As of D. Ortiz.. You do agree he can make within top 5 in the free agents ranking. Don't you?? WHy and how?? you know it well. But come on what were you talking about.. when you were refering to the contract he signed with the REd SOX last year??? When he signed the contract he hadn't proved himself. Now he had proved it. Just because he is playing as an ALl-star (and he is an All-star) now, the RED SOX organization won't go back and change the contract. Same with Varitek, when he was brought to FEnWay along with D. Lowe, he didn't have such good figures. Now he does. SO you will be a fool to tell me.. if Varitek was so good... why did he sign such a mediocre contract withthe RED SOX? I know you won't raise that question because he is a free agent. If his contract was little longer, I will not doubt you would bring this question. Well, check out for D. Lowe's worth..... He was paid.. a very very average salary. Now he should make at least $9 million/year. ANyways, I were just trying to clarify D. ORtiz's strengths and worth, despite an average contract. As of Manny... We all love him. He did realize his mistakes of last season. He is a bit different person this year. He is a great player. As of his staying in Boston, I believe he will reamin here at least until his contract is over. I would like to have him As a RED SOX player for life. I would like to say the same thing about Pedro. I hope he stays here. Not just these future Hall of famers, but also all those guys who contributed in winning the WS, I wish they could all stay here. Our budget won't permit to keep them all. And again if they can make tons of dollars more in other cities then it's worth at least from their standpoint tht we should let them go. As of ThEO Epstein.. Comon Bro.. don't be kidding with me. Yeah....... Brian Cashman did all those things in NY, I surely do acknowledge him when considering the type of players he brought in. But in last four seasons, did he win any WS?? With so much cash spent in acquiring those players, shouldn't they have won some Championships??? And Ax bro tell me this, If you were watching the ALCS game 7, who did the commentator first showed and talked about besides from the RED SOX players, when RED SOX just won the game/series??? Now you get it!! WHy do you think those baseball gurus(commentators) were mentioning Mr. Cashman's name atop the lists of the people who might lose their jobs?? Now please don't tell me they were DUMB or they werejust RED SOX fans??? As of who's going to be the real favorite of next year........... let's wait until all the off-season trades are done and the teams head to the PRe-season practice. It's way too early to make any predictions. By the way PAtriots weren't favored to win any of the Superbowls going to the off-season or the pre-season?? Guess what happene?. Alrite bro... Hope you are enlightened a bit. GO SOX GO Jai Nepal