2010 Boston Red Sox Spring Training Preview

The 2009 season was kind of a disappointment for fans of the Boston Red Sox . They did manage to make the playoffs for the third straight year, but they were then unceremoniously eliminated by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the first round. Boston made many changes to their roster, the only question is will they be better off this year than last? Let's take a closer look.

The Red Sox bid adieu to shortstop Alex Gonzalez, left fielder Jason Bay, outfielder Rocco Baldelli, relief pitcher Billy Wagner, and first baseman Casey Kotchman among others. The biggest loss will of course be Jason Bay, whose power carried the team at times last season. The Red Sox, in all of their acquisitions, did not find an obvious replacemnet for Bay's power numbers and this might hurt them as the season goes on. Gonzalez was a nice solid shortstop, but his bat wasn't the greatest, so that won't be a terrible loss. Baldelli, Wagner, and Kotchman were all good role players, and although important to the team over the long season, can be replaced even after the season begins.

The Red Sox brought in several new faces, but we will concentrate on five, Mike Cameron, John Lackey, Marco Scutaro, Adrian Beltre, and Jeremy Hermida. John Lackey was probably the biggest free agent pitcher available this offseason and the pitching rich Red sox snagged him. Lackey will be added to an impressive starting rotation that will also include, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Clay Buchholz. Boston's rotation is easily the best in baseball if they stay healthy. Mike Cameron was signed to take over in center field a move that will push Jacoby Ellsbury over to left. Cameron has decent pop in his bat, but strikes out a whole bunch as well. Marco Scutaro is a solid shortstop with a fair bat. Adrian Beltre is coming off a horrible year with the Seattle Mariners where he managed only 8 home runs. The Red Sox are looking for far more than that from him this year. One thing they can count on is Beltre will play a Gold Glove caliber third base. Jeremy Hermida will provide a little bit of pop coming off the bench as a fourth outfielder.

The Red Sox still have one question unanswered as spring training approaches and that is what to do with third baseman Mike Lowell. Boston had a deal in place to send Lowell to the Texas Rangers for catcher Max Ramirez, but that deal fell through when it was discovered that Lowell had a thumb injury. It remains to be seen if the Red Sox will again try to trade Lowell or will they keep him as an expensive backup.

There is little doubt that the Red Sox will be relying more on pitching and defense than at any time in the last decade. The key to the season will be if the starting pitchers can stay healthy. If they do I think they might just win the American League East, but if they don't they could just as easily fall to third. Prediction 97 wins and winner of the A.L. East.