When you looked out at the football field in the indoor bubble at Boston College's Alumni Stadium yesterday, you saw the reason why many Red Sox fans don't want to make the Johan Santana trade.
You saw a confident, personable, Derek Lowe-like Justin Masterson and shortstop-of-the-future Jed Lowrie, both of whom have been mentioned in a possible trade for Santana. You saw a bulked-up, maturing Clay Buchholz, who may be the Red Sox' lone untouchable, though he may not even break camp with them, given the depth of their rotation.
The talent on the field - invited guests to the Red Sox' annual rookie development program - was a testament to how far the system has come. Baseball America, the bible of minor league baseball, ranks the Red Sox farm system second overall (Tampa Bay is first). But farm director Mike Hazen isn't getting carried away.
"We don't put too much stock in those things," Hazen said. "We know our job is to continue to push forward and help each guy maximize his potential."
Buchholz, who has already thrown a no-hitter in the major leagues, seemed a bit out of place yesterday. When you've already done something most major leaguers haven't, it puts you in special company. But Hazen believes Buchholz is still developing, still in need of taking the next step.
"Even though he's pitched a no-hitter in the major leagues, he hasn't established himself over time yet," Hazen said. "Not like the Schillings, Becketts, Lowells, Ortizes - that's the next level we're shooting for.
"He's had a really good winter. We tested him the other day. He went to the API [Athletes' Performance Institute] in Florida and he's been making gradual progress. He's up to 190 pounds and he looks as though he's grown an inch. Physically, he's put on some weight in his shoulders and his chest."
When we last left Buchholz, the Sox medical staff had shut him down in late September because his shoulder had tested for weakness and they didn't want to take any chances.
"My shoulder feels great," said Buchholz, who acknowledges he was very disappointed to learn he wouldn't be on the postseason roster. "I don't feel the fatigue anymore.
"I know what it's going to take for me to stay on the team this year. A lot of hard work and dedication goes into being prepared for 162 games, and that was my offseason this year, that was [what] I put all the dedication toward. I think I'm right at 191 [pounds] right now, actually. It's better than the 178 I was last year."
The Sept. 1 no-hitter against the Orioles will forever be etched in Red Sox history. Buchholz says he gets reminded about it a lot. And he doesn't mind. But he knows he has to move on from it because there's a long way to go in his career.
To start with, he'll have to fight to make the rotation out of camp.
"That's the goal," Buchholz said. "I had a lot of goals coming into last year, and that's definitely my goal this year. But it's all what the organization needs and who they want to have in the rotation."
Buchholz finds himself behind Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, and, more than likely, Jon Lester. According to Sox officials, Schilling has also had a very productive offseason with his strength program and appears far more committed than he was a year ago at this time.
"I wouldn't be disappointed," said Buchholz. "Like I said, it's their decision. I have goals. Last year, I managed to make all my goals, and if something happens and you don't make that goal, it doesn't mean it's not going to happen sometime during the season. I have hopes and wishes and goals, and that's about all I can say for you right now."
After going through his "dead shoulder phase" at the end of a long season, Buchholz vowed he would never allow that to happen again.
"That was all the motivation," said Buchholz, who is 19-10 with a 2.46 ERA over his minor league career. "I knew what I wanted to do coming into the offseason. I had never been hurt before. That was the closest I had been to it.
"It was different for me. I went into the offseason preparing and knowing what I had to do to be a part of this team this year."
The rookie development program tries to integrate the young players with the environment they'll be playing in someday. It includes charitable events, which they have attended the past couple of weeks.
Masterson, who turns 23 in March, and who played for Tony Gwynn at San Diego State, should have no problem blending in. He's engaging, personable, and smart.
Asked about his name being bandied about in trade talks, Masterson said, "It's humbling, and I feel a little bit honored. I don't know if I should be there. I don't know if I'm that level yet, but it's kind of neat. I'm one of 15, 20 names thrown out there, but it's kind of cool.
"It doesn't bother me too much. I'm with the Boston Red Sox, the greatest organization, so it's fun. Every once in a while, I'll get a text from a friend: 'I just heard this about the trade.' OK, man, have fun with that."
Lowrie, too, said he's flattered to be mentioned in trade talks involving Santana.
"How could you not be?" he said. "A pitcher like Johan Santana, he's one of the game's best. To be mentioned in something like that is pretty awesome."
Lowrie said he feels most comfortable playing shortstop, and the Red Sox appear content to have him stay there, though he has dabbled at second and third base.
"I played some third in the fall league," he said. "I'd never really played there in my life, and it's just a matter of getting repetition. I'm willing to do whatever it takes, but I'd prefer to stay at shortstop."
Lowrie feels he could be ready for the majors right now, if the Red Sox or a team that trades for him needed him to step in.
"I feel like I could contribute," Lowrie said.
When you see how far the Sox have come with their farm system, and the excitement brought by the Michael Bowdens, the Dusty Browns, the Aaron Bateses, it may be awfully hard to give some of that up, even if it's for the best lefthanded pitcher in baseball.
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.
