Marco Scutaro

Two weeks ago, the Sox signed their Shorstop–Marco Scutaro to a 2-year, $12.5mm deal with an option for a 3rd year. The Sox hope Scutaro will keep up the numbers he put up last season and hold down the position until prospect Jose Iglesias is ready for the big-time.

Early last week, the Sox made a deal with the Texas Rangers that would send veteran Mike Lowell to Texas in exchange for C/1B/DH Max Ramirez. This deal is still being worked out as both teams are extensively reviewing the medical records of both players involved. Concerns over Lowell’s thumb and Ramirez’s wrists cause this deal to be not yet completed.

The Red Sox also made a couple of key signings on Monday. They inked pitcher John Lackey to a 5-year deal worth upwards of $85mm and outfielder Mike Cameron to a 2-year, $15.5mm deal.

John Lackey

Signing Lackey gives the Sox depth to their rotation for next season and for the future. The Sox now have a Top-3 of Beckett, Lester and Lackey and then Matsuzaka, Buchholz, and Wakefield to fill out the rest of the rotation. A rotation that no one in baseball can claim to match if everyone is at their best and remains healthy. The signing also gives the Sox some flexibility. They now have insurance in the event they cannot workout an extension with Josh Beckett, who is set to become a free agent after the 2010 season. It also allows the Sox to entertain trades involving Clay Buchholz, a chip many teams covet. Perhaps the Sox now go out and build a package around Buchholz to acquire an Adrian Gonzalez or a Miguel Cabrera.

The signing of Cameron, as well as the earlier trade for Jeremy Hermida all but ensures that Jason Bay will not be a Red Sox next season. After Bay rejected the Sox latest offer, it became clear that the two sides had very differing opinions on Bay’s value. The Sox were just not going to overpay for a player who can only hit fastballs, has poor defense, and whom the Sox have concerns about remaining healthy over a long-term deal. Cameron will become the everyday left-fielder, or possibly center-fielder (if the Sox elect to move Jacoby Ellsbury to left-field or trade him). Cameron also gives Manager Terry Francona some flexibility with his line-ups. If Ellsbury needs a day off, Cameron can move to CF, the same is true with J.D. Drew in RF.

Mike Cameron

The Sox are definitely addressing their pitching and defense to make up for whatever lack of offense their may be. I fully expect them to sign another reliever to fill out the bullpen and probably another versatile player to fill out the bench (I’m thinking Adam Kennedy is a good bet).

Are the signings of Lackey and Cameron a precursor to a bigger deal, possibly a trade for Adrian Gonzalez? We will have to stay tuned and see what the rest of this off-season has in store.

In other baseball news, the Yankees acquired Curtis Granderson from the Tigers last week. The real blockbuster of the off-season occurred on Monday, with the Roy Halladay saga finally coming to an end. Halladay has been dealt by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Philadelphia Phillies in a 3-team deal also involving the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners will receive Cliff Lee from the Phillies and the Jays will receive prospects from the Mariners.