by Juan Leer

Created on: February 06, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

With the Red Sox enormous payroll, the expectations should be that they win the World Series. The Red Sox have become just as "free-spending" as their archrival the Yankees are, so too many more years of missing the playoffs like last year are not acceptable.

The major signing in the offseason was Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsusaka, with whom they paid $50 million just to negotiate his salary. They need him to be able to seamlessly join the rotation, which will also feature Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, and Jon Papelbon. If everyone can stay healthy they have the makings of a very solid rotation.

Once again, the offense will be very good. Ortiz and Manny are great in the 3-4 spots, and now they have added another thread in JD Drew, who's a fine hitter if he can stay healthy (which is far from certain).

So with the enormous payroll that the Red Sox have, the expectations should be to win the World Series. At the very least they can't miss the playoffs again. If they stay healthy, they have the pitching and hitting talent capable of making a deep run.

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