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This team sure does need another bat. Huge sign for John Lackey, he's the best number 3 starter in baseball by far. Mike Cameron is a nice player but he is getting up there in age, plus IMO that's quite a bit of money. The defense sure gets a huge upgrade from Bay to Cameron tho.

I think they have to open up the farm for Gonzo tho.

i'd agree. Gonzo is this years version of Teixeira, but hopefully he'll end up on the right team. Great defense, good OBP, and a lot of power. In Fenway, he may be able to put up even better numbers than he had in San Diego

Sox sign Beltre. One year 9 million. Player option for another at 5m.

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/ne ... id=4795915

Well, there we go. Just when you thought the talks have cooled down, he signs.

I don't think Mike could come back at this point anyway, latest rumor I read was Mike to the Mets for Luis Castillo.

Well I have no problem with Beltre for one season, if it doesn't work it can be easily fixed.

As for Castillo, the Mets would have to pay a boat load of his salary and Lowell's. I don't see that one happening.

Love the Beltre signing. I look forward to a Boras-fueled contract run for the ages.

In other news, Ellsbury will be shifted to left and Cameron will be in center, according to reports out today.

I never really cared for BU, until I saw them wearing these jerseys last night:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eefBaTJJjp0/S ... 050797.JPG

I wouldn't wear it in a million years, but I want to get one of those bad.

SOX GET HERNANDEZ FROM SEATTLE!

...

Oh wait.

With the Celts looking like a nursing home doing the cha cha against young and athletic teams, I can now only look foward to opening day. I'm glad we got Beltre, but I would have liked to see Theo get some more power. Beltre might give us 20 and change for home runs and Big Papi looks like the Celts when he goes up to bat. I am wondering if there is anyone else we could bring in to fulfill our deficency in the power hitting department.

I think our lineup should be ok. Nothing spectacular, but enough to get by. I think some people may be surprised be some of our new aquisitions. Sure no one has 35 HR potential, but Cameron, Beltre and maybe even Hermida may provide a little pop off the bench. I'm surprised we moved our fastest guy to LF (Ellsbury) where you don't necessarily need legs to play the wall, just smarts. Maybe because of his lack of arm? IDK. I know Cameron is pretty solid defensively but he's getting old and does he have a good arm?

Honestly look at production of our lineup

Ellsbury LF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez C
Youkilis 1B
Ortiz DH
Beltre 3B
Drew RF
Cameron CF
Scutaro SS

Hermida, Tek, Hall, Lowrie off the bench is pretty solid.