According to John Heyman of SI.com, the Boston Red Sox may have interest in Indians infielder Victor Martinez.
Martinez is considered one of the best hitters in the AL and would be a huge upgrade for the Red Sox. With the growing concerns surrounding Mike Lowell's injury, acquiring Martinez would allow the Sox to move Kevin Youkilis to third and put Martinez at first.
It has been widely reported that the Indians are putting both Cliff Lee and Martinez on the block, but will command major league ready pitching prospects in return.
This demand makes the Red Sox a definite fit for either player. The Sox are loaded with young starters. They have Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson and Michael Bowden, all pitchers that should fit the Indians need.
According to Heyman, the Indians dispersed some of their top scouts recently to scout the Red Sox farm system.
All indications have been that the Red Sox don't want to part with any of their young pitchers, but should they change that stance they certainly have the young arms to obtain some real firepower.
The one question that still remains is where exactly the Indians stand. In most cases a team in their position would be selling off parts left and right, but many people within the organization believe that once healthy next year this team will contend again. Having said that the Indians are not necessarily under intense pressure to move their parts. Considering the fact that the team holds a club option for Martinez in 2010 for $7 million, don't expect them to give him away.
At the end of the day I don't think the Red Sox will make a deal for Martinez. I think the Indians really believe when healthy they can turn this around next year, and given the fact the Red Sox don't seem to want to part with any young pitching, I don't think it will go down.
But... (There's always a but) should the Mike Lowell's injury become more serious than first thought, this option could become a lot more probable. Also look for the Red Sox to look heavily at Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson as well.