A trade with possibilities

TODD HELTON Huge numbers

Maybe his home run production has diminished. Maybe he's amassed impressive numbers in a great hitter's park, Coors Field. But I must admit, I am utterly fascinated by the prospect of Todd Helton in the Red Sox lineup.

No offense to Craig Hansen, but if that's all it takes to acquire Helton, a number of Red Sox fans would offer to drive the young righthander to the airport and send him to the Mile High City with a pat on the back.

When I first heard of Sox-Rockies talks back in November -- mostly about a Manny Ramírez-Helton swap -- it was an interesting idea, but a wash in some ways. Now that the talks don't include Ramírez (at least, that's the word from a couple of major league sources) and the Sox are looking at a batting order with David Ortiz, Ramírez, J.D. Drew, and Helton -- that gets your attention.

Major league sources told me yesterday that the Red Sox aren't jumping through hoops to make this deal. It's been proposed to them by the Rockies. The Sox love the concept, but they won't do anything that stretches their boundaries financially or means giving up prominent young players.

According to a Rockies official, they would have to get one or two young players who would make an impact in the near future. Colorado doesn't want to lose the popular Helton, take on a veteran at the end of his contract, and a year later have nothing to show for it.

"They [Red Sox] like their team as it's constituted," said one of the sources. "It would be surprising if they gave up young pitching. Helton would be a great hitter in that ballpark and he's their type of player in that he's patient and he'll work the count."

Helton is 33 and has five years remaining on his deal at $90.1 million (including a $4.6 million buyout for 2012). There is concern that as he ages, he'll decline to where his production doesn't match what you're paying him.

Presumably, the Red Sox wouldn't be against giving up Mike Lowell (possibly to San Diego for a reliever such as Scott Linebrink) and moving Kevin Youkilis to third. Or they might get Colorado to bite on Lowell; the Rockies already are interested in Julian Tavarez. That way, the Sox could keep their young pitchers, but you have to think Colorado would need at least one young pitcher in a package deal.

But imagine this lineup:

SS Julio Lugo

RF J.D. Drew

DH David Ortiz

LF Manny Ramírez

1B Todd Helton

3B Kevin Youkilis

C Jason Varitek

CF Coco Crisp

2B Dustin Pedroia

Helton, who has a no-trade clause but is willing to consider a Red Sox deal, according to Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News reports, has won three Gold Gloves at first base. He has the highest career batting average among active players (.333). He won a batting title in 2000 hitting .372, and he has a lifetime on-base percentage of .430 and slugging percentage of .593.

But he has battled back problems for a few years and his home run totals dropped to 20 and 15 the last two years.

The Red Sox wouldn't want to assume all of the money remaining on Helton's deal. The Rockies are willing to kick in some money in a trade -- as much as half, according to a major league source -- but it was unclear whether that applies to the Red Sox at this juncture. If the Red Sox were able to move Lowell, that would be $9 million off the books, which would help in taking on Helton's $16.6 million salary for '07.

The Red Sox have been reluctant to part with young pitching after giving up Anibal Sanchez and Cla Meredith, who have been successful in Florida and San Diego. A Roy Oswalt deal was squashed at the trading deadline last year when the Sox wouldn't give up young pitching. But they've built up their bullpen this winter -- though they're still without an established closer.

If Helton came aboard, the Sox offense could be lights-out. Couple that with one of the most solid starting rotations in baseball, and the pressure on the bullpen could be greatly eased.

The Red Sox aren't commenting on the Helton reports, and efforts to reach Colorado GM Dan O'Dowd were unsuccessful. But there have been talks, and there may be more this week.

Right now, the concept is intriguing, but from what we're being told, the Red Sox would need a lot more nudging before they'd do it.

Offseason money well spent

The 10 best bang-for-the-buck signings:

1. Cliff Floyd, $3 million and incentives, Cubs. Floyd appears to be over his Achilles' tendon injury, and if that's the case, at age 34, he'll hit even if he's platooning with Matt Murton in the outfield.

2. Trot Nixon, $3 million and incentives, Indians. He will likely play only vs. righthanders, but he's motivated to produce at a high level. He worked out harder this offseason than he has in many years.

3. Tomo Ohka, $1.75 million and incentives, Blue Jays. With run support, he could give the Jays double-figure wins and quality starts.

4. David Wells, $3 million and incentives, Padres. His mechanics are flawless, and he's healthy. If he can make 30 starts, he will be well worth the money.

5. Moises Alou, $8.5 million, Mets. A better option than spending $20 million per year for Manny Ramírez.

6. Rod Barajas, $2.5 million, Philadelphia. A No. 1-caliber catcher for less than $3 million.

7. Marcus Giles, $3.25 million, Padres. Pretty good player coming off a down year. He could be one of the top offensive second basemen in baseball.

8. Aaron Sele, minor league deal, Mets. Another good gamble by Omar Minaya. Sele (8-6, 4.53 ERA for the Dodgers) can still pitch in the NL.

9. Joel Pineiro, $4 million, Red Sox. A guy who once won 16 games in the American League and could protect you in the rotation.

10. Sammy Sosa, minor league deal, Texas. If he gives you decent righthanded power on a team with three lefthanded-hitting outfielders . . . why not?

New manager Kapler has an extensive to-do list

Gabe Kapler is bringing the same intensity he had as a player to his new job as a manager in the Red Sox system, which is why he should be tremendous.

Asked what he is doing to prepare as manager of the Greenville Drive, Kapler responded with an e-mailed list:

1. Reading, reading, and more reading.

2. Learning our players and their personalities.

3. Asking lots of questions to every coach/manager I know.

4. Falling in love with John Wooden and his philosophies regarding setting examples.

5. Counting down the minutes until I get started and finally have the opportunity to experience this first-hand (all the while realizing that I have a lot to learn and that I am sure to stumble a few times).

6. Realizing that I need to stay in top physical condition because I am going to be setting an example.

7. Learning new stats that I didn't pay enough attention to as a player.

8. Asking a lot of questions about protocol.

9. Trying to explain my excitement to people who don't understand why I gave up a playing career at 31.

10. Visualizing/daydreaming about winning baseball games.

11. Visualizing/daydreaming about assisting in the development of these young players.

"These are a few of the things I would associate with preparation," added Kapler. "I am trying to keep a record of everything relating to this change. I wish I had kept a journal as a player."

Etc.

Touching the bases
Apropos of nothing: 1. Indians second baseman Josh Barfield agreed to give No. 29 to Keith Foulke. Barfield has switched to No. 12, worn by his boyhood hero, Roberto Alomar; 2. For all the talk about Charlie Manuel being on a short leash in Philadelphia, the Phillies have won 173 games in his first two years as manager. Only Pat Moran (1915-16) had more wins in his first two years (181); 3. I am continually amazed at what architect Janet Marie Smith does at Fenway; 4. Don't get it. Why does Jeff Weaver, who has found success in the National League with the Cardinals, want to go back to the American League with the Mariners?; 5. Funny, when you look back: For all the talk of Aaron Sele not being tough enough early in his career, he had records of 19-11 and 18-9 in 1998 and 1999 in probably the toughest place to pitch in baseball: the heat of Arlington, Texas, where so many "tough guys" have wilted.

Few official answers
Commissioner Bud Selig said he still hadn't formulated his response to the backlash over Major League Baseball switching its Extra Innings package to DirecTV starting this year. Selig said the deal isn't quite done, which is why he's not commenting, but he is sympathetic to some of the fans' concerns. On another matter, Selig was asked about the posting process for Japanese players, and he said, "We're going to address that soon. I don't know exactly when, but we need to discuss it to see how we can make the system better for everyone." Asked about the back-to-back All-Star Games in NL cities (Pittsburgh last year and San Francisco this year) for an event that now decides home-field advantage in the postseason, Selig said, "That's the way it ended up. I've tried to award the game to cities with new ballparks. From here on out, you'll see it back and forth."

Clause for concern
The J.D Drew deal was finally made official Friday after both sides insisted for more than a month that the dispute was over minor medical language. While the language was minor, the issue was not. The two medical staffs were very much at loggerheads. Drew received a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham, Ala., according to a source close to the talks. Andrews provides many second opinions for players, and he basically told agent Scott Boras that Drew's shoulder was of very little risk to the Red Sox. But the Sox medical staff saw it differently and sought to protect the $70 million investment with provisions to opt out of the fourth or fifth year if the specific shoulder problem keeps Drew on the disabled list.

Despite chatter to the contrary, Drew Henson has no plans to return to baseball, according to his agent, Tom Condon. The former Michigan two-sport star, who was once traded (by the Reds) for Wily Mo Peña (Yankees), got as far as Triple A and nine major league at-bats (one hit), and in football, he was cut by the Cowboys and then the Vikings, who re-signed him in December. But even though he's struggled on the gridiron, he doesn't plan to give baseball one more try. "I remember our scouts [with the Padres] thought he had the highest upside of all the high school bats in the '98 draft," said Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "He was projected to hit for power because of his strength and natural loft in his swing. He played a good third base, too, and obviously had a plus arm."

The Yankees might be the first team to strike an agreement with the China Baseball Association, but Larry Lucchino feels the Red Sox and others will also have a strong presence there in years to come. "As a member of MLB's International Committee, I can tell you that all of MLB is focused on China," said the Sox CEO. "The Yankees are not alone, and will not be alone, as they pursue development there. The Red Sox have a foreign policy as well, and Asia, including China, is a key part of that policy. We will work, hand and glove, with MLB and the Chinese government to grow baseball there. We look forward to the baseball competition in Beijing in the 2008 Olympics."

Going by his brief time in Japan, Gabe Kapler feels the pitcher who would adapt best to the majors is Koji Uehara, the 31-year-old Yomiuri Giants righthander who won two games in the World Baseball Classic last spring. "His control was unreal," Kapler said. "Not a hard thrower, but [Greg ] Maddux-like in his command in and out of the strike zone. Extremely competitive." Uehara is unbeaten in 21 appearances in world play with 12 wins. The Giants are reluctant to post players, but Uehara could be a free agent in the next year or two (depending upon his service time).

The Red Sox and Marlins haven't had discussions on center fielder David Murphy for some time. He was a hot topic for a while, and talks could be rekindled. Murphy is drawing interest because teams feel he'll be a late bloomer and have a very good major league career. A former No. 1 pick, Murphy has gained 10-15 pounds of muscle this offseason but still finds himself as the fifth or sixth outfielder (counting Eric Hinske and Peña). The Marlins would likely give up righthanders Ricky Nolasco or Yusmeiro Petit, but not young lefty Taylor Tankersley, whom the Sox covet.

Nick Cafardo's e-mail address is cafardo@globe.com; material from personal interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.