Good Moves for the Red Sox, But Not Enough to Win the AL East

So the Boston Red Sox have upped the ante again, signing John Lackey and Mike Cameron in their attempt to compete with the New York Yankees in the pressure cooker that is the American League East. 

Coupled with the earlier addition of Marco Scutaro, one can see where this team is headed for 2010.  Pitching and defense are the order of the off season. 

It seems as if the Sox are content to throw their hat in the wild card race already.  National League–style “small ball” doesn’t translate well to winning baseball’s elite division.

John Lackey’s impact will be felt immediately in Bean town.  The only problem is that the Red Sox already have two aces on their staff.  One of which is Josh Beckett, who is due a contract extension shortly. 

While Lackey has won a World Series Game seven as a starter, Beckett has a far more impressive post season resume. 

He handcuffed the Yankees as a Marlin in 2003.  He mastered the Indians in 2007.  Jon Lester has been equally impressive at times in October, and Daisuke Matsuzaka has pitched adequately down the stretch as well.  Clay Buchholz is a budding superstar.  So who gets the nod on opening day? 

Let’s hope that the $85 million the Sox spent to get Lackey doesn’t prevent them from re-signing the young talent who secured a World Series crown in 2007.

Marco Scutaro is an improvement at shortstop, but only because offensive production from that position has been so bad for so long. 

Following the departure of Orlando Cabrera after the 2004 championship season, the Edgar Renteria signing was a bust.  Julio Lugo couldn’t stay healthy or hit, and Jed Lowrie isn’t an everyday major leaguer.  If Scutaro isn’t a liability at short it will help, but he’s hardly a superstar.

Mike Cameron has had good seasons, but at the ripe old age of 36, his best years are behind him.  He hit .250 in 2009, which is slightly less than Jason Bay, who he is expected to replace in left field. 

He should be fine defensively, but that was the area in which Bay was most proficient.  Bay was a tactician who handled the nuances of the Green Monster far better than his predecessor, who turned every ball hit towards him into an adventure.  Bay was even proactive enough to back up throws to third, something that Ramirez never even attempted. 

Having Cameron is at best a lateral move. 

The bad taste in the mouth of the organization left from failing to sign slugger Mark Teixeira following the 2008 season is still very much present. 

Quite simply, the Yankees offered more money, and Teixeira headed to New York, instantly providing protection in the lineup for Alex Rodriguez.  The production of the two hitters led to the first quality postseason for A-Rod and another ring for the Yankees. 

The “what could have been” scenario played in the heads of all of Red Sox nation down the stretch in 2009, as David Ortiz saw few quality pitches and was highly ineffective. 

What the Sox desperately need is to trade for Adrian Gonzalez.   Upon doing so, they need to lock him up in a long term deal.  Kevin Youkilis is just fine moving to third base, and Victor Martinez will see a good deal of the catching duties in 2010.  Gonzalez would be perfect fit in the Boston lineup. 

The same fear that opposing pitchers felt having to face Ortiz and then Manny would be restored. 

In short, adding a corner infielder that walks a lot and can hit 40+ homers a year is the only way to end the power outage in Boston.  Until they make that move, the Sox had better just be content to play for second place.