[CJFusco]

It will be interesting to see what happens to A-Rod. There is some talk that he wants out of New York (big fish in a big pond, I guess), and he has expressed serious interest in Boston in the past (not that the Red Sox are a small pond, of course...).

The question is what does one do with Mike Lowell, who is in a contract year and is seeming to improve with age? He had a phenomenal year - his numbers are right there with Ortiz's. Not A-Rod numbers, of course, but he already is at home in Boston, the fans love him, and he is well-liked in the clubhouse. A-Rod is a player on a level that can only be touched by a handful in the game (even Pujols fell short this year), but he is widely considered clubhouse poison... and then there is that "curse of A-Rod" thing (every team does better once they get rid of him).

There is a lot of speculation in the Boston media about this. One common theory is that the Sox acquire A-Rod, drop Lugo somehow, and have A-Rod play SS. That would give you an infield of Mike Lowell, A-Rod, Pedroia, and Youkilis - and a batting order featuring Manny, Ortiz, and A-Rod in a row. Of course, the Sox would have to move some money around to make that happen (not re-signing Schilling?).

It will be interesting to see how it plays out. My bet is that A-Rod is still in pinstripes next year.