Red Sox' offseason part one: Offense

Since Geoff's other two questions dealt with the Sox' future moves, I thought I would combine them with some other ramblings about what the team should do this offseason (and what they will do - the two are becoming separate entities more and more). So first, the offense:

Here's what the Red Sox offense looks like as of right now, for next year:

Starting 9:
Catcher: Jason Varitek
First Base: Kevin Youkilis
Second Base: ?
Shortstop: ?
Third Base: Mike Lowell
Left Field: Manny Ramirez
Center Field: Coco Crisp
Right Field: Wily Mo Pena
DH: David Ortiz

Potential resignings:
Doug Mirabelli (C)
Mark Loretta (2B)
Trot Nixon (RF / DL)
Alex Gonzalez (SS)
Alex Cora (2B/SS)

Bench:
Eric Hinske (1B/3B/RF/LF)
Carlos Pena (1B)

Rookies that could help:
Dustin Pedroia (2B)
George Kottaras (C)
David Murphy (LF/RF)
Jacoby Ellsbury (OF)

So, here are the big questions:
1. Who will play middle infield?
If they're smart, not Loretta and Gonzalez. Neither is a good enough defender to make up for their bat which is really subpar. We need to get more from our middle infield to keep up with the Joneses, especially if we end up trading Manny (more on that later). Pedroia is probably ready to provide average production at one of the two positions if we need him to. But barring a surprise he's not likely to add much to a championship-caliber team. The good production will have to come from elsewhere.

2. How do we improve the outfield defense?
Pretty simply, trade Manny and Lowell, move Pena to first/DH, slide Youk to third and give Ortiz some time in the field to spell Pena. With Manny gone Wily Mo can play left sometimes too where he can't do too much damage (at home, at least). Then sign a new left and right fielder who can make some plays.

Barring that, well, it's going to be a lousy outfield defense. Work with Wily Mo every day this offseason on catching flies. If Manny doesn't go I'd make sure I have a great defensive outfielder on the bench who can hit more than Willie Harris and play all three positions well. Good luck finding that guy who isn't already a starter somewhere else.

3. Is Manny staying or going? What can we get for him?
This is the million-dollar question. For a while I was in the "Dont Trade Manny" camp, but I think I have changed my mind. There's no way you're going to replace his bat. He's a Hall of Famer and one of the top 3 hitters I've ever seen. But the fact of the matter is that he's 34 years old and should really be a DH, but we have a bigger and slower guy at DH. This team just isn't contructed well and if we can improve elsewhere by trading Manny I think we have to do it. Ideally we would get a serviceable starting pitcher and a position player at either center, shortstop, third, or second base, both with upside. Realistically I think we can get one of those two along with a couple B prospects. If we don't have to pay too much of the remainder of Manny's contract we should take it.

The other situation would be to trade Manny and his big contract for another big contract, but the only scenario that comes to mind is Miguel Tejada. Not sure how much of a pipe dream that is.

4. Will Crisp bounce back or should we look at upgrading?
We don't have much of a choice to be honest. If we get a CF back in the Manny trade and can find a taker for Crisp, get him outta here. But in any other situation, he's got to be the starting CF next year. He's cheap, can catch fly balls and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that his broken finger was bothering him all year.

5. Ditto for Varitek, is he toast? Will anyone take his huge contract anyway?
I hated the V-tek contract to begin with as I think it's a lot of overpaying for supposed intangibles that I just don't see a lot of evidence of (Especially the way he "handled the pitching staff - ahem Beckett - this year). But we're stuck with it now and we don't have another option that is likely to work. If Kottaras hits like a monster, then look at trading Varitek, but that's pretty unlikely.

6. Where else can we improve?

Yeah, anywhere but DH, really. Championship-caliber teams need stars. With Varitek's decline and Damon's departure we have two. Pena has potential but not many others do. It might be a good idea to get some higher-risk players, or put some more money into international scouting, since unless we do terribly one of these years we're unlikely to get a top talent in the amateur draft.

Tomorrow: The pitching staff.