The Boston Red Sox have signed third baseman Adrian Beltré to a one-year contract worth $9 million with a player option for a second year worth $5 million. Beltré, one of the game's best defensive third basemen, should be a major improvement over the shaky defense Mike Lowell provided last year. This is yet another singing that helps the Red Sox' defense, as they have already signed an outstanding defensive outfielder in Mike Cameron. Still, the Red Sox' situation is not very fortunate, as they, in spite of having improved their roster to the point where it could have one of the best defenses in the league, don't have a solid enough offense. Many of their key lineup regulars are injury-prone, not to mention aging and declining, and that situation could lead to Boston missing the playoffs next season. There are multiple issues that could manifest themselves at any time and take the team down.

Victor Martinez cannot be counted on to catch more than 130 games and stay both healthy and productive offensively all at the same time, which means he'll have to play at fist base sometimes. This will slide youkilis to third base and put Varitek in the lineup and on the field, a decision that, while being helpful because of his game-calling, creates a hole in the lineup and gives green light to pretty much any runner to go and steal a base. They will also probably be affected by Drew's absence in the lineup and on the field for 20-plus games, and a possible dropoff in Scutaro's offensive production after what was by far his career year.

All these issues, combined with the injuries John Lackey and Josh Beckett are very likely to have and the loss of quality in the bullpen, make the Red Sox a team that, because of it's talent has a chance to go deep into the postseason, but is also within serious danger of missing the playoffs. And health will be the one to determine whether they do one of those two or end up somewhere in the middle.