Boston Red Sox

2009 regular season record: 95-67, Second place, AL East, Clinched Wild Card

Playoff record: 0-3, lost in ALDS to Los Angeles Angels

Major Offseason Acquisitions: John Lackey (LAA), Mike Cameron (MIL), Marco Scutaro (TOR), Adrian Beltre (SEA), Jeremy Hermida (FLA)

With the start of the 2010 MLB season fast approaching, questions remain regarding the possibility of success for the Boston Red Sox. After some major off-season acquisitions and departures, the Red Sox front office is hoping for solid contributions from their new arrivals and continued success from some of their younger members.

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Just five days before Opening Night against the NY Yankees, ESPN.com reporter Buster Olney reports that contract negotiations between the Red Sox and RHP Josh Beckett have progressed to the point that there is optimism a deal will be finalized in the next week or two.

David Ortiz'z struggles in 2009 are well-documented.

On April 11th the Boston Red Sox will visit Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium to take on the ever-flailing Royals, and Jason Varitek will turn 38.

Whether Varitek will catch that day remains to be seen. In 2010, Varitek will mainly make spot starts while sharing the job with the more offensively capable, 31-year-old Victor Martinez.

Drafted: First Round, supplemental, 2005 (Aurora, IL)

Height: 6′3″ Weight: 215 lbs

Born: September 9, 1986

The 23-year-old righty put together another strong season in Triple-A last year, going 4-6, 3.13, in 126 IP…but he struggled in a brief promotion with the big league club (1-1, 9.56).

Red Sox minor league pitcher Junichi Tazawa visited Birmingham, AL, to consult with orthopedist James Andrews this afternoon. As of the posting of this article, neither the player nor the team had received the results of the exam—or at least not that they have made public.

With an opening night showdown with the defending world series champion New York Yankees looming over Fenway Park, questions remain unanswered regarding the upcoming season. The question that has all of Red Sox nation on the edge of their seats is what kind of production will David Ortiz deliver?

In 2009, Ortiz's early season struggles took him through the 40th game of the year with a batting average under .200 and no big flies. Ortiz was unable to catch up to fastballs and adjust to breaking balls.

Baseball season begins April 4, so it’s time to predict the outcomes for every team in the AL. Look for your favorite squads and compare your picks to mine.

I’ve ranked the teams based on their predicted finish for the 2010 season. I’ve also ranked each squad’s batting and pitching on a letter scale, with a short explanation following.

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Red Sox manager Terry Francona has announced his starting rotation when the team breaks camp for the regular season. There are no big surprises, as Josh Beckett will be the 'ace' of the staff, leading off. Dice K Matsuzaka simplified things by needing extra time to prepare for the 2010 season, making the number five spot an easy choice for Francona.