It needs to move on. This offseason is going to be a real test for Dan Duquette. Tim Wakefield is gone. Ramon Martinez might be too. Troy O'Leary has to be next.
Third base is a huge concern for Boston.
If John Valentin didn't get hurt last year, the Red Sox would have had more wins than the Yankees' 87. Valentin will be back next season, but he can't be relied upon. Odds are that the Red Sox will fall short of landing Mike Mussina or any of the elite free agents. That would allow Derek Lowe to move into the rotation. With the money they've saved, they will be able to make a run at Kansas City's Johnny Damon, offering the Royals catcher Jason Varitek, reliever Hipolito Pichardo and prospect Paxton Crawford.