First and foremost, the future of Jason Varitek, Red Sox Captain, weighs on everyone’s minds. Offensively, Tek didn’t bring much to the table, going one for a lot in the ALCS, and batting .220 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs. But what Varitek leaves in the batter’s box, he more than makes up for behind the plate. As the true leader of this rag tag group of baseball players, Tek brings coherence and determination to a team that can be very prone to losing focus. Additionally, the way he molds and builds the Sox young pitching staff cannot be measured. When they get into a tough pitch, a quick two sentence pet talk from Varitek to Lester, Bucholz, Papelbon, and even Dice-K is all it takes for that next pitch to be delivered with 150% more confidence. Tek should get a one or two year deal, and it won’t be too costly for the Sox. Varitek is worth more to the Sox than any other team, and he knows it.

The Sox are rumored to be looking at Teixeira as an addition to their staff. With Manny gone, that frees up some significant cash which would allow the Sox to land Teixeira if they really want him. While this is great news for the team (and fans) it’s bad news for Mike Lowell. Despite being the 2007 World Series MVP, he string of geriatric his injuries and placement on the DL in the 2008 post season dropped his stock dramatically. It also doesn’t help his case when the Sox front office has commented on being “old” in the post season. A viable move is to bring Teixeira in at first, Youk moves to third, which he has proven he can play very well, and send Lowell to the old folks home. Sad to see him go.

Big Papi had a very disappointing year, and an even more disappointing post season. But he is Big Papi, and has proven himself year in and year out for the Sox as a reliable designated hitter. One off season doesn’t erase that, and I seriously doubt Big Papi’s name even crossed Theo’s desk this off season.

Despite incredible performance in 2007, Elsbury put his position and standing in jeopardy in 2008 after failing to perform in even the slightest of positive means. Zero production. None. Nada. He may not go anywhere, but I doubt many would be surprised if he did.

On the chopping block
Short stop has been a constant disappointment this year. Lowrie has potential, but not enough for Cora to be moved in during Game 7 of the ALCS…and Cora is horrible. Between the two, I would keep Lowrie and send Cora on his way. I’m not really sure why he’s on the team in the first place.

Lugo: Same… just taking up space.

Kotsay: Was a good fill for an ailing drew and absent Lowell, but with Drew back in action and if Teixeira is added, Kotsay would be relegated to the bench, and the roster is only so big.

Nowhere near the chopping block
Pedroia went from undrafted high school star, to Arizona State second baseman, to barely getting into the Sox program, to MVP candidate. While he may not get the MVP this year, if the award was for production in proportion to size, he would be hands down the winner. Give that man a pay raise… he’s earned it.

Youk: Gold glover, can play any position you put him at, lethal with a Louisville slugger. The man is money.

Bay: Great replacement for Manny. Not the same as Manny, but things worked out as well as people could have hoped.

Crisp: Production is good, base running speed is great (knowledge of base running is so-so).

Drew: Back need some fixing, but when he’s intact, he’s phenomenal.

The rest
With the Sox bullpen looking solid, the only pitching change potential could be to replace Wakefield and/or Timlin. Timlin has been a relative disappointment throughout the season, and shows no signs of improving. Wakefield’s got a wicked knuckle ball, but when it hangs, boy does it hang, and his 10 – 11 record shows it.

Will Schilling come back? Not likely…but I can still dream, can’t I?

Terry Francona has produced two World Series victories in four years…but those records haven’t come for free. Along with the rings came a foot infection, a knee replacement, staph infections in both knees, chest pains, several years on blood-thinners, a life-threatening blood clot in his lungs and now a back problem that will require surgery. And they said being in baseball was easy.

In 2001, Manny fist asked to be traded because he was placed in left field, despite his request to play right… this was a mere three months after signing a 6 year $160 million dollar deal. That was the first of numerous ups and downs he had with the Sox management, but through it all his production stayed true. In 2001 he hit .306 with 125 RBIs and 41 home runs.

Trading Ramirez is not the first time Sox fans have scratched their heads at moves made by the front office. In July of 2004, the shot heard ‘round the Red Sox nation was the trading of Nomar Garciaparra to the Chicago Cubs. As I recovered from my aneurism, trying to make sense of it all, my boss at the time, speaking words I’ll never forget, said, “Who knows, maybe trading Normar will be just what the Sox need.” While his “glass half full” attitude was slightly annoying at the time, and it didn’t help me from screaming “NOMAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” in my sleep, he could not have been more correct. 2004 ended up being a pretty decent year. Sometimes dropping the pre-Madonna is just what a team needs to move forward, and let’s be honest, Manny isn’t far removed from that category.

This move is certainly great for the Red Sox fans living on the West Coast a the LA Dodgers might was well be called “Red Sox West” with Nomar, Manny, and Derek Lowe all on the Dodgers’ roster and Bill Mueller working in the Dodgers’ front office. Of course with the Dodgers’ record, it seems Nomar is spending more time working on his tan than playing ball, but I don’t think that surprises anyone.

Despite it all, Manny will be missed. At least for a while. This isn’t the first time the Sox have lost a popular player, and it won’t be the last, but through it all, Theo has steered his ship true, and in Theo we trust (all others can be traded).