Continuing to look at 2008-Boston Red Sox

Continuing in alphabetical order through the AL East, we have the Boston Red Sox. As World Series champions, the Sox didn’t have to do much beyond resigning their own free agents.

Significant Additions

-Sean Casey

Significant Departures

-Eric Gagne

Sean Casey will provide a backup first baseman, and left-handed bat on the bench. I don’t foresee “The Mayor” taking any time away from Gold Glover Kevin Youklis. Unless Mike Lowell, who the Sox resigned, gets hurt and Youklis moves to third, Casey should see minimal time.

The departure of Eric Gagne was to be expected, and the Sox received a supplemental pick for the trouble of using Gagne for two months. Also expected was the resigning of Lowell, who was coming off a career year. A bit more unexpected was the resigning of Curt Schilling. Unfortunately, it was revealed earlier this month that Schilling will likely miss the first half of the season, and could in fact be done, with a shoulder injury.

Even without Schilling, the Red Sox rotation is more than capable of carrying on. Josh Beckett and Dice-K provide a good 1-2 punch (and I truly believe that Matsuzaka will pitch more like his first half self, and less like his September self), and can be counted on to take the ball about 70 times in 2008.

Two talented youngsters slide into the 3-4 spots in Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester. Lester missed part of last year recovering my lymphoma, but came back and pitched well in his 12 games. He then topped it off by pitching 5.2 scoreless innings in the World Series, clinching the title for the Red Sox. You may have heard of Buchholz, he pitched a no hitter in his second MLB start. He was shut down and left off the post-season roster, simply to preserve his young arm. Some scouts feel that Buchholz is a better prospect than the Yankees Joba Chamberlain. Buchholz struck out 356 batters over the course of 285.2 minor league innings, and has a career minor league ERA of 2.46 and WHIP of 1.00.

The offense remains largely unchanged. Its not unreasonable to think JD Drew can rebound from a poor showing, and if he does, it should offset a likely decline from Mike Lowell. The lineup is solid, though Julio Lugo remains a question mark. If he continues to struggle, it’s possible prospect Jed Lowrie could take some time away from him. Hot shot rookie Jacoby Ellsbury(who earned the thanks of a nation when his World Series stolen base netted everyone a free taco from Taco Bell) takes over for Coco Crisp in center.

2008 Outlook: Barring injury, I see this team winning the division, and possibly earning a return trip to the World Series.