Report: Red Sox acquire Max Ramirez for Mike Lowell

Ken Rosenthal on Twitter reports that the Red Sox are trading Mike Lowell to the Texas Rangers. In exchange for eating most of Lowell's $12 million salary, the Red Sox are receiving catcher Max Ramirez. Read on to hear about the potential fallout of the trade.

All-Aughts Team of the Decade CL: Jonathan Papelbon

Keith Foulke gave his right arm to pitch the Sox to the 2004 World Series. I'm forever appreciative of what Foulke did -- moreso than most people, I think -- but it's obvious that Jonathan Papelbon ranks as the closer of the All-Aughts Team of the Decade. Papelbon holds the record for most career saves in Boston -- all this despite entering 2010 at the tender age of 29. Paps' 151 saves blew past Bob Stanley's old record. Those saves were all legitimate too: his 1.84 ERA in two innings short of 300 IP is outstanding. Among Boston relievers who had 80 percent of their appearances out of the bullpen as well as a minimum of 250 innings pitched, Papelbon checks in at numero uno on the list for ERA. In 2006, Keith Foulke was supposed to be the closer despite injuries nagging him. When Terry Francona needed a closer on April 5 against Texas, he did not summon Foulke. No, Papelbon was the guy. He would go on to rattle off seven straight saves, finish the season with 35 saves, be named to the All-Star team and rank second in Rookie of the Year voting (Justin Verlander). His 0.92 ERA that season still stands as a personal best

That Damn AL East Superiority Complex

I’ve had it up to here with this “he can’t hit in the AL East" crap! Even a few select members of the Red Sox brass believe in this credo – and I feel downright shame that we would support Jason Bay over Matt Holliday merely for the fact that Bay has hit in the division whereas Holliday has never had the chance. Bogus. I ain’t buyin’ it. Would we be saying this about Jason Bay if he came over from a blistering stint in St. Louis? Remember, he hadn’t hit anywhere other than PITTSBURGH before Boston. Needless to say, it’s become one of my pet peeves – and I don’t even like saying the word “pet peeve”. I save that for only the most appropriate of circumstances. But, really, I’ve had it up to here. So I decided to look into the numbers and put my money where my mouth is. First off, it goes without saying that anyone who hits in a weak division, i.e. anywhere in the NL, or some other division where half the team’s players wear a dunce cap onto the field instead of a ball cap – has an easier time succeeding because of the poor competition. No doubt, it’s easier to hit in the AL Central than the AL East. True. No argument there. What is ridiculous is the amount of skepticism weighed against an MLB player by AL East teams because of some feelings of ultimate superiority. Hubris. That’s all it is – and it’s never been worth anything more than a lot of trouble.

Fireside Chats #67: Where Day 1 of the Winter Meetings is recapped

You couldn't possibly think that the Red Sox could resign Kason Gabbard without us weighing in on all things "Day One of the Winter Meetings" could you? Gabbard, Atchison, the other guy and more...the news out of Indy is flying! All that and more on this episode of Fireside Chats after the jump.

Sox Sign Scott Atchison Away from Japan

The Sox signed Scott Atchison from Japan this morning, returning the former major leaguer to North America. Atchison received a one-year contract, with two club options. Atchison last pitched in the MLB in 2007 for the Giants, posting a 4.11 ERA and 4.80 FIP in 30.2 innings. Now 33, Atchison doesn't seem to provide more than middle relief depth for the Sox, though he has had his moments as a major leaguer, including a career 4.13 FIP ERA in 68.0 innings, including 70 strikeouts and 25 walks. In his last foray into the MLB, Atchison featured a 90-91 mph fastball, while mixing in a slider, curve, and occasional change up.

Nightengale: Beltre to Sox a Possibility

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, a Sox acquisition of Adrian Beltre is becoming a real possibility. As per Nightengale's Twitter account,

"It wouldn't be surprising if Beltre falls into the Red Sox lap if he doesn't accept arbitration from the Mariners."

The move would be predicated by Beltre declining arbitration, which SI's Jon Heyman reports as a growing likelihood. Beltre, 30, qualified as a Type B free agent this offseason, so he would not cost the Sox a draft pick. Beltre battled injuries this past season, batting .265/.304/.379 with only 8 home runs in 449 at-bats. Beltre remains an elite fielding third baseman, however, as he posted a 14.3 UZR at the hot corner in 2009. Should Beltre regain his hitting prowess from previous seasons, he could present a nice upgrade over a declining Mike Lowell...

Epstein warning fans about Sox downturn in ’10?

In Sunday's newspaper, the biggest caution flag on the 2010 season yet was tossed. This offseason, one of the hottest debates surrounding the Red Sox is if the team should "go for it" this year -- ala sign Matt Holliday/Jason Bay, pull off a blockbuster trade, so on and so forth. The flip side of the argument was waiting until 2011 where there's a more competitive free agent class, an increased likelihood of a blockbuster trade and a farm system whose window is 2011-2013. My opinion has been that the Red Sox are going to stand pat and play out 2010 with their club largely intact along with no major changes. Whether you agree with it or not, it seems as if this is exactly what Boston is going to do.

All-Aughts Team of the Decade 3B: Bill Mueller

The hot corner was the the only significant debate I had at naming the All-Aughts Team of the Decade. Was it Bill Mueller or Mike Lowell? On the face of it, how can you not have the 2007 World Series MVP on the Team of the Decade? But I've made my choice in Mueller. If you want Lowell on the team, check back after everyone is named and we do a Fire Brand vote on an honorable and dishonorable mention. Mueller joined the Red Sox in 2003 as a free agent. You may recall how Mueller had to fight for playing time alongside Shea Hillenbrand, Jeremy Giambi and David Ortiz. Clearly, we know which two names won the battle. When Hillenbrand was dealt in May for Byung-Hyun Kim to come in as closer, Mueller was installed as the full-time third-baseman.

Red Sox heading down under to Australia

Sorry for the overused cliche in the headline. The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Boston has reached an agreement to play an "official" Major League game in Sydney. "Official" could mean a regular season game, or it could just mean an exhibition sanctioned by the MLB. Whatever the case, the game would take place in late March and is a great way to expand baseball's international presence. As for the team itself, the Red Sox are a popular team down under and the club has had several Australian prospects and personnel come through the organization in recent years.

The 2010 Hardball Times Annual

This season, I have been contributing to the Hardball Times and HEATER Magazine, both of which are coming out with annuals that review the 2009 season and look forward to 2010. Whether for yourself or as a gift for the holidays, I endorse each site's annual. Today, I'll talk about the 2010 Hardball Times Annual. The 2010 Graphical Player Annual will come in a couple days. You can purchase the THT Annual through this link.