News, Views, Links and more from the Red Sox Wire.

FIREBRAND of the AL: At Shortstop Is… (EVAN BRUNELL) In one of the most unkept secrets of the offseason, the Red Sox are the favorites to land shortstop Julio Lugo. Lugo, a former Houston Astro, Tampa Bay Devil Ray, and Los Angeles Dodger, has been on the Red Sox’s wish list for quite some time now.

The Red Sox have attempted to trade for Lugo for a number of years now, but have never been able to make it work. Now that Lugo is a free agent and the Red Sox are the only team willing to invest heavily in a shortstop (although the Cubs have shown recent interest), it looks like he could be donning red and white for 2007. Especially now that the Toronto Blue Jays have just spent $20 million (or more) on Frank Thomas over the next two years. Read More.

FRAGILE FREDDY’s: Julio Lugo One of the latest and greatest rumors re: the Sox is the potential signing of shortstop Julio Lugo to a four year deal. I like the deal that I’ve been hearing rumored (4 years/$36 million) as Lugo is a pretty darned good baseball player.

As a rule, I like Lugo's game. He's got a decent eye at the plate, generally is a contact hitter, has a little pop and while 30 years old, appears to be ascending as a player. While he may not get much better, I would expect him to continue to be good over the next 3-4 years. Read More.

SOX1FAN: Hook, Line And Sinker… What are they thinking over on Yawkey Way?? [That is not a rhetorical question… I would really like to know what the heck they are thinking]

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled that the Red Sox ownership is committed to winning… and I am pleased that their actions will keep Matsuzaka away from The Evil Empire. But at what cost?

The Red Sox organization seemingly turned its back on the fiscal responsibility they have preached during the tenure of the current ownership… they are now preparing to pay more than $100 million for a pitcher over the course of the next four-to-five years.

For a PITCHER!!! Read More.

SURVIVING GRADY: Money Changes Everything The last time we got this much baseball news in November was when Theo sat his righteous ass down at the Schilling Family table for Thanksgiving dinner. Now the phone lines and NESN studios are white hot with Matsuzaka Mania, and I must admit, it's good to be talking Red Sox in the autumn. Clears the sinuses. Keeps things real. Reminds us that even on the coldest nights, Remy is out there, waiting. Patiently. And I'll be damned if a rotation of Schilling-Clemens-Matsuzaka-Beckett and Wakefield [we all know The Papel-Bot works best in the bullpen, 'specially with Foulkie out of the equation] doesn't get me all hot and bothered. As in "start the season right now" hot and bothered.

But...

See, last year, I felt the same way when we signed Beckett. That, I figgered, was the slam dunk. The exclamation point on the season. Just lie down on the floor, Mr. Steinbrenner, sir, and we'll step gently over you on our way to the top of the AL East. Read More.

TOUCHING ALL THE BASES: 18 questions (CHAD FINN) 1. So now that we've had a couple of days to wrap our heads around this Daisuke Matsuzaka story, let's start with this: What's the best part about the whole mind-boggling, delighftul development?

You mean other than imagining the look on Brian Cashman's hangdog face when he realized the Sox had won the bidding? How about this: That despite the shock and incredulity from certain corners regarding the $51.1 million posting price, no one is even hinting it's a bad investment, because no one is even remotely skeptical about his ability to be an ace in the major leagues. It's not by accident that the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets and Rangers all greatly exceeded the predicted posting price of $20 million - this kid gets nothing but rave reviews, everyone is smitten with his ability, and they were all desperate to obtain him. Also, it's pretty cool that his wife is nicknamed "Rockets." If I'm not mistaken, Johnny Damon's wife's nickname was "Zeppelins." Read More.

*** BOSTON GLOBE ***
Ramirez is still talk of the town (NICK CAFARDO) Two questions raised as the general managers meetings concluded last night: Will Manny be Manny somewhere else in 2007, and can the Red Sox overcome Scott being Scott (as in agent Scott Boras) in the Daisuke Matsuzaka negotiations?

Nobody, including Theo Epstein, can predict what deals will emerge or which free agents will be donning Boston uniforms, though there's growing belief J.D. Drew will be in right field and Julio Lugo will be at shortstop. But teams feeling they have no shot at free agents Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Lee have made inquiries about Ramírez.

One National League GM said, "We asked about him, and I know other teams have asked about him. He's a great hitter and I think everyone knows the risk involved with his attitude and behavior. But we also know what he does when he plays. You can't find a better hitter in the game." Read More.

Cora signing official (STEVE SILVA) The Red Sox today announced that the club has signed infielder Alex Cora to a two-year contract extending through the 2008 season. No further terms were disclosed and the following details were provided by the team:

Cora, 31, had filed for free agency on October 31. The lefthanded batter hit .238 with one homer and 18 RBI's in 96 games with the Red Sox in 2006. He started 47 games at shortstop, 10 games at 2nd base, and four games at third base while committing just seven errors in 292 total chances for a .976 fielding percentage. Cora went 40 consecutive games without an error from April 28-July 30. Read More.

Rangers interested in Manny? (GLOBE STAFF) According to ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney, the Red Sox are talking to the Texas Rangers about a possible deal for Manny Ramirez. According to the Globe's Nick Cafardo, Manny Ramirez may be a cheaper alternative to free agents like Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee: "Ramírez has two years left on his contract at $38 million. (The team then has a two-year option.) That might be less than what Soriano will get. Read More.

Dice-K? Diceman? D-Mat? Suzakinator? (GLOBE STAFF) We asked you to help us give Daisuke Matsuzaka a nickname, and we were flooded with more than 600 ideas. Now it's your turn to vote for the best of the best. Read More.

Japanese star would bring a world of attention (SUSAN BICKELHAUPT) The New York Yankees have had to deal with lots of challenges over the years -- injured players, fired managers, slumping batting averages.

In the spring of 2003, the team was greeted by a new challenge: the arrival of Japanese superstar Hideki Matsui and the throngs of journalists who came to cover him, probably what the Red Sox will have in store if they sign Daisuke Matsuzaka. Read More.

*** BOSTON HERALD ***
Now for the hard part -- Contract length likely key to D-Mat talks (MICHAEL SILVERMAN) The Red Sox and their $51.11 million winning bid to retain the sole rights to negotiate with Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka clearly made the biggest splash at the general managers meetings, which ended yesterday. The ripple effect has only... Read More.

Manny might be a bargain at $17M (MICHAEL SILVERMAN) The chances of the Red Sox making another offseason blockbuster move - trading Manny Ramirez,... Read More.

Big Papi writes off MVP (ASSOCIATED PRESS) SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - Red Sox slugger David Oritz doesn’t expect to win the American League MVP award because... Read More.

Silence golden for D-Mat -- Hush-hush talks may hit $16M (MICHAEL SILVERMAN) It is too early to cite any progress or lack thereof in the Red... Read More.

Heart of the matter: Matsuzaka has nerve needed to handle Hub (STEVE BUCKLEY) Let’s put aside all those dazzling Daisuke Matsuzaka scouting reports for a moment. Let’s also put aside the $51.11 million posting... Read More.

*** PROVIDENCE JOURNAL ***
Red Sox taking on traits of the Yanks (JIM DONALDSON You think Yankees general manager Brian Cashman trashed his room when he found out the Red Sox had outbid the Bronx Bombers for the rights to negotiate with Japanese superstar pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka? Read More.

Bidding starts for Japanese lefty Igawa (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Kei Igawa became the latest Japanese pitcher put up for bid to major league teams. The Hanshin Tigers made Igawa available for posting Friday, and big league clubs have until 5 p.m. EST on Nov. 27 to submit offers for the right to negotiate a contract with the 27-year-old left-hander. Read More.

*** HARTFORD COURANT ***
Deal Close With Drew? (JEFF GOLDBERG) The Red Sox may be close to signing former Dodgers outfielder J.D. Drew, according to reports out of Boston and Philadelphia. Drew, a free agent who opted out of the final three years of his contract last week, is expected to command a four-year deal. Figures have ranged between $12 million to $14 million a year.

Drew, 31 on Monday, would likely replace fellow free agent Trot Nixon in right field, with the Red Sox perhaps inclined to shop outfielder Wily Mo Pena. Pena's name was linked to recent speculation about a potential trade for Houston closer Brad Lidge. Read More.

Northhampton 93.9FM's D-Mat Song
Comedy Central's Colbert on Dice-K
ERIC WILBUR The Numbers Game
SETH MNOOKIN Manny, Manny, Manny!

Manny’s Market Value (BUSTER OLNEY) "Manny Ramirez's contract has been the 160-ton weight hanging around the necks of the Red Sox for six years, and Boston executives have repeatedly tried to do his bidding and unload the slugger, despite the fact that he drives in 130 runs a year. The Red Sox have tried to waive him, trade him, swap him, sell him, everything...

"And in this new world, Manny Ramirez is suddenly a relative bargain. I wonder if the Red Sox might finally find themselves in a climate in which they can trade Ramirez. .."Read More.