boston general manager Theo Epstein has had his own formula for success.  It’s a version of “money ball,” where he values things like on base percentage more than batting average and how a guy fits in with the Red Sox organization.

As well as not paying high dollars or giving a lot of years to older players.  It’s as if there is a sign on Yawkey Way that reads, “Anyone over 30 need not apply.”

His chief rival in New York, Brian Cashman (is there better last name for the GM of the Yankees), doesn’t really care how old you are or your on-base percentage.  If you can hit the ball far, then he’ll find a spot for you in the Bronx.

Since Theo came on board with the Red Sox in 2002, the two GMs (who have very different approaches) have yielded similar results.

The Sox have been to two World Series, winning both of them, and the Yanks have been to two and have won one of them.

However, since 2007 and the rise of the Tampa Bay Rays, the Red Sox have been on the short end of the American League East stick.

The Yankees have been on a bit of a spending spree to fill their holes and have worried little about anything other than stats.  Where this didn’t work out too well (as far as titles are concerned) in the early 2000s, it seem to be working out just fine right now.

The Red Sox, too, have been sticking to their ways, but now it seems that it may hinder them more than help.

There has been little to no talk of the Red Sox pursuing Yankee killer Cliff Lee because of his age and the number of dollars and years he wants, and now the once-foregone conclusion that the Sox would sign outfielder Carl Crawford is now in doubt.

It appears due to Crawford’s age and the number of years he wants (thank you, Nationals, with that ridiculous contract you gave Jason Werth), Theo and the Sox are balking.

This could allow for the free spending Yankees to swoop in and gain yet another weapon for their Galactic Empire.

If there was a salary cap in baseball or if the Sox weren’t in the same division as the Yankees, Theo’s approach would be ideal.

However, those two things aren’t reality.  There is no salary cap and we are in the same division as the Yankees.

And honestly, I understand Theo’s approach to not overpaying guys like the Yanks seem to do every offseason, but the balking at the number of years on a contract just boggles my mind.

Yes, I know contracts are guaranteed in baseball and paying a guy who doesn’t play for you doesn’t make much sense, but since there is not salary cap to affect you if you cut a player, then the number of years a player wants shouldn’t be the last hurdle to signing him.

Sure, if you cut him you still have to pay him, but when you’re the Red Sox and you make more money than the majority of the teams out there, you can afford to take a few risks every now and then.

Look at it this way.  As a fan, I’d rather see them sign a guy for six years, have him give us a good three years where we win the AL East (and maybe the pennant and the World Series), than sign a guy not quite as good to only a three-year deal and watch another October where the Yanks go deep and we’re at home.

Carl Crawford could really help bolster our outfield and our offensive production. If the money between the two sides is right, then a silly thing like the number of years shouldn’t matter.  At the very least, if he fizzles out in two to three years, we can try and trade him away.

I think the last two seasons have proven that Theo needs to be more flexible with his formula so the team doesn’t miss out on players that can get them back over the hump.

For more Red Sox chatter you can follow me on Twitter (@jomac006).

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