If Victor Martinez Joins Red Sox, Is It Goodbye for Adam LaRoche?

Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated reported on Wednesday that the Boston Red Sox were the front runners in the Victor Martinez sweepstakes.

According to Heyman, the Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays are both interested, but it appears Boston can offer the better package.

There has been no word of what kind or who would be involved in the package. Unlike the Roy Halladay rumors, when the names of Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson, Michael Bowden, Lars Anderson, and others have popped up, this has been kept awfully quiet, which could mean one of a few things.

1. The Red Sox will acquire Martinez involving some "surprise" players that no one has thought about (Brad Penny? Adam LaRoche?). 

2. The Red Sox will not acquire Martinez and get Halladay instead.

3. The Red Sox will get both Martinez and Halladay. However, this seems unlikely unless Theo Epstein gives up the farm.

4. The Red Sox won't get either of them.

There have been mini-rumors speculating that getting LaRoche was a "quick fix" to the Sox's offensive problems and could become a key piece in a bigger trade.

Well, think about it. Martinez and LaRoche, plus Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell? Lowell was the designated hitter last night, and David Ortiz came off of the bench to pinch-hit. That sums it up right there.

Unless Boston switches off with Martinez and Jason Varitek?

So many possibilities and so many question marks.

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