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Well, we’ve got just 12 weeks to go before Opening Day in Texas for the Sox. Manny has apparently decided to remain with Boston, though he changes his mind so often that it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he reversed course next week. The only significant news in recent days is that the Sox signed J.T. Snow to a one-year deal to platoon with Kevin Youkilis at first base. It’s a wise move by the Sox, as he brings proven veteran leadership to the club and should be a valuable mentor to Youk as he moves to a new position.

The Sox still have neither a proven shortstop nor a center fielder; Alex Cora and Adam Stern, respectively, are penciled in those positions for the moment. Supposedly, the Sox are interested in a young outfielder by the name of Jeremy Reed from Seattle, but the Mariners want Bronson Arroyo in exchange and that may not be a price that Boston wants to pay. As for the shortstop position, now that Miguel Tejada says that he will stay in Baltimore, the Sox might now look to Tampa Bay infielder Julio Lugo, though his numbers aren’t that much better than recently-departed Edgar Renteria’s.

Need a laugh? Check out this editorial comic from Drew Litton:

Did I read that right? Have my eyes deceived me? Johnny Damon in pinstripes? Someone wake us up, this can’t be happening…

So rather than stay and maintain that aura which had made him the toast of the town, Damon has decided that the difference of $3 million per season over four years makes it worth jumping ship and joining Boston’s archrival. A year ago, we were all celebrating the return of Varitek to the fold; now our faces hang not like the stockings from the chimney with care.

Two observations:

1. Damon’s loss will hurt more on offense than defense. As one of the premier lead-off hitters in baseball, the Red Sox will need to find someone of his caliber to get on base and cross the plate more than 100 times per season, as he did every year that he was wearing a Boston uni. In the outfield, however, it became apparent this past season that he had lost a step or two, and the fact that his throwing motion looks like he’s participating in a shot put contest doesn’t help, either. Runners coming from second on a hit up the middle were rarely concerned about testing his arm and getting thrown out at the plate.
2. For all that he did here, we say thanks. Along with the other Idiots, he made it fun to be a Red Sox fan again. That grand slam in Game Seven of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees pretty much assured the long-suffering fans of Boston that we were returning to the World Series and, more importantly, finally getting the last laugh on New York. Just don’t do that to us, okay?

So Nomar is now playing first base for the Dodgers, having signed a one-year deal with incentives to play in Los Angeles. It’s not that surprising when you consider that Garciaparra is a California boy. It makes you wonder if he’s going to be another Fred Lynn: a player whose career started with so much promise but fizzled due to injuries. The comparisons are almost staggering… nevertheless we wish him nothing but the best.

So now that’s four former Boston player in Dodger Blue with Grady Little managing and former teammates Derek Lowe and Billy Mueller taking the field with him. We’re going have to start calling them the West Coast Sox.

It was only yesterday that Bill Mueller scorched a single between Mariano Rivera’s legs in Game Four of the 2004 ALCS and pushed Dave Roberts across the plate, setting up what became the most improbable comeback ever in baseball playoff history. Now, as the Sox set sail in a new direction, another one of the 25 from that magical 2004 team is gone, with the beloved third baseman signing with the storied Dodgers today.

Of course, you can point out that he’s 34 and that he’s already had surgery on both knees, not something you want to see on an infielder’s résume, but Red Sox Nation will miss him for sure. Best of luck to you in Los Angeles!

Boston Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino announced last night that, to replace former GM Theo Epstein, the Sox have promoted Ben Cherington and Jed Hoyer, two former Epstein understudies, to co-general managers. Our only thought is: when they come to an impasse on a personnel decision, will they use paper-rock-scissors? Best two-out-of-three? Well, with the matter of Johnny Damon’s return still hanging in the balance, it should be intersting to see what happens.

Our money is in for next year’s season tickets and it looks like, after splitting with our group, we will have another eight games or so, not counting potential playoff contests. Same seats in Section 29… with snow on the ground outside it seems like spring is far off in the future.

So the Winter Meetings came to a close Thursday afternoon and Boston made quite a splash with trades involving Doug Mirabelli and Edgar Renteria. I’m sad to see Mirabelli disappear because he was always well-liked by the fans here, never one to grab the spotlight, especially in a negative way. Wonder who Wakefield will be serving knuckleballs to in 2006.

As for Renteria, I was willing to give him another chance, but the brass felt otherwise and, in the end, he cost us $23 million for his one season because we had to send cash to the Braves to offset the difference, especially with us getting Andy Marte, a top prospect but not commanding near the salary of Renteria. Now it remains to be seen how the Sox will fill the position that seemed to be a lock for years to come not too long ago in recent memory…

Odd to think, too, that it’s possible that the only returning fielder from the 2005 squad might be Jason Varitek!