Footprints in the Snow: Red Sox

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.

It's been quite a decade for the Red Sox, who flipped an 86-year-old script in 2004 by winning a World Series and a second in 2007, but they enter this offseason behind a very familiar eight ball.

Yes, Boston made the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons in 2009, but after getting swept by the Angels in the American League Division Series and watching the Yankees win their 27th World Series just weeks later, it is once again the chaser.

The Red Sox have redefined success at Fenway Park over the last few years. Now the trick is to keep duplicating it, a task that's harder than ever with their more monied rivals to the south apparently rejuvenated.

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Who Might Leave

Jason Bay, LF; Alex Gonzalez, SS; Nick Green, IF; Rocco Baldelli, OF; Billy Wagner, LHP; Takashi Saito, RHP; Casey Kotchman, 1B

Shopping List

General manager Theo Epstein's dream of a pitching-rich Red Sox organization at every level has largely been realized. He may nibble on top free-agent pitcher John Lackey. He'll almost certainly add a bullpen arm or two and sign a high-risk, high-reward starter in the mold of Brad Penny and John Smoltz, who he brought aboard last winter, but his main priority has to be the offense.

The Red Sox' lineup is aging. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury are the only returning regulars under 30.

Bay, who had the second-highest OPS on the team last year, figures to be the center of attention because of his potent bat and his proven ability to play in Boston. Now 31 and requiring a long-term financial commitment, he may not be all that desirable to the Red Sox, but whatever path they choose to take, whether it be to him, to fellow free-agent left fielder Matt Holliday or to someone else, you can be sure it'll end at the feet of a big bat.

Epstein must once again search for a shortstop, a near-constant pursuit since he traded Nomar Garciaparra in July 2004. Gonzalez may be the stopgap solution again as the club waits on Jed Lowrie and, perhaps, Cuban international signing Jose Iglesias to develop, but the situation at that position is as murky as ever.

Money Matters

The Red Sox are never short for cash, but indications are that they might have more than usual to spend this winter. Boston has shaved more than $20 million off of its payroll since 2007(from roughly $143 million to $122 million), but it is typically close to the luxury tax threshold, which would give it nearly $50 million in average annual salary to spend.

That doesn't account for significant raises due to Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester and Dustin Pedroia, who all signed long-term extensions over the last year, nor does it account for Manny Delcarmen, Ramon Ramirez and Jonathan Papelbon, who are all in arbitration years, but Epstein is still going to have plenty of money to play with.

Some of that might go toward extending ace Josh Beckett, who is due to be a free agent after 2010, but other than him and Papelbon, who seems destined for free agency instead of a long-term deal, none of Boston's top talent has an uncertain future, leaving Epstein with plenty of options as he looks to strengthen his club.

He's already gambled on outfielder Jeremy Hermida, who became eligible for arbitration before he could ever fulfill his promise in Florida, acquiring him from the Marlins for a pair of throwaway prospects a little more than a week ago. He could take on more risky talents with all of his payroll flexibility, but the Red Sox are going to need a few sure things in their lineup, including a slugging left fielder. Sure things are expensive, whether you're signing them on the open market or absorbing a cash-strapped team's albatross contract in trade.

Offseason Goals

The Red Sox need to get younger and more dynamic offensively. The pitching staff, particularly the bullpen, will require its usual pruning, but it was primarily an inconsistent lineup that had them chasing the Yankees down the stretch in 2009. Boston doesn't have to change much this winter to be a contender in 2010, but the resurgence of its biggest rival means that if the Sox wish to really compete in the AL East, they will have to make significant improvements. The only way to do that might be by throwing their financial weight around more than they have lately.