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I can see both sides of whether the Red Sox should go after him. On one end is his value higher than Lowell and whatever big prospects you'd have to give up? On the other he would be a perfect fit to take over Manny's spot in the lineup if you don't resign him when his contract is up.

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I think it's pretty much a given that we won't resign Manny when his contract is up. There's a decent chance they don't even exercise their option on him for 2009. Cabrera is the kind of big-time hitter entering his prime who we should be targeting to replace him. The question is merely, will the price be too steep?

One thing you have to ask, too, is whether the prospects we would give up are blocked, and what it would take to negotiate a long-term deal with Cabrera. We are pretty deep in terms of young pitching talent, and Ellsbury's value is probably as high now as it will ever be.

I'm really not sure about how much to give up, but I think if Cabrera is willing to re-sign for 6 or 8 years you have to make a big run at him. These type of deals, where a big-market team gives up big-time talent in exchange for the chance to lock up an established stud, can be good for both teams. There's a good chance that if we lock up Cabrera now, before he gets out of arb, we will get more than our money's worth over the next six or eight years, and there's also a good chance that some of the guys we'd give up would be blocked anyway.

I think the Yankees will make an offer for him, but I don't think Cashman is going to be willing to give up the young pitching that the Marlins will demand.