Catching Up With Boston Red Sox GM Theo Epstein and Trade Rumors

As the annual GM meetings come to a close in Dana Point California no deals have been made, however rumors heat up and we are able to start seeing which players teams are willing to dangle in trade offers.  Lets take a look at a few guys the Red Sox have on the chopping block, and a few that are dangling from it.

One of the most crucial members of the Red Sox organization has been resigned to a new contract deal.  General Manager Theo Epstein has quietly confirmed that he has resigned with the Red Sox in a multi-year contract for an undisclosed amount.  Since Theo was hired in 2002 at the age of 28 and stated that the organization would become a "scouting and player development machine."

Under his guidance we have seen the arrival of players like Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon, Jacboby Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie, and Justin Masterson.  Along with the emergence of phenomenal young talent Epstein has also helped guide the team to the postseason five times in the six years that he has been GM.  Two of those trips to the postseason resulted in World Series victories, in 2004 and again in 2007.

The obvious player who will not return to Boston is Manny Ramirez.  The Dodgers have offered Man Ram the teams highest average annual salary in team history, and is the second highest salary in baseball next to A-Rod.  The deal is reported to be two years for $50 million or three years for $75 million.  The Dodgers maintain exclusive trade talks with the slugger for another week.  The Yankees are another team who has expressed interest in Ramirez, and a team would pose a direct threat to the Red Sox organization if he continues his success at the plate.

More than three moths after dealing Ramirez to the Dodgers Epstein is still having to answer questions regarding the dread-locked left fielder.  In regards to Manny going to the Yankees Epstein remarked, "I'm sure they'll make good moves, but we don't plan our off-season strategy around what they're trying to do. We'll deal with the Yankees when we play them 19 times during the season.  Our approach to the Yankees has always been just to respect them and sort of admire them from afar during the off-season and assume they're going to win somewhere between 95 and 100 games.  We try to build an organization that can field a team each year that has a good chance to win 95 games. We figure that will be enough to get into the playoffs, and it has been five of the last six years."

The other big question Boston's GM is being asked a lot is what is going to happen with catcher Jason Varitek.  Since taking over the GM role Epstein's primary focus has been to build a deep roster, and he has also proven that he's not afraid to get rid of blockbuster players and fan-favorites when he feels their value is declining.  In his postseason interview Epstein stated that retaining Varitek was one of the clubs' number one priorities.  However Varitek's payroll-eviscerating agent Scott Boras is asking for the same deal the Boston Captain received before he began struggling at the plate, four years at $40 million guaranteed.

When questioned about Varitek the Boston GM commented, "If you convince yourself you need a certain player to win, then you've already lost.  It just doesn't work that way.  One player doesn't have that much impact.  It's about building organizations, not adding players.  There's no player you can add to make up for an inherent weakness in your organization, a foundational weakness.  You need to build the foundation up to get to the point where you don't need to add that one player.  I mean, you can pursue that one player, and yeah, he'd be a great fit.  But if it doesn't work out or if the money gets ridiculous, you can turn to a different player and be in just as good a shape, almost."

It sounds as though Mike Timlin has played his last game in a Red Sox uniform.  While talks of his retirement circulated throughout the season the 42 year-old reliever posted a career worst 5.66 ERA, resulting in his absence from the ALDS roster.  Timlin was the last player from the Red Sox organization to file for free agency after he indicated to Epstein that he was likely going to attempt to pitch again in 2009.  Epstein commented, "We felt there would probably be better opportunity for him elsewhere.  Carrying someone in the 'pen in addition to our top five guys, we'd probably want somebody a little younger with a little more projection left. Maybe there are internal candidates to take over the role, but we're also out there looking."

Boston's GM went on to say, "But what a career that guy had in Boston.  He was really the staple down there for us, very reliable, very effective, a big part of two World Series teams. We should not let the off-season go by without tipping our cap to him."

Owner of four World Series rings, two with Boston, Timlin has gone 30-22 with a 3.76 ERA in his six seasons with the Sox.

With Timlin most likely leaving the organization, and an uncertain future for Paul Byrd there could be holes needing to be filled in both the bullpen and the starting rotation.  A situation that makes the emergence of Justin Masterson quite the luxury for Boston.  Though his exact role in next years line-up has not been decided Epstein did say, "He's a nice luxury to have for us, because if we happen to make a trade or add a reliever, we know that maybe frees him up to start.  And if we make a trade for a starter or sign one, we know he's not going to be pushed out of the rotation and off the team, and he'll have a chance to impact us in the bullpen.

But both options will be open for him, indefinitely, because we feel he can do both and make an impact in both. The more options we have, the more flexibility it gives us. The goal is to build a 'pen that won't need reinforcements through trade in the middle of a season."

It also sounds like Boston is set on youngsters Jacoby Ellsbury and Jed Lowrie as their starters for next year.  Epstein said that Lugo's health is at 100 percent, after suffering a torn quadricep back in the middle of July, and is likely to play winter ball in the Dominican.  Lugo has been linked to rumors of a trade for Khalil Green, though Epstein didn't have much of a reaction when questioned about the deal.  There are a number of teams that could use a short stop, including the Cardinals, Twins, Indians, Tigers, Orioles and Giants.  But Lugo has two years and $18 million dollars remaining on his contract meaning the Sox will most likely have to pay off a part of his remaining salary obligation.  And after missing most of the second part of the season due to his injury his trade value is low and he is a much higher risk.

Crisp handled sharing the starting position in center field with class, but has made it clear that he wishes to play full-time.  It has been reported that five or six teams have shown interest in Crisp, the Cubs, White Sox, A's, Braves, Nationals and Padres have all been linked to the 28 year-old center fielder through rumors.