ZiPS/Sox hot stove

2007 ZiPS Projections - Boston Red Sox

A look at the Sox roster:
C - Varitek
1B - Youkilis
2B - ? - Pedroia
3B - Lowell
SS - ? - Gonzalez
LF - Manny (?)
CF - Coco (?)
RF - Wily Mo (?)

Bench - Hinske, ?, ?, ?

SP1 - Schilling
SP2 - Papelbon
SP3 - Beckett
SP4 - Wakefield
SP5 - ?

Relief - Timlin, Tavarez, Delcarmen, Hansen, Dinardo (?)

Closer - ?

Thoughts: Lowell could be moved, bringing Youkilis back to third, so I think really there's a question mark beside every regular not named Varitek. The biggest needs are a number five hitter, an additional starter, and a new bullpen. The bullpen above, the same as last year minus Papelbon, obviously needs a lot of help. Timlin looks to be just about out of gas, Tavarez cannot be trusted, and an over-reliance on Delcarmen and Hansen a year ago proved ineffective.

Solutions: Here is a list of available free agents My preference is to retain Alex Gonzalez. Adam Kennedy at second is intriguing (scratch that, I like the way he plays, but I just looked at the numbers). Rod Barajas can catch a knuckler, don't you think? What do you say we go after David Delucci to split time with Wily Mo in right? Of course, none of this fills the gaping hole the Sox have in the 5th spot in the order (or the rotation--Matsuzaka!). Outside bullpen help, as always, looks to be scarce.