Jason Varitek

The Sox have to decide whether to re-sign Jason Varitek (right), who is invaluable defensively but steadily declining at he plate. Regardless of what they decide, they need a younger, long-term solution. They tried to trade for Texas's Gerald Laird (top left) last winter, and Cleveland's Kelly Shoppach (a former Sox farmhand) is an up-and-coming backstop worth a look.