Everything I read says that Lowell would be shipped out and Youk would take 3rd base.

Good luck getting rid of Lowell without eating like 2/3 of his salary. Not sure any sane team would want such downside at his price, especially considering how hobbled he was last October. I love Mikey but let's be realistic.

Also, what happens to Lars Anderson? I was thinking of drafting him this year in the minor league portion of my keeper league, but with Teix blocking him, what happens? Trade bait for someone? Maybe a catcher from Texas or something.

Boston is very suspect of Papi coming back - in the short term they work some sort of platoon at DH with Papi and Lowell and rotation with Youk, Texeira and Lowell. Unless Ortiz proves to be totally healthy and back to '07 level he will walk at the end of '09.

It would be, as they say, a nice problem to have. It's never a bad thing to have extra talent, especially at sought-after positions. As for what the Sox would do, they have options. They'd let the situation play out and see what works best.

That might mean trading Lowell if they can get a reasonable prospect or two in return and not have to eat too much salary. It might mean trading Youkilis if they can get a bigger haul.

It might also mean keeping all of them, much as the Sox kept Coco Crisp for the entire year. They could use Youk as a swingman between 3B, 1B, LF and DH, and probably get him close to 500 plate appearances. And they'd have great injury insurance.

As for Anderson, he's a couple years away at best. By then, the Sox might need a new DH. If not, he's a highly tradeable commodity.

If anybody's going to be used as a swingman, it would be Lowell. Youkilis was only the Sox' best player last year. And as the mlb.com story says: "The Red Sox control Youkilis contractually for the next two years, so it's highly doubtful he would be moved." Youkilis' three million salary last year was almost a joke by today's standards, and there are two more seasons before free agency.

But who knows where Teixeira will end up? I doubt that Boras will end the bidding any time soon.

I still think the Red Sox are just bidding for bidding's sake right now, trying to get his price up for the competitors. It would be a nice problem to have, but what would be even nicer would be having a decent catcher to rely on, rather than juggle your infield all week long to go with what will probably be a platoon situation at the backstop (moreso than normal, at the very least).

Bandit says: Unless Ortiz proves to be totally healthy and back to '07 level he will walk at the end of '09.

Unlikely. The Sox are contractually obligated to pay him $12.5 million in 2010.

You're correct - I thought '10 was the option year but nonetheless - they're not looking at Ortiz beyond the end of this contract unless his knee and wrist problems completely heal and he's around 1.000 OPS - Also Lowell's going to be 35 and coming off surgery - I don't see Youkilis going anywhere

I don't think the Sox are looking to move Youkilis, not at all. I think a Lowell trade is more likely

But if they signed Teixeira AND they could get something great in return for Youk (to pick a name completely out of thin air, Russell Martin), I don't doubt that they would move him.

Getting Tex, and losing EITHER Youk or Lowell will set the Sox back years. They're better without Tex. Most teams would be.