Boston Red Sox

Okay Theo, now what?

I have been an unabashed fan and supporter of the Red Sox General Manager since his assumption of the reigns of the Red Sox organization. I have not always agreed with the decisions he has made, but I have seldom taken him to task for the manner in which he has discharged his responsibilities.

Until now.

The Mike Lowell to Texas trade is officially off reported by Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe .

Recently, Theo Epstein proposed a trade to the Rangers: Mike Lowell and cash for minor league catcher Max Ramirez.  

Ramirez was the eighth best prospect in a stacked Rangers organization.  

The Rangers agreed.  

Pending physicals.  

If you were listening very closely, you would've heard a determined cheer from a small group of San Francisco Giant fans when John Lackey signed with the Boston Red Sox.

When the 31-year-old right-hander decided to take the (most) money and run to the East Coast, the last hanging chad from that brutal 2002 World Series was clipped and the October cluster-fornication could be forgotten, once and for all.

Jason Bay is as good as gone.

Marco Scutaro is an offensive flash in the pan.

Boston billboards should be re-painted to warn Sox fans of the inevitable decline of David Ortiz.

Jacoby Ellsbury is David Dejesus with speed.

J.D. Drew is the most expensive injury-prone outfielder since Ken Griffey Jr. last donned a Reds uniform.

Sigh. I just finished watching the Red Sox press conference introducing Mike Cameron.

Charming. Charismatic. Humble. Relaxed. You got to see so many of the reasons why managers love Cameron, and what I had been hoping to see over at Clark and Addison sometime this winter.

That said, first off let me say that I was wrong. I didn't think it was possible for the Cubs to let Cameron pass them by. Somewhere, I suspect that Lou Piniella is still muttering things under his breath about it, and perhaps about Jim Hendry as well, but it's done. He ain't coming.

(Originally posted on 4SportBoston.com)

(Aaron Torres is a journalist whose work has been published by Sports Illustrated and syndicated by USA Today and AOL.com. To read all of his work, including this article in its entirety , please click here, or visit him at www.aarontorres-sports.com )

Out of every sport, baseball is the one I go furthest back with.

We hear the Red Sox need a 1B.  

Well, guess what.  

There are indeed plenty of free agent options out there.  But do we hear Theo Epstein getting involved with them?  

Nope.  

I don't understand this, honestly. Nick Johnson, Russell Branyan, Carlos Delgado, Hank Blalock, Adam LaRoche, Aubrey Huff, and Ryan Garko are some who would fit the bill to name a few.  

Yes, some will come with a price tag.  

Yes, some have injury histories.