Well, I'm glad to see that Manny has at least included the Angels and Seattle in his request. To me, the list seems rather short and most certainly ties the Sox hands.

Letting Manny go is like moving Babe Ruth, but I am okay with it. I understand the inner workings a bit more. I understand the need to get younger, cheaper.

Sending him to a AL contender is not ideal, but at least it's not the Yankees.

In my estimation, the Mariners do not have much to offer. I'm not sold on their farm system.

But the Angels, that is of interest to me.

There were rumors earlier suggesting a three-way trade that would give the Sox Glaus and Erstad. It just so happens these two players have been among my favorites for many years. But I didn't like that deal then and I certainly don't like it anymore today.

Let's assume we can make a deal with Anaheim (I am aware of their official name). What could we get?

One thing is certain the Angels' minor league system is full of studs. They have been grooming these kids for years and it would seem that most are ready if a position were to open for them. I am not willing however to trade Manny for aging players like Erstad or even Garret Anderson, who has some questionable health issues. Both I have the utmost respect for but I'd much rather see a deal that included the likes of 1B Casey Kotchman and if possible Adam Kennedy.

Kotchman doesn't have much experience, but he has shown some promise. In 47 games last year he hit 7 home runs with a 22 RBIs. He struck out 18 times, but walked 15. His eye will come with time. At 23, he is ready to become an everyday starter. He makes the minimum.

Adam Kennedy is 30 but plays a mean second base. His fielding percentage last year was a stellar .991. the year before that .986. He would be a perfect No. 8 or 9 hitter. He hits for average and has above average speed. If he didn't strikeout so much, I'd bat him second. Regardless he's a good wrap-around guy. A perfect fit in Boston. He makes a modest $3 million a year.

Kennedy and Edgar Renteria would also be one formidable infield duo.

Picture this lineup:

CF/LF? - Johnny Damon (bats left)(yes we would have to re-sign him and may move him to left)
SS - Renteria (bats right)(more of the same offense, better defense numbers to come)
DH - David Ortiz (bats left) (nothing to say here, Sox need to provide some protection)
C - Jason Varitek (switch hitter)(Could be the protection Ortiz needs; I seem to recall another catcher who batted cleanup)
1B - Casey Kotchman (lefty)(believe me has potential to be a stud)
3B - Mike Lowell (righty)(he could bounce back but will have better numbers than Millar or Mueller regardless)
RF - Trot Nixon (lefty)(same old, same old)
2B - Adam Kennedy (lefty)(.300 hitter, comfortable with his role, could move up to 2-hole in certain matchups)

That would leave us a huge hole in the outfield and a need for a righty near the bottom of the order. However, that would be a competitive team, producing almost as many runs as previous years - enough runs anyway.

Add a strong starting rotation of Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Matt Clement, Jon Papelbon and Tim Wakefield and a bullpen with Manny DelCarmen, Craig Hansen, Bronson Arroyo, Mike Timlin and Keith Foulke. This team could easily win for years to come.

Plus the Sox save huge dollars to spend on a long-term deal with Beckett and future free agents - most notably a closer (Foulke is a huge question mark), centerfielder (Andruw Jones is a free agent next year) and (in another year or sooner) a starter.

Would the Angels do it? Why not?
They are grooming Kendry Morales at first and Dallas McPherson will play third and Chone Figgins could play second, giving him a fulltime position.

Sounds good to me, maybe too good.

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