Baseball Signings!

(sorry that it has been so long, but that's the way it goes. No one pays me for this, so it tends to take a back seat to other items on my to-do list. I wrote this post back in December when this happened)

Big news in the AL!

The Red Sox are immediately baseballs most improved team in the 2010 offseason. This morning, the 9^th of December, sources report that the Red Sox are going to give Carl Crawford a 7 year, 147 million dollar contract. He will fill in as a center or left fielder, and will provide a beautiful dual speed/power threat for the Bostonian team. Coupling this signing with the trade for Adrian Gonzales makes this entire offseason an enormous success. Lets take a look at the Red Sox potential lineup for the upcoming 2011 season

1. Jacoby Elsbury/Mike Cameron (CF)

2. Carl Crawford (LF)

3. Adrian Gonzales (1B)

4. Kevin Youkilis (3B)

5. Dustin Pedroia (2B)

6. JD Drew (RF)

7. David Ortiz (DH)

8. Jed Lowry/Marco Scutaro (SS)

9. Kevin Cash/Jarrod Saltalamacchia/Jason Varitek (C)

This lineup has a lot of pop 1-7, and the shortstop position is not terribly shabby either. Catcher is the weakest position in that lineup, but the Red Sox will take anything that Cash, or presumably Varitek, can give them.

So, with these two new additions, what are the best places to play them? From the lineup I have projected above, there are a few changes that are possible. Dustin Pedroia is a favorite in New England, and I think he could be used effectively in the leadoff spot. He hits for average, draws walks, has decent speed, and can hit for some power too. It is always an option. Obviously, the Red Sox want Elsbury to be running as much as possible if he leads off, so he may be placed in that position as well. (although wiser heads than I maintain that Pedroia should be the lead off man)

It seems to me like the Red Sox become the team to beat in the AL this year. Even the boom-sticks of the Yankees could have a hard time putting up the kind of runs that this Sox team is capable of doing. Another point in their favor is that both Gonzales and Crawford are way above average defensively. Losing Beltre at 3B does not hurt their defense since Youkilis is such a hard worker; this 2011 team can keep up with management’s idea of a defensive minded team that can still score runs.

*Boston signed former White Sox hurler Bobby Jenks to a 2 year deal. More flame-throwers in the bullpen is never a bad idea. Jenks can join fellow hard throwing righties Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard as relievers that will touch 97+ on any given pitch (Bard throws in the 100’s, and Jenks used to.)