It better be José Reyes. Vizquel sucks these days, he really does. And I know Reyes could be a dumbass sometimes, but if we could get his attitude straight it would be so sweet.

I’m okay with our team. If Ortiz is out for more than we expect, trade for Adam Dunn. That dude would be an amazing DH in the AL.

The Red Sox have a good lineup. We’re 3rd in runs scored, across both leagues, behind Texas and the Cubs. And that has been without Papi Grande. That even includes the dubious contributions of the oft-maligned Julio Lugo and lifeless Jason Varitek. There’s been a lot of whining and complaining going on around here about “the bottom three,” but how can you truly be upset when your team is 3rd in runs scored?

The Sox have also been playing average defense, again, despite the oft-maligned Julio Lugo. We have .984 FPT in a 4-way tie with Baltimore, TB, and Seatlle. Boston’s 54 errors are distinctly league-average. There are a lot of teams in the low-to-mid 50 range. I, for one, expect Lugo’s defense to improve as he focuses on that. He had a very good defensive year in ‘07.

If the Front Office was not prepared to deal for Johan Santana I don’t think any deal to bolster the rotation is forthcoming. We could always use another ace, but the one thing that we don’t need this year is depth. We have seven quality arms (Beckett, Dice-K, Wakefield, Lester, Buchholz, Colon, Masterson) before we have to dip into the less talented and/or experienced minor league reserves. I don’t think a veteran journeyman is going to do any better than a Buchholz/Colon/other-prospect combination.

That leaves us with the bullpen. This is really the only area that the Sox could stand to improve. I think that Okie-Dokie could stand to have a DL stint to physically and mentally rest up and recover.

Overall, the Red Sox pitching staff (starters and relievers combined) have a .245 BAA. That’s tied for 3rd best in MLB with the Cubbies. Only the Oakland A’s and the TB Rays fare better (.236 and .240, respectively).

So the Sox should prepare to go after either Huston Street and/or Bobby Crosby. We would not have to sacrifice many prospects for Crosby and Street would command only one top-tier prospect. This is where the Sox need to bring a package together with Lowrie and Hansen and lower prospects for these two.

Could be a good addition. I know Colorado is interested, but he might be a little pricey.

I think the best move the team could make by the deadline would be to move Lugo for a reliever even if they have to eat some cash to do so. Sorry, but I never really liked Lugo.

I think Lowrie can handle the job and Cora could play more often as a back up if the kid struggles from time to time. They should treat him like they did with Pedroia last April (if necessary). A reliever for Lugo and Masterson in the pen would be a big help.

Not going to happen, because we don’t know if he can play SS at ML level. You know what’s more likely? Move Pedroia to SS, and let Lowrie play 2B. Which is not going to happen as well.

Maybe if the Sox could get a big bat to put in the middle of the lineup. No need for defense, but somebody who can get clutch hits, including HRs.

You know, somebody like David Ortiz.

Seriously, the “big move” could simply be getting injured people back off the DL. If Papi and Manny hit well, and Drew, Youk, and Dusty keep it up, there will be plenty of hitting. And that just leaves the problem of middle relief.

As for that problem, I would assume Oki will return to form and that we’ll get enough from Lopez and Aardsama and Masterson, when he comes back to the majors.

If the Padres fall out, SS Khalil Greene could be a possible option, no? He signed a 2 year contract in February according to ESPN, so it could be a short term option, too.

If the Giants fall out, P Tim Lincecum would be an alternate to getting the Japanese pitcher and he has MLB experience.

The Rockies could be a source of many trade possibilities too: SS Tulowitzki, OF Holliday, 3B Atkins (Lowell can’t last forever), RP Herges, Fuentes, and Corpas, and C Iannetta.

The Dodgers or the DBacks need to get ahead by a large margin, and soon.

PS: The Sox would be nowhere w/o Tek. He is responsible for at least half of the wins this year with his work BEHIND the plate. Give him a break.

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If you look at this page, Lugo appears to a decent outfielder. He has never had an error in 17 games, which isn’t saying much, but it could make him a more attractive prospect for a trade if we put him in for Coco every once in a while. He has done really well on catching pop flies and leaping grabs, no?

One has to put either a good prospect or two on the table or a decent player to get something redeemable in return. Much like Seattle would love to get rid of Jose Vidro, but what team in their right mind would trade for a .217/ 6hr DH??\

The Sox need middle relief. Okajima isn’t cutting it right now, which I believe why Masterson is coming back a relief pitcher, he may be the bridge to Papelbon.

The two best trade prospects to me are Crisp and Okajima. Mainly their contracts are still not Giambi like, that some teams are willing to give a couple good prospects. Teams aren’t exactly wild to give up players for Lugo with his contract and sub par fielding. Another person who may be worth something is Declarmen, even though the Sox should keep him at all cost.

I think the teams that the Sox should talk to are the Mariners, if they can get anything for Brandon Morrow, Dodgers for some of their talent in their farm system, Florida, who are always trying to find a deal, and every other team that needs hitting. I can see the Dodgers or the Padres looking for someone like Crisp.

However thinking that Jose Reyes or other crown jewels in a MLB team's crown is going to be traded is flight of fantasy, might as well ask for Hanley Ramirez back