(Originally posted on 4SportBoston.com )
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As of last week, Red Sox fans were really getting going on the talk of acquisitions, trades, high value prospects, and anything else we could possibly dream of. We saw Marco Scutaro don the No. 16 jersey at the press conference late last week and it looked like the Sox may be saving up for something big...
But are they?
Moving into this week of the Winter Meetings, the chatter and tweets are very uninformative when it comes to the Sox. A few "Theo spotted talking to" followed by numerous amounts of speculation tweets have been poked around each day.
Are the Sox working on getting the likes of a Halladay, a Holliday, or a Bay? Is there going to be another blockbuster? Or are we looking at a "bridge" year, a buzzword Theo has started to use in a hopefully haphazard way around the meetings?
ESPNBoston's Gordon Edes is at the meetings and updating the faithful constantly . Looking at this latest post from him, the Sox haven't done much but are still looking at Adrian Gonzalez.
Boston has also been rumored to be talking with Coco Crisp and Adrian Beltre, two signings that would not be impressive.
Unfortunately, the Yanks are out and about and doing what they do best—making the deals to bring not only their key players back but also to bring in some of the other big names from around the league.
Just yesterday, they made a big splash and got a three-team deal all but done, putting CF Curtis Granderson (a triple machine) in pinstripes. This deal will be a major factor heading into the 2010 season. He is an incredible outfielder and may finally have the coaching help he needs to become a better-rounded hitter.
Today the chatter is that the Yanks have worked out the numbers with Andy Pettitte to get him back in pinstripes in 2010. And of course, you know they will still be in on the Halladay talks and other possible deals.
So why are the Sox lying down and taking this? In the Boston Globe today , Amalie Benjamin even flirted with the idea that the Sox may be willing to allow Jeremy Hermida to split time with another so-so left fielder to "bridge" the 2010 season. This has to be a joke, right?
The Boston Red Sox could not possibly let down an entire fan base after a dismal 2009 postseason.
Could they?
Yes, they had 95 wins in the regular season. But in the playoffs, they were 0-3.
One would think this offseason would be a great time to make the proper moves to better this team. Coming out of 2009, it has never been clearer which spots the Red Sox need to improve. And with Bay opting to test free agency and Scutaro already filling in at shortstop, they know what holes need to be filled.
Watching the Yankees pull off moves like the Granderson deal shows that they are playing smart this offseason. This could be good for the Sox.
It might mean that New York won't go after as many of the big name free agents. But it could also mean they are saving up for something bigger.
Granderson has often been an overlooked player, thanks in part to playing in Detroit. But playing in New York will give him a chance to show his abilities and make the Yanks look like a smart club.
Now it is our time, Theo.
This team and this fan base needs moves to be made. We're not picky when it comes to choosing between Bay and Holliday (although it's always nice to get the incumbent to return). We are willing to give up a whole mess of the farm and players like Buchholz to get Halladay.
I just cannot believe that the Sox are already going to call this 2010 season a "bridge" year at this early stage, especially being only halfway through the Winter Meetings.
Hopefully, Theo is taking the "play dead" approach so that he doesn't come out of this offseason looking as incapable as ever of staying with the Yankees.
(Make sure to check out the 4SB Podcast tomorrow for lots of coverage of the Winter Meetings with a guest appearance by Matt from FenwayWest.com )
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