by Andy Dunn
Staff Writer

What is the next step for the Red Sox? It’s a perplexing question that General Manager Theo Epstein will be pondering during this off-season- where do we go from here?

After a disappointing, injury-plagued 2010 season ending in a third place finish in the AL East, the Red Sox need to come back strong this year.

Some tough decisions will have to be made regarding the several key players that remain unsigned.

Victor Martinez, Jason Varitek, Adrian Beltre, Bill Hall, and David Ortiz are all possible free agents that the Red Sox could lose if they do not resign them. The Sox have already exercised Ortiz’s option on his contract for $12.5 million next year.

The core of the Red Sox from 2004 is aging, or already out the door, and the Red Sox need to realize it is time to move on. The Red Sox fantastic farm system developed over the years by Epstein may be ready to produce this year, most notably pitchers Michael Bowden and Casey Kelly and hitters Ryan Kalish, Lars Anderson, and Josh Reddick to name a few.

However, the Red Sox can’t just wait for their young talent, they need to sign some stars now, that they know will produce. The Yankees and Rays were better teams than the Red Sox last year, and every Red Sox fan knows that the Yankees will be on the prowl for free agents, especially all-star pitcher Cliff Lee who is rumored to be very interested in joining the Yankees.

But the Red Sox have also shown interested in Lee, as well as all-star free agent outfielder Jayson Werth. According to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com, the Red Sox have contacted agent Scott Boras about Jayson Werth and may start negotiations soon. Werth blossomed in his four years with the Phillies averaging a batting average of .282 with 24 HR and 75 RBI’s a season with Philly.

If the Red Sox are going to compete for the playoffs next year they have to embrace the future and realize the it may be time to cut ties with older players like Adrian Beltre and Varitek. Although the Sox will try to bring Beltre and captain Varitek back another year, several teams have already indicated interest in both of them.

If the Sox are active this off-season and acquire the right players, Boston may have a shot at the playoffs this upcoming year. But the AL East is the toughest division in baseball with two powerhouse teams, the Yankees and Rays, right alongside the Sox. Every Sox fan knows that no matter what the Red Sox do, it will be a battle.