TIME TO TRADE BUCHHOLZ?

This offseason has been insane. Starting with the Phillies/Rays matchup that nobody saw coming, baseball has been on a roller coaster ride for the past three plus months. Twists and turns have swept up all 30 teams, and we have seen some ridiculous changes.

With the Yankees sweeping up all the top free agents, apparently trying to form some sort of fantasy baseball team, the Red Sox have struggled to counter. CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Mark Teixeira are all huge additions in the Big Apple, and in the view of many an "expert", have propelled the Yankees ahead of the Sox and Rays as the favorites to win the AL East this season. But in the words of Lee Corso, not so fast my friends! The Red Sox keep adding players, and will have a very formidable rotation come the regular season. But there is one more thing Boston should do to keep pace with New York: trade Clay Buchholz.

Having signed John Smoltz and Brady Penny, there is no room for Buchholz in the rotation this year. The club already is having issues finding a spot for young gun Justin Masterson, and Buchholz's shaky mechanics have no use in the bullpen. Should injuries occur, as they always seem to, Michael Bowden is ready to step up and take the hill for the big club.

Furthermore, Buchholz could be a centerpiece in a deal for a catcher or big bat for the lineup. Since the Sox missed out on Mark Teixeira, they are still looking for a big bat to replace the loss of Manny Ramirez, and Buchholz could be a big part of finding that missing piece. If Boston can use their young pitcher to land a catcher, like Texas' Jarrod Saltalamacchia, that would help immensely as well, for a roster that has only Josh Bard behind the plate.

A lineup of Ellsbury (CF), Pedroia (2B), Ortiz (DH), Lowell (3B), Youkilis (1B), Drew (RF), Bay (LF), Saltalamacchia (C), and Lowery (SS) would be quite formidable. With a rotation of Beckett, Matsuzaka, Lester, Penny, and Smoltz, the Sox would be one of the top teams in the AL this season.

All we know now though, is that this roller coaster will have gut-wrenching action right up until the end.

WOULD A SALARY CAP BE GOOD FOR BASEBALL?

In the wake of Hank Steinbrenner's insane spending spree, Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio voiced his concern over competitive balance in the game by wondering aloud whether baseball should impose a salary cap. After all, the Yankees have spent $420 million this offseason alone, and no other team can afford to do that. Personally, I think a salary cap could work, but only if done differently from almost all other sports.

Say Major League Baseball set a hard cap at something like $150 million and set a minimum as well. That way, teams like the Marlins would be forced to spend a certain amount of money on players, and new owners would know at least how much money they would need to set aside for player salaries. If the cap was $150 million, and the minimum was $50 million, there would be more competitive balance in the league, without upsetting the distinction between the big market clubs and the small market teams.

The Yankees and Tigers were the only two teams in baseball that had to pay the luxury tax last season, because each team exceeded the $155 million limit set by Major League Baseball. Over the past six years (since the cap began), the Yankees have paid over $148 million, over 90% of all the luxury tax money collected by MLB.

The problem is that there are no real consequences for exceeding the luxury tax threshold. Sure teams need to pay more, but only the teams with enough money that a little bit more doesn't make a difference. Bud Selig needs to abolish the luxury tax and set up a league minimum and a hard cap.

Not only would this keep small market teams more competitive, it would also help curb the ridiculous size of players' contracts. For the most part, though, a cap like this wouldn't be that big a deal to most teams.

If a salary cap was set at $150 million only one team, the Yankees, would be over it (based on last season's opening day salaries). With a $50 million minimum, only the Pirates, A's, Rays, and Marlins would need to increase payroll, and three of those four would need to add less than $7 million.

Not only would this keep salaries down, help smaller market teams without compromising the integrity of the game, and add more emphasis on smart signings by general managers (instead of just throwing money around), it would also keep stingy owners from selling off all their good players. Owners like Jeffrey Loria of the Florida Marlins would be forced to spend at least $50 million on his team, or sell them to someone who would. If it does nothing else, this idea would at least get Loria out of baseball, so it can't be all bad, right?

Q AND A WITH SEAN McADAM OF THE BOSTON HERALD

Sean McAdam is the Red Sox beat writer for the Boston Herald and an occasional contributor to ESPN.com. He agreed to answer a few questions for us (via email) about the Sox and the club's current and future plans.

Saturday Morning Sports: Do you think we will see Mark Teixeira in a Red Sox uniform in 2009?
Sean McAdam: Not now I don't. It sure looked that way for a few hours Thursday night, and I suppose nothing should surprise us, but it seems obvious that the Sox have made their last, best offer and it apparently falls way short of what's being offered elsewhere.

Editor's Note: While earlier tonight it appeared the Sox were on the verge of signing Teixeira, those talks are apparently over. Team owner John Henry said in an email to the Associated Press that Boston has been outbid for the first baseman, and "will not be a factor" in signing him.

SMS: If Jason Varitek does re-sign with Boston, do you think he will be the every day catcher again this year?
SMA: I do think Varitek will re-sign for a one-year deal and while "everyday'' might be a stretch, I see him catching the majority of games, probably around 100 or so.

SMS: Do you think the Sox will add a starting pitcher to take the fifth spot in the rotation?
SMA: I think it's likely that the Sox will sign a veteran on the (relative) cheap -- someone like John Smoltz, or somewhat less likely, Brad Penny. Neither will be ready to start the season, but could provide the same kind of veteran depth that Bartolo Colon provided last year.

SMS: Are you surprised by the Yankees seemingly trying to buy every major free agent?
SMA: Not at all. First, you know that missing the playoffs after a 13-year run wasn't going to sit well with the Steinbrenners. Also, the Yanks are moving into a new ballpark which only enhances their economic advantages.

SMS: Where does Clay Buchholz stand with the Red Sox? Do you think he'll start the year in Boston or back in the minors?
SMA: Much will depend on how Buccholz fares in spring training. He ended the year on a postive note and the Sox believe he's ready to make an impact. But if he struggles -- especially with mechanical issues -- it wouldn't surprise me to see him begin in Pawtucket.

SMS: With the emergence of Jed Lowrie last season, will the Red Sox try to unload Julio Lugo (and his big contract)?
SMA: Lugo will be given a chance to win back his job in spring training, but ultimately, I think Lowrie will be the shortstop. There aren't any takers for Lugo this winter, so the Sox can either have him fill the utility role or hope that some team discovers it needs to trade for a shortstop in the spring.

SMS: Do you think the Rays were a one year cinderella story? Are they going to be as good this season?
SMA: I think the Rays are for real. They've developed a lot of great young talent and will be a factor in the division. I do, however, worry how they're going to retain those players when they get to arbitration and closer to free agency. I do think the set-up relief could be an issue, too, since it's unlikely that Balfour and Howell, two journeymen, will duplicate their performances again.

SMS: What's your opinion of the new logo and uniform(s)? What were the players thoughts on them?
SMA: I'm not crazy about the new road uniforms; I liked the red lettering and the names on the back. Also don't like the new "hanging sox' hat, but it's all about merchandise sales, I suppose. Everyone's doing it. Sorry, but haven't had much access to players in the last week to gauge their thoughts on the new unis.

PLAYING GM

One blogger on ESPN's SportsNation website had an interesting idea. Try putting together a baseball team, based on 2008 salaries, that could (theoretically) contend for a championship. The only rule is that your full roster of players can't exceed $50 million. So, here we go, with my team of thirteen position players and twelve pitchers, including a five man starting rotation, and a bullpen.

STARTING LINEUP
1. Curtis Granderson, CF, $1,000,000
2. Hanley Ramirez, SS, $490,000
3. Joe Mauer, C, $6,250,000
4. Ryan Braun, LF, $455,000
5. David Wright, 3B, $5,250,000
6. Milton Bradley, RF, $5,250,000
7. Kevin Youkilis, 1B, $3,000,000
8. Brandon Phillips, 2B, $2,937,500
9. Pitcher's Spot

BENCH
1. Geovany Soto, C, $400,000
2. Shannon Stewart, OF, $1,500,000
3. Billy Butler, 1B, $399,000
4. Kelly Johnson, 2B, $430,000
5. Pablo Ozuna, IF, $1,050,000

Total for position players: $27,711,500

STARTING ROTATION
1. Jake Peavy, SP, $6,500,000
2. Brandon Webb, SP, $5,500,000
3. Jair Jurrjens, SP, $390,000
4. Edinson Volquez, SP, $392,500
5. Jon Lester, SP, $421,500

BULLPEN
1. Chad Billingsley, LR, $415,000
2. Joe Beimel, LR, $1,925,000
3. Chad Qualls, MR, $1,312,500
4. Chad Bradford, MR, $3, 666,666
5. JP Howell, MR/SU, $397,400
6. Mike Gonzalez, SU, $2,362,500
7. Jonathan Papelbon, CL, $775,000

Total Salary: $49,769,566

Just in under the $50,000,000 "cap". Anyone care to agree? Disagree?

THE MANIFESTO OF HANK

Big surprise! The Yankees are making a splash in free agency once again. After a disappointing 2008 campaign, New York emptied it's (extremely) deep pockets to free agent starters CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, paying them a combined $243.5 million over the next few years. And they aren't done yet. The Yanks appear to be in the bidding for Ben Sheets and (possibly) Mark Teixeira, although the latter may just be to drive up the price for the Red Sox, among other teams.

But why exactly is Hank Steinbrenner paying the GDP of a small nation to make his Yankees the team to beat in baseball once again? The answer is simple: He wants to prove a point. Hank is essentially saying that failure will not be tolerated. Last year's team failed miserably, so he is looking to improve it by doing something the Yankees know how to do well. Spend money.

As a Red Sox fan, this delights me. No, it's not because CC Sabathia weighs a metric ton, nor is it because AJ Burnett if often injured and has never had an ERA below 3.30. It's because Hank is taking the exact wrong approach to turning the Yankees around.

If he were smart, Hank would invest more into his farm system, and only fork over the dough for free agents that fit in perfectly with his team. Look at the Red Sox. A large number of the club's starters were drafted by Boston, and came up through the Sox farm system. Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon, Jacoby Ellsbury, Manny Delcarmen, Kevin Youkilis, and Dustin Pedroia are all homegrown talents that were found through great scouting by Boston, and have all helped the club win two World Series titles in four years.

Now that's not to say the Sox haven't spent their fair share of money in the past couple of years. JD Drew, Julio Lugo, Mike Lowell, Josh Beckett, and Daisuke Matsuzaka are among the high priced players brought in through either trade or free agency. Finding the right mix is what wins down the line, and hopefully, Hank will learn that the hard way.

Remember just a few years ago, when the Yankees said they were going to pay more attention to the players down on the farm? Well, they failed miserably at it. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are still in the minors (maybe they should have traded them for Johan Santana...), Melky Cabrera is being used as trade bait, and Robinson Cano is another boneheaded play or mental lapse from giving the entire city of New York a heart attack, and he may soon be headed elsewhere as well. It seems that out of their entire system, only Joba Chamberlain has given them substantial results, and will continue to do so down the road.

Maybe instead of buying players, Hank should consider buying a competent scouting department. But hey, it's not like that formula has ever worked in New York before. Oh wait, the great Yankees teams of the 1990's had homegrown players like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams, and Jorge Posada.

I guess Georgie's son just hasn't learned. So he is going to continue to spend and spend and spend daddy's money until the Yankees are unstoppable. Unfortunately for Hank, it usually doesn't work out that way.

RED SOX UNIFORM CHANGES: JUST STOP IT ALREADY

The Boston Red Sox ownership group, comprised of John Henry, Tom Werner, and Larry Lucchino, are known as guys who get things done. In their brief reign over Boston's baseball team, we have seen two World Series Championships, as well as soaring popularity throughout the nation (and plenty of hatred, too). But there is one aspect of Henry, Werner, and Lucchino's time as owners that is most telling: Their need to squeeze the fans out of every last dime.

There are the constant additions to Fenway Park, adding seats in every possible direction, the embarrassing Red Sox Nation Membership Cards, and now a logo and uniform change that is set to be unveiled on Thursday. The Sox have had the same basic uniform design (and logo for that matter) for quite a long time, and it seems like the only reason to change that now is to sell more hats and jerseys. All of it seems so unnecessary.

Hopefully the changes will be minor, and they won't completely butcher the whole thing. Either way, you can bet these new unis will be up for sale on redsox.com very soon.

GOLD GLOVE WINNERS ANNOUNCED: PEDROIA WINS FOR AL 2B

The 2008 Rawlings Gold Glove winners have been announced, and Dustin Pedroia is the only Red Sox player to take one this season. Hopefully, this won't be the only award given to the Sox second baseman this off-season. Here is the complete list of winners:

NATIONAL LEAGUE
P- Greg Maddux (Padres/Dodgers)
C- Yadier Molina (Cardinals)
1B- Adrian Gonzalez (Padres)
2B- Brandon Phillips (Reds)
SS- Jimmy Rollins (Phillies)
3B- David Wright (Mets)
OF- Nate McLouth (Pirates)
OF- Carlos Beltran (Mets)
OF- Shane Victorino (Phillies)

AMERICAN LEAGUE
P-Mike Mussina (Yankees)
C- Joe Mauer (Twins)
1B- Carlos Pena (Rays)
2B- Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox)
SS- Michael Young (Rangers)
3B- Adrian Beltre (Mariners)
OF- Torii Hunter (Angels)
OF- Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners)
OF- Grady Sizemore (Indians)

I can't believe Jacoby Ellsbury didn't win a Gold Glove this year. He had great range all season, made some spectacular plays with the leather, and didn't make a single error all season. What else does he need to do to win a Gold Glove? At least Jeter didn't win it...