Here are some predictions for the offseason from Evan, Charlie and Tom…
What are the destinations of…
CARL CRAWFORD
Evan: I have to give the nod to the Red Sox here. Boston’s going to pursue both Crawford and Jayson Werth, but Werth scares me. He’s 32 and most of his value is tied up in left-handed pitching. Eventually, his production against righties will slip and he will go back to being a weakside platoon partner. Crawford is going to require the bigger payout and obviously won’t bang a ton of home runs, but he offers the best chance at long-term return on the money, plus will give the Red Sox a formidable outfield and allow Mike Cameron to DH against lefties and come off the bench against righties.
Tom: I think Crawford to LAA of A makes sense as he fits the Mike Scioscia philosophy and would fill a need in left. But to be different, I’ll predict that Crawford signs with the Giants. No one in SF can pretend any longer that Pat Burrell can still hit.
Charlie: Carl Crawford ends up with the Angels. Torii Hunter has been doing some recruiting and Angels desire more speed in the outfield. Reports have the Yankees and Red Sox as somewhat unlikely winners (Links here and here).
ADRIAN BELTRE
Evan: I have Beltre to the Angels — not because it’s the West Coast (that doesn’t hurt, though), but because it makes too much sense for Los Angeles. They need a difference-maker imported into the lineup, and Beltre offers that on both sides of the ball.
Tom: After losing out on Crawford, the Angels will sign Beltre.
Charlie: Adrian Beltre finds a lack of suitors and ends up with a three-year deal from the White Sox. The Pale Hose were in desperate need of a big bat late last season and could use a reason to move pricey prospect Dayan Viciedo to first base. Paul Konerko is a free agent and his return seems unlikely. Beltre and the White Sox match up perfectly.
VICTOR MARTINEZ
Evan: I would love V-Mart back, but there’s too much noise around him leaving for me to confidently predict his return. I have him going to the popular destination of Detroit because it all makes too much sense for him not to.
Tom: Victor Martinez signs with the Red Sox. They will not get outbid by the Tigers or any other club.
Charlie: Despite an injury plagued season in 2010, the Red Sox know that Victor Martinez’s AVG, OBP, and power attributes are too valuable to let go. He can catch, DH when Ortiz needs a day off against a left-handed pitcher and spell Youk at first.
UP NEXT: How do the Sox address 1B/3B assuming no Beltre or V-Mart? How does Boston fix the bullpen?
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evanbrunell: 
alexconvery: 
CharlieSaponara: 
If the Sox replace the bats of Beltre & Martinez and fix the Pen wouldn’t they be a favorite for the postseason, assuming the Pen is fixed?
Wouldn’t Beltre & Martinez be a better deal and offer equivalent or better production than Crawford/Werth & Buck/Ianetta?, or Crawford/Werth & Dunn/Konerko?
I’m still hoping Theo resigns AB & VMart, and leaves an OF of Cam/Ells/Youk/D-Mac/Reddick, and Lowrie/Scutaro at SS. However, I guess that in the long term, AGon precludes Beltre, Iglesias precludes Lowrie, and Crawford will convert Reddick et al. to trade chips.
This is just a shot in the dark here, but with a new GM intent on shaking up his roster, why not try to grab David Wright from the Mets and Keep Youk at 1B? Again, don’t know what it would take to get him but it would probably take less than it would to get AGon. NY seems to have soured on him a bit and I bet he would love to hit at Fenway.
I think this would be next to impossible given that Wright has a reasonable contract through 2012. Plus, new GM Sandy Alderson (smart man) is not likely to deal Wright, who is a cornerstone five-tool player.
Without a doubt in my mind it would take way more to get Wright (if even possible) than to get A-Gon, who the Padres won\’t be able to afford past 2011.
There is nothing wrong with wishful thinking — I think every Red Sox fan would LOVE to see Wright hit at Fenway — but this just isn\’t a realistic scenario.