the 2006 team was very different. That year the Sox had no depth in the rotation or the pen. So the pitching sucked (team ERA of 4.83. Schilling was the only successful starter we had and he was about as good as Penny has been of late, no better). We had a ton of dead spots in the lineup (Coco, Loretta, Gonzalez-only Manny and Ortiz had OPSs over 814 as staritng players!). Even so, it took a bunch of bad injuries in the second half (Wake, Tek, the Lester, Paps, Manny and Ortiz at the end) to turn arwond a first palce start at the AS break inot a 3rd place finish.

I’d take Kotsay (via Youk) for Lowell insurance over Teahen. There is no question that Teahen is probably the better player at this point in time. But the fact remains that we already have Kotsay, a good solid player who can play 1B and OF. We don’t have to trade anything to get Kotsay and he makes significantly less, a salary more suited to the role he plays, the same role that Teahen would likely play for us. The Sox aren’t the MFY who can drop nearly 4 mil on a bench player and not think twice about it. We probably have room to add a little salary but we have to be smart about it. Teahen just isn’t worth the money as a bench player. If he were to become our regular 3B over the next couple of years then he would deserve that salary and the prospects but he is not in the Red Sox long term plans.

Also, about acquisition cost I think Johnson and Teahen may be closer in cost than you think. Teahen is a younger player on a team that has high aspirations and appears to be on the right track to a winning record over the next couple of seasons. Johnson is an older player on a team that is a very long way from winning. I think that when the trade deadline looms Johnson and Dunn will be available for whatever they can get.

If Youk gets hurt bad enough that they need to make a trade look for it to be a much bigger name than Teahan. Assuming Lowell is hurt as well they are going to be looking for someone who can fill in that production, something that neither Teahen or Johnson will be able to do. But Youk getting hurt is a HUGE “what if.” He’s a fighter and definitely appears to be over his WBC injury. He gets hit a lot, bounces balls off his feet, gets stepped on but he keeps showing up on the diamond every night. If we’re going to worry about a hypothetical major injury to Youk we should also start planning on having $4mil replacements for every position.

Also, don’t forget that Lowrie can also fill in at 3B if need be. Which may actually be our ideal situation right now the way Nick Green is playing. He has solidified his defense and I am no longer afraid every time a ball rolls in his direction. I would be fine with Lowrie, Green, Pedey and Youk manning the infield.

The point, our bench is deep enough between the vets and Pawtucket that we don’t need to give up prospects to acquire a $4mil bench player, we aren’t the MFY.

I read it the other way without even thinking about it… kind of crazy.

I dont hate the move… always liked Glaus. I just doubt he’s healthy enough to contribute much at all… and if he is they likely can get a better return than Lugo’s contract. I dont mind this deal… my final judgment on it would rely on information we’re not privy to – like how Glaus’s health really is.