Our panel of Lou Merloni, Dale Arnold, Rob Bradford, Kirk Minihane, Mike Petraglia and Alex Speier peers fearlessly into the crystal ball in an attempt to see the future of the Red Sox' 2010 Opening Day roster. For the panel's playoff predictions, click here.

ROTATION

1) With whom and for how much will Josh Beckett sign his next contract? (Editor's note: yup, nice timing. The question was circulated at the start of the week.)

DALE ARNOLD (DA): Boston Red Sox for $68 million over four years … it’s kind of a done deal isn’t it?

ROB BRADFORD (RB): The Red Sox: Four years at $68 million. (I have the power of editing my answer.)

LOU MERLONI (LM): It’s looking like the Red Sox and Beckett will come to an agreement in the range of four years in the area of $65 million. This sounds about right. By signing early and possibly leaving a year "on the table," Beckett takes away all the risks of having to get through this year healthy while at the same time having to perform at a high level.

KIRK MINIHANE (KM): Come on. He’s not going anywhere. I’ll say four years at $17 million per.

MIKE PETRAGLIA (MP): The Red Sox get the job done before his third start of the season and he celebrates a four-year, $70 million extension with a near-perfect game at Fenway.

ALEX SPEIER (AS): OK, so this question sucked. I’ll try to spice it up by saying that Beckett will be in Boston BEYOND the four-year, $68 million deal he signs.

2) Will Jon Lester get his first Cy Young vote in 2010?

DA: If Jim Palmer has one he will. Yes, I think Lester is that good, and it’s probably time.

RB: Yes. (Editor’s Note: You just can’t find that depth of analysis elsewhere.)

LM: Lester will indeed get Cy Young votes. A tough first month and a half got Lester off to a bad start. That won't be the case this year and Lester will finish third in the voting behind King Felix [Hernandez] and CC [Sabathia].

KM: Well, I did pick him to win the Cy Young last year, so I’ll stay loyal and predict that he gets at least one vote.

MP: Yes. Lester will become the first Sox lefty since Mel Parnell in 1953 to win 20 games.

AS: Sure -- perhaps Keith Law will get to vote for both Lester and Javy Vazquez now that the ballot has been expanded to rank the top five candidates.

3) Will John Lackey or A.J. Burnett have more wins this year? Who will have the better ERA?

DA: John Lackey will have more wins (17 to 12) and a better ERA (3.80 to 4.00) than A.J. Burnett.

RB: Burnett. I think Lackey will have a good year, but Burnett seems to have found somewhat of a comfort zone

LM: Burnett will get more run support and therefore get more wins, but John Lackey will have a better ERA by over 1/2 a run

KM: I’m down on Lackey for some reason. He’ll be OK, but just (think 15-9 with a 4.10 ERA.) But I still think he’ll finish with more wins than Burnett, who I suspect will be sitting in the waiting room of Dr. James Andrews by Memorial Day. Give Burnett the edge in ERA, though.

MP: Burnett, because of his lineup, will have more wins while Lackey will lead the league in tough-luck starts and will have an ERA half-run better.

AS: A.J. Burnett pitched 234 innings between the regular season and postseason last year. He’s not going to be healthy enough to pick up more wins than Lackey, who will be better in both categories. Lackey will have a big year, building off of his extremely strong performance down the stretch and into the postseason in 2009.

4) Who finishes with the most starts: Tim Wakefield, Clay Buchholz or Daisuke Matsuzaka?

DA: Believe it or not, I think Daisuke makes more starts --- even though he’ll spot both Wakefield and Buchholz the first two two weeks of the season.

RB: Wakefield

LM: Dice-K will get more starts because his spot in this rotation is more secure than the other two. Wake and Buchholz may split time in that No. 5 spot.

KM: Wakefield, with 25 starts.

MP: Clay Buchholz will make 25 starts. Tim Wakefield 20 and the Sox will "pace" Daisuke’ with 15 starts.

AS: Wakefield -- he’s like the T-1000 from Terminator 2: Judgment Day. He is relentless in claiming at least 20 starts a year.

5) How many trips to the DL will Matsuzaka make this year?

DA: Just one --- to start the season.

RB: Two (including his first foray onto the list to start the season)

KM: I’ll go with two.

LM: Dice-K will start the year on the DL and that will be it. Yeah, I said it ... THAT WILL BE IT ... Big year for the Diceman.

MP: He will make two trips to the DL, including the one to start the season.

AS: Quoth Han Solo: "I’ve got a bad feeling about this." Despite his tremendous commitment to get in great shape this winter, I view the minor injuries this spring as somewhat ominous when coupled with A) his spotty health record of the last two years and B) the not-so-good track record of health/productivity for pitchers who came to Major League Baseball from Japan. Only 11 pitchers from Japan have made it to their fourth season in the majors; virtually all were on the downward slope of their career by that point. Matsuzaka ends up with three trips to the DL.

6) Where will Clay Buchholz rank among the starters who are 25 and under in the AL East (Red Sox: Buchholz; Yankees: Phil Hughes; Rays: David Price and Wade Davis; Orioles: Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman, Brad Bergeson; Jays: Ricky Romero, Brett Cecil, Brandon Morrow) in wins, ERA and strikeouts?

DA: Since I believe Clay will spend a fair portion of the season working out of the bullpen, I also think he’ll rank down the list in wins, but I also believe his ERA will be in the top three. His strikeouts will also be down the list because he won’t have the innings in my scenario. I think David Price could be set for a breakout year and his strikeouts will top this list.

RB: Slight leader of the pack.

LM: It’s tough to compare Buch to the rest because the others all have a secure spot in their respective rotations. I'm not sure you can say that about Buch. Stuff-wise ... he's on top of the list. But Ricky Romero, Wade Davis and Brian Matusz will all have more opportunities to put together better years.

KM: I think Buchholz finishes the season with a 9-8 record, an ERA of 4.38 , 96 strikeouts in 138 innings and his name Googled with the phrase “Deal or No Deal” 438,000 times. The only guy on the list above that I am sure will beat Buchholz in three of those four categories is Price.

MP: Buchholz will win 12 games, with a 4.15 ERA and 140 strikeouts. Third-best in all categories among the young crop of hurlers.

AS: I think he’ll struggle out of the gate but eventually will chill out and benefit significantly from the improved Red Sox defense. Keeping the ball on the ground will serve him well. He’ll be first in wins, second to Price in ERA, third behind Price and Romero in strikeouts, at least through July 31. After that, well, there may be some different variables in play. 

BULLPEN

7) Will Jonathan Papelbon have a sub-2.00 ERA?

DA: Since he’s only had ONE season above a 2.00 ERA in the last four, I feel fairly safe in predicting an ERA below 2.00 this season.

RB: No. It will still be solid, though.

LM: Pap's ERA will remain below 2.00. He kept it below last year after struggling with his control and becoming a one-pitch pitcher. The work that he has put in trying to get his split fingered fastball back this spring will pay dividends

KM: No reason to think he won’t. He’s been sub-2.00 in three of the last four years and his career ERA is 1.84.

MP: Based on the way his season ended last year and spring training this year, the smart money is to say no. But he’ll still be very good, with a 2.20 ERA. But save percentage, like in hockey, is the stat to watch with Pap.

AS: Hell hath no fury like a Papelbon scored (upon … in the playoffs … or something). In short: Yes. In not-quite-as-short: The return of the splitter this spring suggests that he’s going to continue to hang with Ed Walsh and Addie Joss as one of the three sub-2.00 ERA guys in history (even if Papelbon -- quite understandably –- has no idea who those two Hall of Famers are).

8) Will Daniel Bard have an ERA over or under 3.00?

DA: I think you’ve hit the proper over/under number, but I think Bard will still be above this season although improved from his 3.65 last year.

RB: Slightly over.

LM: Bard's ERA will be below 3.00. Everything points to him taking the next step this year. He will push Pap for that closer's role

KM: Tough call, but I’ll go over. I think A) he walks too many guys, and B) maybe the league adjusts to him a little.

MP: Yes. Bard continues his upward climb to MLB stardom with a 2.60 ERA, and gives Papelbon more rest time this season with 15 saves.

AS: Yes, and he’ll feel so good about it that he’ll commit anew to the awesome Fu Manchu that he rocked in the Hawaiian Winter Baseball League back in ’07.

9) Will Hideki Okajima’s ERA go up for the third straight year? (2007: 2.22, 2008: 2.61, 2009: 3.39)

DA: Call me a wild-eyed optimist, but I think Okajima will be back in the sub-3.00 ERA this season.

RB: Yes. He’s remained under the radar all spring, but I think it will be hard to get around the league catching up to him a little bit each year.

LM: No, I don't believe that Oki's ERA will go up for the third year in a row. Last year was a big jump to 3.39. I think he settles in between the last two years and keeps it below 3.

KM: Up again. I could see him as the Mayor of Mop-up City before the year is out.

MP: Yes. The book has been out on Okajima for two years now. Hold off early in the count and force him to throw his upper-80s fastball over the plate. His deception, while still good, is not what it was.

AS: I foresee a modest improvement, in part because Bard’s emergence will allow for a somewhat more selective use of Okajima, leading to more favorable left-on-left matchups.

10) Which pitcher is more likely to recover from his second-half struggles of 2009: Manny Delcarmen or Ramon Ramirez?

DA: Since I believe Ramon Ramirez has the greater upside, I’ll predict a return to form for double-R.

RB: Ramirez. He enters the season with more optimism.

LM: I think that Ram-Ram has a better chance of bouncing back. His stuff is just that good. He just looked like he lost some confidence in the second half. Manny looks like he is having a tough time this spring which is making me wonder if he isn't still bothered with whatever it was at the end of last year.

KM: (Flipping coin.) Looks like Ramirez. I mean really, would anyone be surprised if either were good or terrible in 2010?

MP: Delcarmen. The righty is smart enough to work in his off-speed stuff, including his changeup and breaking ball. And he has better command of both than Ram-Ram.

AS: Ramirez gave up too many homers, walked too many guys and didn’t strike out enough -- a bad combination. His numbers in the second half were never terrible (his worst month was August, when he had a 4.15 ERA), but I don’t see him being better in Year 2 against the AL East. Even though Delcarmen struggled this spring, he had been so good over the prior two years that I think a bounceback will occur.

11) Who ends up with the most appearances for the Sox this year: Joe Nelson, Scott Atchison, Alan Embree, Boof Bonser or Scott Schoeneweis?

DA: I’ll pick Atchison almost by default, because there are too many physical question marks for the others on this list.

RB: Atchison. That's what happens when you throw strikes.

LM: I think that Joe Nelson will make the most appearances from this group. There were high hopes in Tampa after a very impressive 2008 for Nelson in Florida. But he had 15 appearances in the month of May and he paid the price for it. He won't be overused here.

KM: Nelson, I guess. Just two years ago he was really good (2.00 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) in 59 games for the Marlins. None of the other guys have pitched to that level in recent years.

MP: Nelson. It’s only logical that the man with the Vulcan change lives longest and prospers most.

AS: Atchison, who is the only one I’m confident will end the year on the Red Sox roster. I would like to add that I wouldn't be surprised if Dustin Richardson had more appearances for the Sox this year than lefties Schoeneweis or Embree.

STARTING LINEUP

12) Will Jacoby Ellsbury hit more or fewer than 15 homers this year?

DA: After seasons of three, nine and eight home runs, it’s hard to pick a jump up to 15, although I do think a 10-12 HR season is well within reach.

RB: Fewer. Too much has been made of the potential for his increased power. He could do it, but gap-to-gap is his game.

LM: That’s a lot of homers for Ellsbury, especially seeing that he only hit eight last year. BUT, you increase power numbers when you start to learn how to hit the fastball in. I saw big strides from Jacoby last year when it came to turning on the fastball in. The one thing that I took away from my 10 days in camp this year was how the ball was coming off of Ellsbury's bat during batting practice. He looks a lot stronger. I think that he will continue to improve and hit ... ummmmm ... 16!

KM: Why am I always reading and hearing that Ellsbury has all this untapped slugging potential? He’s had 1,294 at-bats in his career and has 20 homers. I’ll go under.

MP: More. Ellsbury is the fashionable pick to break out in a Damon-esque season, with power because of his bigger upper body. Interesting here, with parks like Camden, new Yankee Stadium and the Trop in the AL East, he’ll hit more homers on the road than at Fenway. Pick 23 HRs.

AS: In another park, he’d do it. But I think he’s still a year away from that growth. I think he’s good for a dozen bombs. But I think he still proves a much improved offensive player by finishing the year with over 55 extra-base hits.

13) Will Dustin Pedroia have an OPS over or under .850?

DA: His MVP season was the only time Pedroia topped that mark (.869) so it’s probably a bit unrealistic, but I do think he’ll improve over last year’s disappointing .819. How about a very attractive .845?

RB: Right at .850 … exactly.

LM: Last year was the year that Dustin Pedroia had to make an adjustment to how pitchers were throwing to him. Long gone are the days when pitchers believed they can get a fastball in on Pedey. He saw heaters away and a lot of breaking balls, forcing Dustin to use the whole field. Even with that, he still managed to hit 15 homers. His average WILL NOT be below .300 this year. An .850 OPS sounds about right to me. Let’s go over, maybe … .852.

KM: Probably a little under, but expect another solid year. His OPS was down 50 points last year from his MVP season (.869 to .819) but he still led the league in runs and had 185 hits, 48 doubles and 20 steals. Plus he walked 74 times, easily his career high. Point is that he doesn’t need an .850 OPS to be a highly productive offensive player.

MP: For a mighty swing, Pedroia has a keen sense of the strike zone, which is why Francona trusts him in the No. 2 hole in the order. He’ll better the .850 OPS mark.

AS: But for his stinktastic June (.569 OPS), he would have done so easily last year. He had three months with an OPS in excess of .900. I’ll go for the "Price Is Right"-style win by saying that he will exceed .853 for the coming season.

14) With whom and for how much will Victor Martinez sign his next contract?

DA: My guess is the Yankees and something in the vicinity of five years and $100 million.

RB: This is a tough one. I would say the Red Sox at about $15 million per (just a random guess), but the fact they can’t guarantee he will be their catcher throws a monkey wrench into things. I’ll say the Yankees just to spice things up.

LM: This one will get interesting. Is Victor still considered an everyday catcher? I think that he is. If that’s true then he deserves more than the four-year, $52.4 million deal that Jorge Posada got at the age of 36. Does a four-year, $60 million deal sound familiar? But, if he struggles for some reason this year behind the plate and they view him more of a 1B/DH type, I ask you this: is he better than Kevin Youkilis? That deal may dip to the four-year/$40 million range. Tough call. If Adrian Gonzalez is here at some point this summer, I think Vic will get his money, but somewhere else. If not, the Sox can't afford to lose another middle of the order bat and re-sign Vic somewhere in the area of four years/$55 million.

KM: Would four years at $16 million per season get it done? I still think he stays in Boston (just a perfect fit) but the Yankees loom large (Posada’s contract is done after the 2011 season.)

MP: Toughest question to answer because it’s hard to tell how much the Red Sox value him as a catcher or just as a huge part of the middle of their order. But when it comes down to it, the Red Sox will sign V-Mart. I’m going to go five years/$75 million … with a ceiling of $84 million, $100 million less than Mauer.

AS: A couple of things here: 1) Even IF he is viewed as a catcher for the long haul, catchers’ performance craters at age 35. 2) Unless your name rhymes with “power” and you have awesome sideburns, catchers just don’t get huge salaries -- Jorge Posada set the standard for AAV in a deal that was far above market value. 3) No one who signs him will feel confident that he’ll be an everyday catcher for more than a couple more seasons; as a first baseman, he is a very solid offensive player, but not outrageously good. I do think the Sox re-sign him because there aren’t good everyday alternatives for the 2011 season; I think the deal ends up being four years/$48M.

15) Will Kevin Youkilis hit 30 homers for the first time in his career? Bonus question: What sort of facial hair should he feature on Opening Day?

DA: YES! This is Youk’s step up to the 30 HR plateau. I’ve seen him without facial hair and don’t recommend a return to that, so I’ll stick with the present Youk goatee look.

RB: A) Yes, and B) If there is any justice, the exact same facial hair Alex Speier is rocking in his Twitter photo.

LM: How can you not say that Youk could possibly hit 30 homers this year? After all, he has hit 29 and 27 the last two years, respectively. What’s another two or three? As for his goatee choice, I say go whichever option that will cover as much of him as possible. Full beard would be my suggestion.

KM: Why not? He’s been close enough the last couple of years. Something like 32 homers wouldn’t be a shock. Facial hair? Either the John Oates 'stache or the Frida Kahlo unibrow.

MP: No. Youk will be tempted to pick up the slack with no Bay, but he’ll constantly be reminded by Francona and hitting coach Dave Magadan that 20-25 with a .310 average and .900 OPS is far more valuable to his team. Youk ends up with 25.

AS: Health will determine the answer here. He’s never played more than 147 games in a season, and he played in 136 last year. He’ll once again be one of the most ferocious hitters in the AL, but assuming he remains around 140 games, I don’t think he’ll have the plate appearances to do it. As for the facial hair, nothing short of a Zavada will suffice.

16) Will David Ortiz be closer to his 2009 line (.238/.332/.462/.794), his 2008 line (.264/.369/.507/.877) or his 2007 line (.332/.445/.621/1.066)? Bonus question: Is this his last year in Boston?

DA: I’ll assume last year was the ugly stepsister aberration and not the precursor to the inevitable slide to ignominy. I also think that 2007 is long gone and hard to find, so I’ll slide into that middle ground of 2008.

RB: I believe closer to his ’08 line, and I do think that he will stay after agreeing to take less than his team option for ’11 calls for.

LM: I would say closer to his 2008 line. After all, let’s look at Big Papi from June 1 on: .264/.356/.548/.904. Look familiar?! I don't think that he will have a first two months like he did last year. If he does, he may not be here long. Look for a more consistent year from Papi with a final line closer to what he was from June on last year.

KM: I guess 2008, but I wouldn’t be stunned if he had another year like 2009. I do think he’ll be back for 2011, and that will be his final season in Boston.

MP: Ortiz will bounce back to his 2008 level, wanting to show he’s got several good years left. Look for him to be more patient at the plate this season, not swinging at everything like he did early in ’09.

AS: I think that he’ll be right around the ’08 line, which will also yield about 35 homers in a full season of health. I think that will be good enough to create basis for him and the team to agree to a restructured deal for 2011 with a club option for 2012, giving the Sox the flexibility to move Martinez to DH in the coming seasons.

17) Will J.D. Drew set a new Red Sox career high for RBIs (exceeding his total of 68 from a year ago)?

DA: Isn’t it always a question of games played before any other numbers? Oh, what the hell, let’s go crazy! J.D. Drew will knock in 75 runs this season.

RB: Yes. Right now he seems healthy and comfortable with his swing.

LM: I have to believe that J.D. will break the 70-RBI mark this year. The one thing that he's going to have to improve on is his .213 batting average with RISP. I know that he had a .399 OPS with guys on, but damn ... Swing the bat when you get into good hitter's counts.

KM: Yes. I’ll go with 74.

MP: Yes. He’ll drive in 75, but the eternal debate of his value to the team will rage on.

AS: Trick question to smoke out the Flat Earth Society! I will say that cartographical renderings during the age of imagining a flat Earth were spectacular. So perhaps, in that sense, we shouldn’t disparage RBIs. That being the case: Sure. Drew will take it to the next level with 80 RBI.

18) Will Adrian Beltre be able to perform up to his three-year line from 2006-08 (.270/.325/.468/.793)?

DA: Beltre will be so relieved to be released from hitting hell of Safeco Field, I think all of those numbers will rise, although NOT to the lofty (unexplained?) levels of his contract year in Los Angeles.

RB: Contract year, ballpark … yes.

LM: Here's the intriguing thing about Adrian Beltre: his road splits!! You can't look at last year because he was battling injuries for most of the year, so let’s look at 2008. In 72 games away from Safeco field, Beltre had a line of .293/.349/.512/.862. When I see those numbers, I think he can surpass his three-year average of ’06-'08.

KM: Would that line be something to perform “up?” to? Huh. Well, 81 games at Fenway should be enough to maintain that level at least.

MP: I will go against his hideous Fenway numbers up to this point in 16 games [0 HR and a .179 average] and say that he fits in nicely in Sox order and meets '06-'08 numbers.

AS: A .793 OPS? Why not? We’ll go with the notion that last year was an aberration, and that life is rosier away from the big ballparks of the AL West ... assuming that he doesn't end up back in that division by year's end. 

19) Will Mike Cameron become the fifth player since 1901 to hit at least 20 homers and steal at least 15 bases at the age of 37 or later? Bonus: Can you name any of the four who have done it? (List is below.)

DA: Yes -- Fenway helps him top the 20-home run mark, and health allows him to steal more than 15 bases.

RB: Not in the cards. I know my production dropped off from 36 to 37.

LM: If you look at Mike Cameron's last three or four years, you might say yes. But keep in mind that Miller Park is a very good hitter's ballpark and Fenway isn't exactly as good as a home run hitter's park as most would think. With that, I'm not sure that he gets to 20 homers. Fifteen bags also may be difficult to get to.

KM: He’ll hit the 20 homers (has done so in seven of the last nine years) but I don’t think he steals 15 bases.

MP: Yes. Cameron will want to show the young-un Jacoby Ellsbury he still has a little fire in the engine. His 20th homer comes in season finale against Yankees. His 15th steal comes in July. What is most stunning is that Rickey Henderson is NOT one of the four!!!

AS: He’s a perennial lock for 20 bombs, and I actually think that he’ll have a decent number of stolen base opportunities at his station of the lineup, since he’s hitting in front of Scutaro, Ellsbury and Pedroia -- all guys who are comfortable hitting late in counts, and giving a guy some chances to run early in an at-bat.

20) Will Marco Scutaro become the first Red Sox shortstop since Nomar in 2003 to hit at least 10 homers?

DA: He’s averaged almost nine over the last three seasons and blasted 12 last year. Fenway gives his power numbers a boost and he bombs 15 HRs this season!

RB: No. Don’t think his swing is tailored to elevate the ball over Fenway’s left field wall.

LM: Marco hit 12 homers last year in what was a career year. The one reason why I think that he will is because of where he'll be hitting in the order. Pitchers will challenge him to try to avoid turning the order over to Ellsbury and Pedroia. It should lead to a number of fastballs to hit in good hitters counts. He'll match that career high with 12.

KM: Let’s take a walk over to baseball-reference.com, shall we? Marco Scutaro has one homer in 100 career at-bats in Fenway Park. And he has hit at least 10 home runs once in his eight-year career. I’m going to have to go with “no” on this one. A better question is this: Will Nomar break Jeff Brantley’s 2006 record for most clichés uttered in a single Baseball Tonight episode? No. 5 has only been on a couple of times but I can already tell that he’s got the stuff to give the record a real scare.

MP: No. He hits nine from the 9-hole. Still, not too shabby.

AS: No. But apropos of nothing, as a vertically challenged individual, I applaud the Sox for fielding the shortest double play combination in the majors.

BENCH

21) How many games will Jason Varitek play this year? Will his OPS be over or under .700?

DA: Jason plays in 65 games this season (not all catching, but a few at DH against left-handed pitching). His OPS will be over .700 because it was even last year and has only been under .700 ONCE in his entire career.

RB: Seventy-five games, and his OPS will be under .700

LM: I think he starts about 45 games and gets in another 10-12 because Vic is sooooo slow that there could be some games that he goes in as a defensive replacement. So let's say 57.

KM: How about 68 games and an OPS of .688?

MP: More than you think. I think Varitek plays 50 games but his OPS will be under .700. Surprise prediction: Tek, in his final Red Sox season, hits double figures in homers with 13, one for each full season with the Red Sox.

AS: I’ll say 50 games, and that his production benefits from the decreased playing time, giving him a fighting chance at a .725 or .750 OPS in his last year with the Red Sox.

22) Will Jeremy Hermida ever again have a line like the one he put up as a 23-year-old with the Marlins (.296/.369/.501/.870) in 2007?

DA: Although I think he’s going to get more at-bats than many are predicting, I don’t think those numbers are reachable. Probably closer to his career averages of .265/.344/.425/.769.

RB: Yes, but not with the Red Sox

LM: I don't think that he will.  But the fans will love this guy.  I can hear it now, "They gotta play that Hermida guy more."

KM: He sure will, and the fans in Chiba City will love him for it.

MP: Not in Boston. He won’t get enough regular at-bats.

AS: His OPS has never been within 130 points of that .870 mark in his other three full-ish seasons in the majors. There’s obviously talent there, but I’m guessing that Bradford runs a Marathon in under four hours before Hermida matches that line again.

23) How many games will Mike Lowell play for the Sox this year?

DA: Ten -- maybe. And then he’s traded to the Texas Rangers for Max Ramirez just like he was in the offseason.

RB: 110.

LM: Zero. I still have time, so I'm sticking with it. He will be gone.

KM: Well, the question is do you buy into Ortiz or not, isn’t it? Lowell will spot Beltre some and DH a little. I don’t think, though, he makes it through the year without getting dealt. I’ll go with 48 games.

MP: Zero. The on-again, off-again, back-on-again trade talks with Texas FINALLY get done the day before Opening Day.

AS: I don’t see the trade market materializing for him -- at least not to the point where the Sox would be better off by dealing him. He’ll end up in 70 games while spelling Youkilis and Beltre and taking at-bats from Ortiz against lefties.

24) Will Bill Hall reverse his three straight years of declining average, OBP, slugging and OPS?

DA: I think he’s going to play less than he has the last three years, but I think his numbers will go up, probably not to his career averages of .251/.309/.441/.750 but certainly better than they’ve been.

RB: No. Part-time playing does not usually translate into an uptick in numbers.

LM: Yes, only because last year was so bad. Don't expect too much. It's tough to reverse a trend when you don't play everyday.

KM: Nothing to indicate that he will.

MP: Yes. He rediscovers his youth in Boston.

AS: Yes, if only because the Sox will play to his strengths by having him in the lineup primarily against left-handed pitchers. That, and he will start hitting with a pink bat year round.

THE CHIPS

25) Among the players who start the season on the big league roster, who will be traded this year?

DA: Mike Lowell, Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury. Lowell to Texas as stated earlier, and Buchholz and Ellsbury as part of the package to San Diego that lands Adrian Gonzalez! Boo-yah!

RB: I can’t think of anybody, but if you press me I would say Clay Buchholz in something involving somebody named Adrian Gonzalez.

LM: Clay Buchholz is the obvious choice, especially if Beckett signs. He is going to start the year on the DL, but it's time for a change of scenery for Jed Lowrie. The addition of Kevin Frandsen, a very similar player, is added depth for the infield.

KM: Other than Lowell? Well, you’d have to think Buchholz would be the chip for a big name at the deadline, but I think he’ll stick around. How about Delcarmen? I could see him getting moved for another struggling middle reliever in a classic “change of scenery” deal.

MP: Refer to question No. 4. The Sox place a call to Daisuke Matsuzaka and reach him making the turn on the ninth hole of Granite Links on trade deadline morning and inform him he’s been dealt to the Seattle Mariners for a backup catcher by the name of Josh Bard. No state police escort from Granite Links to Logan.

AS: With Beckett getting inked long term to join Lackey and Lester, and with Casey Kelly’s charge through the minors, Buchholz is increasingly expendable. Jed Lowrie seems increasingly as if his opportunity will have to come with another organization. If the Sox dive into the market for a power-hitting corner infielder (cough, Adrian Gonzalez, cough), Adrian Beltre would likely become a trade candidate, much as was the case with Adam LaRoche last year.

TRIVIALITY

Who are the four players since 1901 with at least 20 homers and 15 steals in a season at the age of 37 or older?

Huge props if you got Gary Sheffield (25 HR, 22 SB at age 38 in 2007), Steve Finley (22 HR, 15 SB at age 38 in 2003; 25 HR and 16 SB as a 37-year-old in 2002), Paul O’Neill (22 HR, 21 SB for the Yankees at age 38 in 2001) or … Carlton Fisk! (37 HR, 17 SB at age 37 in 1985).