INDIANAPOLIS -- The Boston Red Sox have talked with agent Scott Boras about "numerous" subjects, a source with direct knowledge of their conversations said Tuesday afternoon. At the top of the list presumably was free-agent left fielder Matt Holliday.
Boston officials have said that re-signing Jason Bay remains a priority, and privately have suggested that Holliday's price may exceed what the Sox are willing to pay, but with the Yankees now close to a three-way deal for outfielder Curtis Granderson, the possibility of GM Brian Cashman sweeping in with a late bid, as he did with Mark Teixeira last season, seems more remote. With the Yankees not involved, it's conceivable that Holliday's price would fall within an acceptable range.
Another likely topic of conversation between the Sox and Boras was third baseman Adrian Beltre, who declined salary arbitration from the Mariners on Monday night and is by far the best defender available at his position. A pursuit of Beltre would mean trading Mike Lowell, by no means a certainty at this stage. But you can be certain Boras is pitching Beltre to the Sox.