Is this progress?
If Andy Marte, the 22-year-old slugging third base prospect the Sox acquired from Atlanta, is as good as the Sox believe, it could represent a great leap forward, even if Marte begins next season in Pawtucket, which is the plan for now.
And almost providentially, even as the Sox' brass were flying back to Boston last night, a possible solution to the Manny dilemma may have dropped out of the sky. Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada, claiming to be unhappy with the lack of progress the Orioles have made in putting together a winner, wants to be traded.
Mercy! On the same day the Sox trade their shortstop, arguably the best shortstop in the game might be available, a former American League MVP who drove in 150 runs in 2004 and comes as close to offering fair value in a potential Ramírez swap as anyone out there. And here's what makes it imperative for the Sox, who were already discussing the possibility yesterday, to do everything they can to make this happen: Even the dollars make sense. The Orioles owe Tejada $48 million on the six-year, $72 million contract he signed before the '04 season. The Sox owe Ramírez $57 million.
Replace Ramírez with Tejada, and the Sox become the best team in baseball. The only thing more obvious than his talent is Tejada's burning desire to win. Even his most ardent supporters can't say the same about Ramírez.
The only thing we know for sure is the Red Sox will be a different team. If the season opened today, your 2006 Red Sox would likely feature Kevin Youkilis at first, Mark Loretta at second, Mike Lowell at third, and a player to be named (free agent Alex Gonzalez was the leading choice until the Tejada news broke) at short. Four positions, four new regulars, and the Sox so eager to divest themselves of the erratic Renteria they reluctantly paid $11 million for him to play somewhere else.
