Ahead In The Count

Boston Red Sox: 2006 Projected Lineup

I did the 2006 Projected Lineup exercise for the Cubs a few weeks ago, and the response was positive.  So here's another possible lineup to consider...

Presenting your 2006 Boston Red Sox...

Manager: Terry Francona

Batting Order:

CF - Johnny Damon
SS - Edgar Renteria
DH - David Ortiz
LF - Manny Ramirez
RF - Trot Nixon
C - Jason Varitek
1B - Erubiel Durazo/John Olerud
3B - Kevin Youkilis
2B - Jerry Hairston/Tony Graffanino

Starting Rotation:

Curt Schilling
Matt Clement
David Wells
Bronson Arroyo
Tim Wakefield

Bullpen:

B.J. Ryan
Mike Timlin
Jay Witasick
Jon Papelbon
Hector Carrasco
Keith Foulke

Don't expect much change in the nasty part of the Boston lineup.  It could take as much as four years, $66MM to retain Johnny Damon's services, but there's a good chance the Red Sox pony up the cash.  There just aren't a lot of better options at center field this winter.  As with Jason Varitek, don't expect a hometown discount for Damon.

John Olerud is putting together a nice little part-time season, and he'll probably stick around.  But I think Theo Epstein will snatch up Moneyball favorite Erubiel Durazo.  Coming off an injury-plagued year, Durazo might be coaxed into dusting off his glove and joining the Sox for an incentivized one-year deal worth $4MM.  He would terrorize righthanders as part of an effective platoon.

There's no reason not to hand over third base to Kevin Youkilis, a solid player with below average power for his position.  He'll pitch in cheaply. 

Second base is a big question mark right now, but a trade for Jerry Hairston makes a lot of sense.  Hairston can be a solid on-base guy and would mesh well in a platoon with Tony Graffanino.  It still doesn't make sense that the Red Sox let the underrated Todd Walker leave. 

One through five, there shouldn't be any open spots in the Boston starting rotation next year.  For $13MM, the Red Sox have to hope Curt Schilling can recuperate this winter and return to form.  Otherwise, it's a solid rotation in need of an ace.  If Schilling doesn't regain his effectiveness, the Sox may pursue a midseason trade for Kerry Wood. Wood figures to find a way to stay healthy in his contract year, and he still has the potential to dominate.

Boston hasn't been afraid to open their checkbook in recent times, and The Nation will demand a revamped bullpen in 2006.  The Sox are stuck with Keith Foulke, and he'll probably fall into a mop-up role next year.  B.J. Ryan is the prize of the reliever free agent market.  The Red Sox will do what it takes to bring him in and add some stability.  It could take a four-year deal.

Adding Timlin, Carrasco, and Witasick could cost $10MM, but the Red Sox won't be taking chances.  Epstein will make sure to bring in plenty of hard-throwing options to turn the 'pen around.  Octavio Dotel's name could be in the mix as well.

Tim Dierkes posts daily updates to his fantasy baseball blog as The Roto Authority.  Check out the site at:

http://www.rotoauthority.com

for many more projections, steroid rumors, and deep sleepers.  E-mail him at rotoauthority@gmail.com with questions, comments, or anything else.