Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein looked relaxed at last night’s “Champions for Children’s” hospital benefit.
That won’t last long.
With the 2009 season in its final days, things are about to get hectic.
“We’re really just in the planning stages [of the offseason], going through different scenarios, trying to get a feel for the market if we can,” Epstein said. “It’s a complicated landscape, between trade possibilities and the free-agent market.”
The latter looks all but certain to include left fielder Jason Bay. Re-signing him, Epstein said, would be a positive development.
“The fundamentals are in place, in that he really wants to be here and we’d love to have him,” the GM said. “But sometimes a player wants to go through the [free-agent] process.”
Starting pitcher Josh Beckett, meanwhile, is signed through the 2010 season.
At last night’s event to receive the hospital’s “Champion Award” for his charity work, the right-hander said he’s not too concerned with his future beyond next year. Boston, he said, “would be a fun place to play.”
“It’s kind of up to [the team], as far as what we talk about now,” Beckett said. “As of right now, I’m a Boston Red Sox for 2010, unless somebody tells me I’m not.”
As for what the roster will look like when ’10 rolls around, who knows?
“[Epstein] gets paid a lot of money to make those decisions,” Beckett said. “I’m glad I don’t have to make them. I hope he keeps us together and sees what we can do. We’ve definitely proven we play well together.”
