Sox to meet with Boras

ORLANDO -- The much anticipated Red Sox and Scott Boras meeting will take place later tonight at the GM meetings.

Theo Epstein acknowledged the meeting this afternoon but warned that while he would listen to talk about You Know Who -- he expected that most of the discussion would be centered around Boras's current Sox clients as well as some of his other free-agent clients.

Nevertheless, Alex Rodriguez's name will likely come up, and the former Yankees third baseman would love to play in Boston. The Sox continue to "make progress" on a deal for Mike Lowell, but it does not appear to be imminent, which still gives Boras some hope to plead the A-Rod case to Epstein.

There have been several teams who have inquired to Epstein about center fielder Coco Crisp, but no substantative talks have occurred.