Red Sox Plan B: Run Prevention

Yesterday the Red Sox signed starter John Lackey for five years and later added outfielder Mike Cameron with a two-year deal.

After weeks of wondering what kind of team we'd see in 2010, the Sox quickly stacked the roster with "run prevention" talent. With a rotation full of potential 20 game winners, the Sox now have the best starting five in the American League with Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, John Lackey, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz. That kind of staff should help keep the Sox among the best in run differential in 2010.

The other key to keeping your opponent off the scoreboard is defense. The Red Sox struggled on "D" in 2009 thanks to a variety of shortstops, a surgically repaired Mike Lowell and an inability to stop base-stealers and some mediocre defense in the outfield.

With the additions of Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron, the Red Sox fixed the hole at short and could get even more out of Jacoby Ellsbury should they move him to left field and put the experienced Cameron in center.

The last piece of the defense puzzle is third base. Mike Lowell is 99% gone and the Sox held onto 1B Casey Kotchman, so Kevin Youkilis could be the starting third baseman in 2010. While Kotchman and Youk would provide above average defense at the corners, the Sox could go big and add Adrian Beltre... but he'll likely cost them $40 million.

After paying Lackey a reported $85 million, Cameron a reported $15.5 million and Scutaro $12 million, the Sox aren't likely to add Beltre, despite his stellar defense.

What the Red Sox may try next is a trade from Adrian Gonzalez. With Lackey on board the Red Sox might be willing to trade the previously untouchable Clay Buchholz. Buchholz remains the starting point in most trade discussions and Padres GM Jed Hoyer knows the rest of the Red Sox farm system very well. But with Josh Beckett becoming a Free Agent in 2011 and Tim Wakefield likely to retire after this season as well, the Sox may chose to keep Buchhy and wait for Gonzalez to hit the free agent market in two years.

Bottom Line: Despite losing Jason Bay and his 119 RBI, the Red Sox should remain among the best in runs scored and run differential in 2010. A full season of Victor Martinez, a better hitting shortstop in Scutaro and, hopefully, a solid season from a rejuvenated David Ortiz should put plenty of points on the board. And the best rotation in baseball backed by a solid bullpen should keep point of the scoreboard.

Suddenly... the sun is shining again in Boston.