The 2013 Boston Red Sox: Something To Be Excited About

The Boston Red Sox agreed to terms on deals with draftees Anthony Ranaudo and Brandon Workman days before the deadline on Monday.  This is very big news, as a deal with Ranaudo was in question for most of Monday.  

The Red Sox selected Ranaudo 39th overall in June's draft, which was considered to be a steal by many.  The six-foot-seven former LSU pitcher was thought of as a top prospect coming into his junior year, but his season was marred by elbow issues, which dropped him to 39th.  

Workman was drafted in the second round out of Texas, where he went 12-2 with a 3.35 ERA, striking out 101 in 104 1/3 innings.  He has also been thought of as a very good prospect.  

In that same draft, Boston also selected 3B Kolbrin Vitek and OF Bryce Brentz, both signed before Monday's deadline.  

Vitek, Ranaudo, and Workman all figure to be big parts of the 2013 Red Sox roster.  I feel it's too early to say the same about Brentz, who has struggled mightily with the Lowell Spinners.  Early on, Vitek had similar struggles, but he has come around to have a solid season at the short-season A ball club.  

With those three locked up, the Red Sox look to be set for a long time.  

With young stars like Buchholz, Lester, Youkilis, Pedroia, and Ellsbury around, the Red Sox should be a tough team to beat in a few years.  

The Red Sox also have some very good prospects to be brought up this September and down the line; Casey Kelly, Jose Iglesias, Anthony Rizzo, and Ryan Westmoreland, should he return from brain surgery.  

A potential 2013 Sox lineup and rotation would look like this: 

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. 2B Dustin Pedroia
3. RF Ryan Westmoreland
4. 1B Kevin Youkilis
5. DH Anthony Rizzo
6. 3B Kolbrin Vitek
7. LF Ryan Kalish
8. C  Luis Exposito
9. SS Jose Iglesias

1. Jon Lester
2. Clay Buchholz
3. Anthony Ranaudo 
4. Casey Kelly
5. Brandon Workman

Of course Jose Iglesias would be a lead-off man in most cases, however when you have a guy like Jacoby Ellsbury, it's not so easy to lock up the leadoff position.  I left Beckett and Lackey to the bullpen because I don't believe they'll have enough in them by 2013 to be starters.  Boston will also have some good guys to come off the bench in Lars Anderson and Reymond Fuentes.  

The bullpen will have guys like Lackey, Beckett, Tazawa, Bowden, Bard, and possibly Jonathan Papelbon.

A lineup and rotation like only belongs to a sure-fire playoff, potentially title winning team.