ANAHEIM -- These are the words of Adrian Gonzalez just prior to the 2009 All-Star Game: "I would be interested in the future to see what that would be like (to play in another park).”

This is what he said Monday: "It's just a relief not to be in trade rumors and be in first-place, more than anything."

With his team, the San Diego Padres, heading into the second half entrenched in a race for the playoffs, Gonzalez' mindset has clearly changed. And because of it, potentially so has the future of the middle of the Red Sox' batting order.

The Padres' first baseman won't be dealt at the trade deadline this year, and with San Diego holding a club option for $5.5 million for 2011, the chances of an offseason relocation is anything but a lock. 

In fact, as strange as it might have seemed, the Red Sox' best chance of getting Gonzalez might have been a year ago when San Diego's future pennant hopes looked dismal and the centerpiece of the Sox' package (Clay Buchholz) wasn't nearly as untradeable. 

So why does it all matter? Because without Gonzalez, the roads to finding exactly what the middle of the Red Sox' batting order might look like next season are -- in Gumpian terms -- crooked as a politician.

"If they could get Gonzalez, that would solve everything," said one baseball source. "And I think that's their Plan A. But the way things are going that might be pie in the sky type of thinking."

The Red Sox' quest to secure Gonzalez' services doesn't figure to slow down, even though the Padres' players are doing everything in their power to drag down the notion.

"I think we've quieted all that talk," said Gonzalez' teammate, closer Heath Bell. "It's not even whispers anymore."

So, what to do if you're the Red Sox until the volume picks up (if it ever does)?

Mark Teixeira would have obviously squelched at least a portion of the conversation for years to come, as would have been the case with the locking up of Jason Bay or Matt Holliday (who said of the Red Sox Monday, "I was interested in possibly at least checking it out. I was excited they were going to be involved.") But all of those names are in the rear-view mirror.

If the Red Sox are hoping to use an outfield spot to fill part of the middle of their order, potential free agent/trade candidate Jayson Werth could be an option (he did hit 36 home runs last year). That route would allow the Red Sox to buy some time in the Gonzalez market, not having to rely on a heavy hitter right away at the corner spot.

But the team has to have a plan to ultimately solidify both corner spots, while preferably seeing both bats in the meat of the order. The attractiveness of Teixeira and Gonzalez were amped up by their defensive abilities, one reason getting in the hunt for Prince Fielder might not be as voracious as some might think.

Simply put, because of the uncertain timeline regarding Gonzalez, the Red Sox are in somewhat of a conundrum. Where are the answers? Perhaps on their own roster:

VICTOR MARTINEZ

Besides Gonzalez, Martinez might be the most influential piece of the puzzle. If the Red Sox feel he can be an adequate enough catcher for the next three years (which will most likely cost the Sox more money than looking at him as a first baseman), that solves that problem, but still leaves one corner spot open.

If the Sox think Martinez is their man at first going forward, moving Kevin Youkilis to third, then a catcher will have to be uncovered.

Part of the problem is that the Red Sox don't have any immediate solutions in the minor leagues in regard to finding a middle-of-the-order starter at either first, third or catcher. First basemen Lars Anderson and Anthony Rizzo might be able to eased into a lineup, and first-round draft pick Kolbrin Vitek has all the makings a major league starter at third somewhere down the line (hitting his first pro home run Tuesday night), but none are going to solve the immediate dilemma.

If Martinez stays and plays primarily first base, or is even integrated at catcher, then younger players at multiple positions can be worked in without worrying about middle-of-the-order pressure. If he doesn't, a more expensive option will be a necessity.

"It was the same thing as last year," Martinez said that American League All-Stars media session Monday. "i was here and I really didn't know what was going to happen. It's the same thing this year. I still don't know what's going to happen. I'm just going to take it day by day, game by game."

ADRIAN BELTRE

As long as Beltre keeps trucking along like he has been, you can forget about him accepting the player option of $5 million for next season (or even $10 million if he hits 640 plate appearances). The third baseman is most likely going to cost money and years.

It isn't out of the question that the Red Sox deem Beltre to be their guy going forward. He is relatively young (31), and clearly has the mentality it takes to thrive in a place like Boston. And, even though he dropped into the Sox' laps this offseason, their admiration for his talents have stretched well beyond just last offseason.

But a couple of things have to be considered when deciding to lock up Beltre as one of your centerpieces: 1. Boras is going to extract a ton of money for his client's services; 2. Beltre has suddenly vaulted himself into Type A free agency status, meaning the Red Sox would receive two draft picks.

Beltre might not be a hitter who will reside in the No. 3, 4, or 5 spots, but his presence would be potent enough to make for a upper-echelon run-producing lineup assuming a big bat in the outfield is acquired somewhere down the line.

DAVID ORTIZ

It seems very unlikely that the Red Sox will pick up Ortiz' $12.5 million option for '11. The more feasible scenario is the Sox declining the option and offering the designated hitter a deal that might add up to the number, but over two years (potentially with an option and incentives). 

The Red Sox understand that Ortiz truly wants to remain a Red Sox, and that the market for his services (even at a 35-40-home run pace) is dramatically limited considering he doesn't play the field and the amount of teams that want to (and can) pay top dollar for a DH are few.

That said, Ortiz has reestablished himself as a reliable presence in the heart of the Red Sox' order. Sox general manager Theo Epstein said after the '09 season that Ortiz would have to be a "force." Monday night after winning the Home Run Derby, the DH declared that he was going to be a "force" for a long time.

The decision on Ortiz won't force the Red Sox to juggle as much as the other aforementioned players might, with the Sox being able to plug in a variety of types of hitters in the DH spot if they feel the rest of the lineup can carry the power production. But if he does leave (which he doesn't think will be the case as suggested by his comment of "I believe I'll be back) it does leave yet another task having to be completed.

Sources have suggested the Red Sox haven't engaged in substantive contract talks as of yet, suggesting definitive conclusions have been reached.

It all would been so much easier with Gonzalez. But, instead, when it comes to constructing next year's middle of the order "easy" doesn't figure to enter in the equation for the Red Sox any time soon.