General manager Ben Cherington should ultimately use that line of reasoning in determining Andrew Bailey’s short-term future with the club.

Bailey’s name has been the subject of trade speculation ever since the Red Sox acquired Joel Hanrahan earlier this offseason and subsequently anointed the former Pirates closer the new ninth-inning man in Boston. Perhaps the rumors are just that, but the Rangers reportedly spoke with the Red Sox about Bailey, so it’s obvious that there’s at least some level of interest in the 28-year-old right-hander.

There’s been this assumption in the wake of the Hanrahan trade that the Red Sox could be willing to part ways with Bailey, who is slated to make $4.1 million this season. Upon the club signing Koji Uehara, another late-inning reliever, the gossip only seemed to intensify. But while the bullpen appears to be an area of depth for the Red Sox, the club should be in no rush to compromise that depth, unless it means significantly improving in another area. That seems unlikely, and therefore the Red Sox should hang up the phone faster than they picked it up when it comes to discussing a trade involving Bailey.

A recent FOXSports.com report suggested that the Red Sox could satisfy the Tigers’ desire to add late-inning relief help by trading them Bailey in exchange for starter Rick Porcello, who will earn a similar salary in 2013. That’s nice in that Porcello would give the Red Sox some added starting pitching depth, but why deal someone who could have an integral, carved-out role in pressure situations for someone who will more or less serve as a sixth starter? Wouldn’t Bailey, who has the ability to shorten games for Boston, hold much more value?

It’s understandable that Bailey’s name has come up, simply because of the big, ol’ elephant in the room. Bailey was a two-time All-Star while closing out games in Oakland, and surely he expected to resume such a role in Boston before Hanrahan was given the keys to the ninth. But Bailey has been the consummate professional throughout the entire transition, and it appears he’s more than willing to take on an eighth-inning setup role, with Uehara also working in a similar capacity.

The Red Sox should embrace Bailey’s willingness rather than fight it, and to their credit, they have. The club has a very formidable trio in place at the back end of the bullpen, and it’s one of the reasons that contending this season isn’t outside the realm of possibility. Therefore, to insist that the Sox rush into a deal or to label Bailey as “expendable” involves a failure to recognize the current strength of that unit.

The biggest reason that the Orioles were able to surprise everyone and reach the postseason in 2012 was because of the strength and depth of their bullpen. The O’s were 29-9 in one-run games and 16-2 in extra-inning games, which is obviously a reflection of being able to shut down opponents late in ballgames. By comparison, the Red Sox were 17-22 in one-run games and 2-10 in extra-inning games.

Five of the top seven teams in bullpen ERA made the playoffs in 2012, and six of the top seven in bullpen WHIP punched their tickets to the postseason. Obviously, there are plenty of factors that impact those numbers, including the performance of the starters, who must ensure that the bullpen isn’t taxed night in and night out. It’s still difficult to downplay the importance of a strong relief corps, though, especially coming off a season like 2012, in which the Red Sox were plagued by inconsistent starting pitching that led to Boston compiling the eighth-most bullpen innings in baseball.

If the Red Sox get blown away by a trade offer for Bailey, then, of course, they’d probably consider it, but that’s the case with any player. For now, the Sox are best served keeping what has the potential to be a dangerous, three-headed monster in place.

The phone can keep ringing with calls about Bailey, but expect the Red Sox to keep pressing “ignore.”

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Brennan Boesch

The 27-year-old outfielder, who was released by the Tigers on Wednesday, has had an appetite for streaking throughout his three-year career. When he’s been good, he’s been really good. And when he’s been bad, it’s been unbearable.

Given that level of inconsistency, the Red Sox would be better off filling out their roster from within, even if Boesch’s ceiling is a bit higher than some of the other options currently in place.

Boesch exploded onto the scene with the Tigers in 2010 after being ranked the organization’s 25th-best prospect that spring. In 65 first-half games (267 plate appearances), he posted a .342 average, .397 on-base percentage, .593 slugging percentage, 12 home runs and 49 RBIs as an up-and-coming 25-year-old. It was enough to put him alongside some elite company, and it even led to him being considered an American League All-Star snub.

Then, as is often the case with young hitters, pitchers started adjusting to Boesch, realizing that he has a tendency to swing at anything and everything. That led to the outfielder pulling one of the biggest 180′s imaginable. He followed up his sizzling first half with a second half that saw him post a .163 average, .237 on-base percentage, .222 slugging percentage, two home runs and 18 RBIs in 68 games (245 plate appearances).

Understandably, 2010′s Jekyll and Hyde act generated some concern. Boesch had to again prove himself, as he had essentially undone all that he accomplished in the first half of 2010 with his historically bad second half. Boesch impressed early in 2011, putting up a .306 average, .360 on-base percentage, .490 slugging percentage, 12 home runs and 44 RBIs in 84 first-half games (347 plate appearances). But sure enough, as was the case in 2010, Boesch’s production plummeted off a cliff following the Midsummer Classic, and he posted a .219 average, .288 on-base percentage, .368 slugging percentage, four home runs and 10 RBIs in 31 second-half games (125 plate appearances) before undergoing season-ending thumb surgery.

Boesch’s entire 2012 season was unremarkable, with his highest of highs failing to turn heads and his lowest of lows showing that there are still some significant flaws in his game. Boesch’s biggest asset has always been his bat, but he finished the season with a .240 average, .286 on-base percentage, 12 home runs and 54 RBIs in 132 games. That obviously didn’t sit well with the Tigers, especially since he’s fairly limited defensively — something that had disastrous potential in a very large Comerica Park outfield.

A team will give Boesch a big league opportunity, and some team should, simply to see if he can finally put it all together offensively for a full season. According to various reports, the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets and Astros are all at least considering the idea. In the case of Boston, though, it’d be wise to step back and let someone else take the flier.

Manager John Farrell has a lot to figure out before Opening Day now that it’s looking less and less likely that David Ortiz will be ready. Those questions have the potential to be answered internally, though.

While Boesch is a left-handed hitting outfielder — something the Red Sox made a priority during the offseason — he actually has better numbers against lefties, which makes him a less-than-ideal platoon option to put alongside Jonny Gomes, a right-handed hitter who fares better against lefties.

In addition to the concerning righty/lefty splits, Boesch’s approach at the dish doesn’t exactly coincide with Boston’s 2013 offensive approach, which appears to be largely centered on patience and discipline. Boesch has swung at 39.5 percent of the pitches he’s seen outside the strike zone since 2010, which is the 14th-worst mark in baseball, and pitchers continue to exploit that flaw. Of the pitches Boesch has faced since 2010, 40.9 percent have been outside the strike zone, which is the 10th-highest among qualified big league hitters. That means Boesch needs to make adjustments. Otherwise, it’s hard to envision him ever reaching his maximum potential on a consistent basis, because hurlers will continue to pitch to his weakness.

As far as the bench outfield options that the Red Sox currently have, Jackie Bradley Jr. seems like the popular choice because of his superb defense, immense potential and spring training production thus far. The club could ultimately decide he needs more minor league seasoning, though, in which case Daniel Nava, Lyle Overbay and Mike Carp figure to garner some playing time in the Boston outfield.

Perhaps none of those players are capable of going on a month-long tear, but it’s hard to envision Boesch doing so in Boston either. Boesch likely wouldn’t garner much playing time, and for a guy who has stuck around the bigs because of some streaky hitting, that could decrease his overall value even more.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Photo via Flickr/Keith Allison

6 p.m.: We’ve reached the conclusion of the first day of the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. We’ll be back Saturday for day two. Be sure to check NESN.com starting at 9 a.m. to see what topics are covered in the country’s biggest meeting sports data analysts.

5:55 p.m.: When asked about over-saturation of sports on television, Walsh points to increased audience sizes and competition from other outlets as proof that fans are actually underserved.

5:45 p.m.: The common challenge that teams in the NBA and Major League Baseball share is how to make teams profitable, Postolos says. Broad revenue sharing is one way leagues are facing this test.

5:40 p.m.: Walsh says that a lot of research will on concussions will come out in the next 12-24 months. He’s sure decision makers will take notice and act on it.

5:30 p.m.: Media is the biggest international opportunity at the moment, de Picciotto says. The next is taking brands globally (through sports). Finally, the movement of talent across borders gives players and fans a chance to see athletes from around the world.

He also thinks gambling has the potential to generate vast amounts of revenue, but it could kill sports as well.

On the question of performance-enhancing drugs, he says essentially need to keep up with societal values.

5:20 p.m.: Walsh asks how to use analytics to value sports properties — especially in increments of time.

PepsiCo has a proprietary model, according to Storms. “Nobody knows our business better than we do,” she says. The company uses a multi-stage process to evaluate the impact of any potential sponsorship or endorsement.

She concludes that there’s no way to measure the exact amount of product that sports partnerships move, but PespiCo is closer than it has ever been to doing so.

5:15 p.m.: Carter says leagues partner with media and sponsors to try and “surround the fan.” She adds that the old model of signage at a stadium no longer works.

5 p.m.: Walsh says we need innovative thinking about the playing of the game and the experience of the consumer.

He points to the fact that players are bigger, faster and stronger than they were decades ago, yet the size of the playing surfaces (specifically in the NFL and NBA) remain the same. “Why not make fields bigger to provide more excitement for fans,” he asks.

4:50 p.m.: The business of sports is our final panel of the day. Industry leaders will talk about the money side of this multi-trillion dollar industry.

Kraft Sports Group vice president Jessica Gelman will moderate the panel. She will be joined by Soccer United Marketing president Kathy Carter, Octagon president Phil de Picciotto, Houston Astros president George Postolos, PepsiCo vice president of global sports marketing Jennifer Storms, and ESPN executive vice president John Walsh.

4:45 p.m.: Schatz says the most overrated players are the ones whose athletic ability doesn’t translate into football success.

He points to D’Angelo Hall who is fast and has good hands but is poor in coverage.

He says Tony Romo is underrated because he is consistently one of the six or seven best quarterbacks in the league and one of the best in the fourth quarter … “as long as the game is not on national television.”

4:40 p.m.: The 49ers use analytics to better understand the tendencies of coaches — how they manage the clock and when they call time outs.

4:35 p.m.: Pioli says mutual respect is lacking in football when asked how to convince an NFL head coach to listen to an analyst who has never stepped on the field.

He says a coach must have an open mind, but it’s important how analysts present, deliver and communicate their information.

4:30 p.m.: Kremer asks how to quantify injuries and off-field problems. What value do you attach to those events?

No two injuries are the same, but Shatz argues that, en masse, players  are better at recovering from injuries in today’s game than they were in the past.

As for the character question, Pioli approaches it on a case-by-case basis, saying there’s no real way to measure something like that.

Pioli discusses the new player assessment tool being used at the NFL combine. He wants to know as much about a player’s mental makeup — specifically his levels of work ethic and level of selflessness (or selfishness).

4:25 p.m.: Demoff says the middle class is shrinking because teams are better at scouting and developing young players. Teams are now paying a premium for players they call “difference makers.”

4:20 p.m.: Demoff says the salary caps affect the schemes teams use. They “ultimately look for undervalued players and get as many of them as you can.”

He said more teams started playing 3-4 defenses a few years ago because nose tackles were undervalued. Now the best nose tackles command $12 million salaries, so teams are reverting to the 4-3 because the market allows them to get more bang for their buck with tackles to fit that system.

4:15 p.m.: Marathe calls the Patriots the “kings of replenishing.”

In the age of the salary cap, it’s impossible to keep a team together over the long term. “If every player took a 15-percent discount on their market rate, we still wouldn’t be able to keep them all,” he says.

He adds that the Patriots have been incredible at churning players yet remaining successful.

Pioli says that the Pats’ practice of stockpiling draft picks increases their chancing of landing good players. “Every pick is a gamble,” he said before adding that taking more gambles increases the chances of landing good players.

4:05 p.m.: Pioli says it’s tough to come up with a measurement to predict a player’s chance of success.

“Football is such an interdependent game. The success of a play has so many variables and depends on 11 indiviudals.”

Marathe expands on it, saying that trades don’t often work out because a player can succeed in one system, but look totally out-of-place in another.

3:55 p.m.: Pioli is no fan of the combine because there’s a difference between “pure speed” and “playing speed.”

He finds values in measurements. He says Tom Brady is such an accurate passer because he’s got huge hands.

Marathe talks about “hidden value” of 40-yard dash times, citing the case of Jerry Rice. He says Rice had an average overall 40 time, but his speed between 20-40 yards (what insiders call “the flying 20″) was one of the highest ever.

He said it translated into separation speed on the field. Rice was rarely, if ever, caught from behind.

3:50 p.m.: Demoff and Marathe say their teams are looking to hire analysts. The Rams are still working out how to deeper integrate analytics into their organization, while the 49ers have used one on the salary cap side for over a decade and are now using them on the football side.

Pioli says analytics have played a role in the game for ages. “Gut” decisions are based on prior experience and analysis, he says.

We’re just calling it something else now.

3:40 p.m.: Are you ready for some football?

The National Football League is undergoing an analytics revolution of its own. The Football Analytics panel will discuss how NFL coaches and teams are using data to evaluate players, map out strategy and make in-game decisions.

Andrea Kremer will moderate the panel. She will be joined by St. Louis Rams executive vice president of football operations Kevin Demoff, former Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, San Francisco 49ers chief operating officer Paraag Marathe and Football Outsiders founder Aaron Schatz.

2:40 p.m.: Robin van Persie does his exploring in the half second before the ball comes his way. It’s how he always seems to be one step ahead of defenders (despite not being particularly fast or quick) when he gets the ball in the final third of the field.

2:30 p.m.: Jordet says Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have the highest frequency of “visual exploratory behavior,” meaning the two stars look around and gauge their surroundings before receiving the ball.

He says the midfield players who complete the highest number of forward passes are the ones who do the most exploring. In other words, they’re reading the game and playing it at the same time.

He bases the research on Sky Sports’ player cameras.

2:25 p.m.: We’re going from one extreme to the other. Baseball and statistics are inseparable, but soccer has been slow to adopt statistical analysis.

Geir Jordet, director of psychology at the Norweigan Centre for Football (soccer) Excellence is presenting some new research on “The Hidden Foundation of Field Vision in English Premier League Soccer Players.”

He explores the concept of field vision. How can some players make the right pass every time they get the ball? We’re about to find out.

1:50 p.m.: The panel discusses how difficult it is to predict how a young player will perform in the big leagues. There’s no exact science or measurement device that will predict which players will overperform or underperform at the top level.

1:40 p.m.: Posnanski says there’s a real divide in the way journalists cover baseball. He thinks younger writers — especially on the internet — are more versed in the “new language” of analytics, while mainstream media still focuses on wins, losses, errors and other 100-year-old statistics.

He thinks baseball coverage is currently changing and will continue to change with the times.

1:30 p.m.: Zaidi says analytics are changing the way the game is played and how managers manage.

McCracken adds that managers tend to want to avoid risk. If he plays a star player and the player doesn’t deliver, “it’s the player’s fault.” If the manager plays an untested rookie and the youngster fails, “it’s the manager’s fault.”

1:20 p.m.: When asked what the newest developments in baseball analytics, Keri says that teams are increasingly privatizing and keeping data in house. McCracken thinks this will slow the growth of the baseball analysis.

He goes on to say that video analysis is the next frontier in the field.

Zaidi says baseball analysis is too tied to outcomes rather than skills themselves. The A’s are trying to move in the direction of skill-based analysis rather than outcomes (which are the results of those skills).

1:15 p.m.: Zaidi drew chuckles from crowd when he said Billy Beane calls him “The Emotional Stat Guy.”

He adds that baseball decisions are very complex and there are a lot of disagreements, but Beane has to make the final call at the end of the day.

1:10 p.m.: Posnanski says that baseball provides new things to measure and quantify almost every day. Where some sports might see diminishing returns from the avalanche of data, he thinks that won’t be the case in baseball.

McCracken thinks the data can be dangerous. Some take a new stat and run with it without “completely understanding” the data that they’re seeing.

12:55 p.m.: We’re getting set for one of the most anticipated panels of the first day — on baseball analytics.

Sabermetrics are gaining influence among baseball’s decision makers. Grantland staff writer Jonah Keri, NBC Sports writer Joe Posnanski, statistical analyst Voros McCracken and Oakland Athletics director of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi will discuss how teams are using analytics to gain a competitive advantage. ESPN’s Lindsey Czarniak will moderate.

11:20 a.m.: Polian and MacMullan talk about the Manti Te’o hoax and its effect on the player.

The former Colts general manager thinks the hoax won’t have a negative impact on his career over the long term.

“The hoax that he was a victim of  is a story, and it’s a gigantic story —  people can’t get enough of it,” Polian says. “Does it affect Manti Te’o the football player? I would submit to you absolutely not.”

MacMullan agrees with that assessment, but she thinks the hoax has had negative effects on his preparation for the NFL combine.

“He was probably not capable of preparing the way he would have liked to have because of all the outside noise and all the outside things that have happened to him.

“I don’t know this for a fact, but perhaps he may have under-performed at the combine because anyone that went through what he went through, regardless of how much you think he was involved or not involved, it had to have been devastating. There had to have been a lot of sleepless nights. There had to have been a lot of days he probably didn’t eat, and I’m sure a lot of days he didn’t work out the way he wanted to.”

11 a.m.: Pagliuca talks about the perspective owners and managers need. The best ones see things over an 82-game season “like a movie.”

Polian talks about a parallel universe we live in. Fans and media expect perfection over the course of an 82, 16 or even 162-game season. Professionals know that perfection is “almost never achievable,” and coaches teach against mistakes that are part of the business.

10:50 a.m.: Burke and Van Gundy have spoken about the most difficult aspect of their jobs as coaches and general managers.

They agree that the hardest part is cutting players — guys that “bleed for you” as Burke says. The human element, specifically the bonds that form in the locker room are tough to break.

10:45 a.m.: Burke likes hard coaches. They’re his favorite ones. But the former Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager says “the harder the coach is, the shorter his shelf life.”

10:40 a.m.: Pagliuca tells us that one of the best decisions the Celtics have made (since he’s been one of the team’s owners) was not firing Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers in the 2006-07 season.

10:20 a.m.: Van Gundy is discussing the Dwight Howard saga in Orlando. He says Howard asked for him to be fired and was causing a problem in the Magic locker room.

He wished Magic management would come out with a statement — either back him with a new contract or fire him — and end the distraction. They didn’t.

Polian says Jim Finks, Red Aurebach and Branch Rickey are the three greatest executives in history. He adds that coaches are useful for a maximum of 10 years. The ones that are able to “recognize and prepare them [players] are the ones that last longest.”

10 a.m.: “It’s Not You, It’s Me: Break-Ups in Sports” is our first panel of the day. Moderator Jackie MacMullan will lead a discussion about high-profile trades, public disputes over hirings and firings and other media spectacles.

John Buccigross, Bill Polian, Steve Pagliuca, Brian Burke and Stan Van Gundy will explore how high-profile changes affect on-field performances.

9 a.m. ET: In the span of seven years, the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference has become the place to be.

Sports insiders,  executives and leading researchers from around the country and beyond descend on Boston for two days  to discuss role of analytics in the sports industry with each other and thousands of students.

The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center is the site of this year’s conference. Nate Silver, Brian Burke, Adam Silver, Mark Cuban, Jonathan Kraft and Michael Wilbon are just a few of the panelists that will be on hand to give and receive insight into how sports are being changed by “big data.”

We are on hand for the 2013 conference, looking to see where the next breakthrough in sports analytics will come from. Join us here on March 1 for the latest on sports data analysis.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @mkomard, his Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Photo via Facebook/MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference

Of all the out-of-work managers soccer coaches out there, Guardiola was the most in-demand and high-profile. Chelsea, Manchester City, AC Milan and PSG were among the clubs that have pursued him since last spring. Bayern’s successful chase represents no less than a coaching coup.

Guardiola’s personality and track record, combined with the structure, tradition and philosophy already in place at Bayern should make the coming era a successful one at Germany’s richest and most storied club.

He signed a three-year contract which expires in 2016, and optimists expect that he will have led Bayern and the Bundesliga (Germany’s first division) boldly into the future by then. They expect him to deliver multiple Bundesliga titles and UEFA Champions League glory, as well as the love and admiration of the soccer world. Bayern considers itself on par with Barcelona, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Europe’s other superclubs. The German giant hopes the Guardiola era will prompt the rest of the world to do the same.

The Guardiola to Bayern story is so appealing because it seems out-of-place in this day and age. People often say that money and power rule the modern game (and the world it represents), but Guardiola’s choice flies in the face of that assumption. The 41-year-old could have earned more money at Chelsea, City or PSG. Those clubs would have offered him total control over soccer matters as well. But Guardiola reject them in favor of the structure and stability that the Bayern post offers, according to FIFA.com.

“He chose Bayern because of all the teams from which he had offers it was the best,” Guardiola’s agent Josep Maria Orobitg reportedly told EFE Radio. “We were looking over the offers and this isn’t the team which offered the most money. It was chosen for the organisation there, for the potential that he sees, and for their players.”

Bayern Munich is no ordinary club. It’s got one of Europe’s best stadiums and commercial operations as cash cows. It also has one of the world’s best squads, as appearances in the 2010 and 2012 Champions League finals can attest. It’s an institution whose identity and philosophy have been shaped and molded over generations. Talent, professionalism, German efficiency and constant success are just a few traits commonly associated with it. Players and staff  – be they new, old, foreign or domestic — learn and live by Bayern’s codes from the moment they join the club. Guardiola’s new bosses – chairman Uli Hoeness, CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and honorary president Franz Beckenbauer embody, defend and promote Bayern’s values more than anyone else.

Those three run the show, and Guardiola wants it that way. In fact, he needs that way. He considers himself to be more of a coach than a manager. His strength lies in leading and motivating his players, leaving the business of running the club to others. When he takes charge on July 1, he won’t be tasked with transforming the club. His responsibility is to implement his own ideas while staying faithful to Bayern’s philosophy and playing style. Decisions on player recruitment and development will be made in concert with the club’s holy trinity, as it has been done for the better part of the last two decades.

From the outside, it looks like the Guardiola hire heralds a new dawn for Bayern. He’ll replace 67-year-old Jupp Heynckes, who will retire at the end of the season. Next fall, Bayern will have one of the world’s best and most successful coaches roaming the sidelines. He’ll add star power and new storylines to Bayern and the Bundesliga. An interesting rivalry with Borussia Dortmund head coach Jurgen Klopp is already in the making, as the two clubs, led by bright and talented young coaches, expect to duke it out for Bundesliga and European supremacy in the coming seasons. If Germany’s national-team head coach Joachim Low takes charge of a German club after the 2014 FIFA World Cup, it would give the Bundesliga a level of coaching gravitas which would rival any of Europe’s top leagues.

“Guardiola is one of the most successful coaches in the world and we are sure that he can make not just Bayern, but all of German football shine,” the Telegraph reports Rummenigge said.

It remains to be seen if landing an iconic figure of Guardiola’s stature will have the same effect within the club. His first order of business will be to examine the squad and make some hard decisions. What role will key figures like Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Mario Gomez play as they approach and pass their 30th birthdays? One of Guardiola’s first decisions after taking charge of Barcelona in 2008 was to get rid of Deco, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o (a year later) — the core of the club’s 2006 Champions League-winning team. Which, if any, of Bayern’s current stars will share a similar fate?

Bayern has an exciting group of players aged 26 and under that will form the core of Guardiola’s teams. Thomas Muller, 23, is  contender for German player of the year. If Guardiola can affect his career like he did Lionel Messi’s, then Muller should go ahead and invest in a cabinet big enough to hold a Ballon d’Or trophy or three. Guardiola will also integrate other young players into Bayern’s first  team, as he did to great effect at Barcelona. Beckenbauer and co. expect Guardiola to create the blueprint for success in the era of Fincancial Fair Play.

Guardiola is a unique figure in the game. He has a reputation for being not only an intelligent thinker but also a decisive man of action. Zlatan Ibrahimovic derisively referred to him as “the Philosopher” … as he was being shoved out of the Barcelona door on Guardiola’s orders. Guardiola won praise for his calm and reassuring demeanor, but he was also known as a strict disciplinarian. The Barcelona native left his hometown club and took his family to New York City for a year-long sabbatical, suggesting that he has a curious and adventurous side. These contradictions don’t detract from his standing in the game. They are part of what makes him the forward-thinking leader for whom the elite clubs of Europe have been competing in recent months.

The German challenge gives Guardiola a chance to learn a new culture. Values like sustainability and efficiency are en vogue in the 21st century, and German soccer is Europe’s hotbed of both. Bayern hopes that he will add a “Spanish flair” to its very German way of doing things, creating a new product that will set the soccer world alight with its excellence. He will become only the fourth non-German to lead the club in the last 30 years because Bayern felt the need to look outward in search of a brighter future.

Guardiola could have waited for his friends at Manchester City to put an acceptable structure in place. He could have rushed to PSG or Chelsea to create one himself. But he is no builder at this point in his career. The curious and pragmatic Catalan ventures to an alien culture looking to learn from it and tweak it to achieve great success. Should they part ways in 2016, Bayern and Guardiola will be better off for having experienced each other.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Ba has paid a heavy price for it, but his unstoppable rise could change how clubs decide which gambles to take and which ones to avoid.

The Senegalese striker’s story is one of risk and reward. He’s assumed most of the former and is set to reap the largest share of the latter.

Ba didn’t reach this point — joining Chelsea FC, the reigning champion of Europe — by himself. His family, friends, advisers and other clubs have helped him manage the risk. They stand to benefit from his success as well.

The cloud over Ba has taken many forms and changed over time. As a teenager, many wondered if he had the ability to make it as a professional soccer player in Europe. At least six clubs in two countries declined to sign him before he eventually landed a spot on a team in France’s lower leagues.

He played for three clubs in France’s fourth and third divisions before joining Mouscron in the Belgian first division. Success in Belgium earned him a 2007 move to Hoffenheim, an up-and-coming club in Germany’s second division. It was there that he answered questions about his ability, but new ones concerning his durability arose.

Ba suffered a broken left leg in 2006, and doctors inserted a pin in his leg to stabilize the area. He underwent surgery in 2009 to remove the pin, but the ligaments in his left knee were damaged during the procedure. He recovered from the injury, returned to the field and continued to shine for Hoffenheim. By the end of 2010, higher-profile clubs wanted to sign him.

The physical exam is one of the final pieces of any transfer. They are mere formalities for most players, but they have become dreaded and defining moments in Ba’s recent career. The knee problem caused him to fail physicals at Stoke City and Stuttgart, shelving multimillion-pound transfers. Since then, clubs have been unable to insure Ba’s contract because of the knee issue. Clubs that signed him did so on terms that guaranteed him little money (relative to his overall compensation and contribution to the team).

But Ba was determined to leave Hoffenheim and make it to the top. He “gambled” and joined West Ham on a “pay-as-you-play” contract in January 2011. Included in that contract was a clause that allowed him to leave for free if the club was relegated from the Premier League. When West Ham went down, he activated the clause and moved to Newcastle on a free transfer. His Newcastle contract was a partial “pay-as-you-play” deal, and it too included a release (reward) clause. He could move to another club for £7 million ($11.4 million) — a small fee for a player who had proven his ability to score goals in England’s Premier League.

At each step in Ba’s recent career, clubs saw Ba’s injury risk and protected themselves financially. Ba accepted this as a fact of life, but in return for assuming the risk, he retained ability to determine his own future. The release clauses exposed clubs to a new kind of risk — losing a key player for a fraction of his true value.

Ba was not a well-known player when he arrived in England two years ago. Things have changed, as only Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie have scored more Premier League goals than him since then. He scored seven goals in 12 games for West Ham. He scored a further 29 goals in 54 games for Newcastle. The 13 league goals he scored for Newcastle this season represent just under half of the club’s total. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew spoke glowingly about Ba throughout the months-long transfer saga, adding that Ba joined Chelsea with the club’s “blessing.”

Ba’s value skyrocketed, and his advisers have been shrewd enough to capitalize on it. Critics attach labels like “mercenary” to Ba’s name and accused his advisers of behaving like “sharks.” They may be right, but being a “mercenary” isn’t always a bad thing. Anyone who works for a living does so to earn money, from the bus driver to the soccer scribe. It may not be the only motivator, but it’s certainly one of them.

Ba plays professional soccer not only because he loves the game, but also to support himself and his family — one that includes seven siblings. He also supports families in the Senegalese villages from which his mother and father hail. These people were in his life when he was kicking a ball around the suburbs of Paris. They were there when club after club rejected him. They are there now that he has signed a three-and-a-half year, £80,000-a-week contract with Chelsea which, coincidentally, is less than half of what Rooney and van Persie earn.

Ba’s payday is a community payday, and it should be. His community remained committed to him when German and English clubs were shying away from the player with a cloud lingering over his head. Ba draws strength and inspiration from his family and the Islamic faith it practices. They helped him cope with rejection and vulnerability, driving him forward on a daily basis. Why shouldn’t the family breadwinner share his fortune with the ones who walk alongside him?

Like any fear, much of Ba’s perceived risk has been an illusion. Despite feeling constant discomfort in the injured knee, Ba only missed 17 games in seven seasons. He never missed a game or practice session at Newcastle, and the club was willing to make him its highest-paid player if he signed a new contract. The contract he signed with Chelsea closes that gap between Ba’s perceived and actual vulnerability to injury. The insurance companies will disagree, but the reality of his injury history suggests his injury risk is the similar to other players’. Chelsea has decided to pay him accordingly.

Chelsea has assumed the risk, and it stands to gain the rewards. It is getting a striker with power, pace and precision in front of goal. Ba fills the immediate need of a goal-scorer to compete with Fernando Torres, pushing each other to greater success. The modest transfer fee and contract are a pittance compared to gambles of Chelsea’s past. The risk on Ba’s form and fitness look decidedly low compared to the ones involved with Adrian Mutu, Andriy Shevchenko, Fernando Torres and others.

Ba’s story is not complete. The Chelsea move is only the start of a new chapter. He’s 27 and on a team that is competing for trophies. The faulty dial has been fixed, and Ba must raise his game to a new level if he wants to close the earnings gap between himself and his goal-scoring peers.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Regardless of the platform, it’s your messages that fuel our desire to look out into the world and call things as we see them. So please, please, please keep us in mind when you have opinions to share or questions you want answered.

I’d love for NESN soccer to be the home of the soccer question and answer. Given our resources, I think it’s the most fruitful approach to analyzing the sport. It helps us know which stories to tell. The more we interact and engage, the better we’ll understand the game and the world in which we live.

See a good soccer story we haven’t touched? Let us know. Love or hate something we’ve said or written? Make your voice heard. Critics and E-Thugs, troll and burn away. We need your contributions. They challenge us and keep us honest.

We’re human beings here, and we can take it. Besides, praise or a word of thanks from one person generally outweighs the flames and vitriol from a thousand. And I can’t let the holiday season pass without sending a big “thank you” to our supporters — those of you who’ve sent a kind word our way. Your encouragement keeps us going, day in and day out. You are like family. It’s an honor and a pleasure to do this every day because you make it so. Thanks.

Anyways, Consider this a call to arms — but peaceful like. And without further ado, here it is — back by popular demand — the NESN Soccer mailbag.

I want to ask you if it’s sure that Wesley Sneijder will join PSG in January, as you wrote in your article?
– Panagiotis Koumian, Greece

Hello, Panagiotis. It’s not certain that Sneijder will end up at PSG, but it’s almost certain that he’s leaving Inter Milan in January. His relationship with the club is broken, and I don’t see any way they can reconcile.

PSG was among the first clubs with which he was linked ahead of the January transfer window, and it’s a logical destination for him. The French club has the money and the project to attract a player of his caliber. Watch Javier Pastore’s situation. He was one of the first of PSG’s galacticos, but he’s not an automatic starter under manager Carlo Ancelotti. If PSG offloads the struggling Argentine next month (AC Milan is a rumored destination, but Inter could be waiting in the wings), it will create an opening for a player like Sneijder to fill.

Also, there is a rumor coming out of Italy that he’s agree to join Tottenham, and the clubs are trying to agree on a fee. That one’s unconfirmed at this point.

Where do you think he [Wesley Sneijder] will end up?
– Kyle Caldarelli, Elkton, Md.

Hi, Kyle. Sorry for making you wait for my answer, but I figured I could give a better answer here than on Twitter.

Sneijder’s is the transfer saga to watch in January, as he’s one of the few world-class players who is available for a reasonable price. Also, he hasn’t competed in the UEFA Champions League this season. It’s almost unheard of for a player of his quality to be in this situation, and I’m expecting a bit of a scramble for his signature.

His salary is what’s driving him out of Inter, as the Italian club is learning to exist in what I call “Serie A’s Age of Austerity.” He reportedly makes €6 million ($7.8 million) per season, a figure that top clubs in England, Spain (Barca and Real Madrid), France (PSG only) and even Germany can meet. Also, the reported transfer fee of around £12million ($19.4 million) is reasonable for most top teams to spend.

Tuesday’s news about him agreeing to terms with Tottenham makes me think one of two things are going on: He’s either willing to come down from that figure, or Tottenham is ready to break the bank. Given the club’s history under chairman Daniel Levy, I think it’s the former.

Money won’t be much of an issue with his move. Tottenham has the early lead, but that’s could be changing at this very moment. I’d expect other clubs to match the transfer fee and throw more money Sneijder’s way. It’s really his choice at this point.

I like to use the process of elimination to answer these sorts of questions, so let’s take a look. In Spain, Barcelona seems highly unlikely given their set style of play and embarrassment of riches in the midfield and attack. Real Madrid would be an option, but his old friend Jose Mourinho is on his way out. Also, given Sneijder’s previous stint at the club, I’d rule that one out too. I don’t think any other Spanish team can afford him at this point.

Juventus is the only Italian club I could see him joining, and I just don’t see it happening.

In France, it’s PSG or bust based on his salary. See the previous question for my thoughts on that one.

He’s also been linked with Anzhi Makhachkala, the mega-rich Russian club. Samuel Eto’o would probably love to link up with his former Inter teammate, but manager Guus Hiddink‘s impending retirement will probably reduce the chances of that happening.

There two options in Germany — Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund — that are not out of the question. It would be tough for him to displace Bayern’s current crop of stars, so I’d be shocked if he went there. But the Bavarians can afford him. Dortmund is an intriguing option, as the reigning Bundesliga champion is in the last 16 of the Champions League. It has some money to spend, but not too much. Sneijder is at the top end of what it can afford.

That leaves us with the English clubs.  Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham have been linked with him in the past. City has a wealth of attacking players already. Samir Nasri (signed last season) and David Silva (who recently signed a new contract) play his position. He could drop deeper and spell Yaya Toure, but it’s unlikely that he’d sign just to become a utility player.

Manchester United is in a similar position with Wayne Rooney, Shinji Kagawa and Tom Cleverly playing where Sneijder is often deployed. Chelsea is in a similar state, as Oscar, Juan Mata and Edin Hazard are fighting for minutes. Victor Moses and Marko Marin are pushing for minutes as well. It’s not to say Sneijder wouldn’t play ahead of any of these players. It’s just that each club seems to be committed to each of these players.

Tottenham is a likely English destination, but there is another one just down the road. Arsenal rarely spends in January (or ever), but that’s going to change in the coming years. Arsene Wenger needs a creative influence in team, and Sneijder could do the trick. The Gunners already have the money to compete with Tottenham. They also have a motive: vindictiveness.

The short answer is Arsenal, Tottenham or PSG. Thanks for the question, Kyle.

And I also wish you to tell your opinion about the winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or.
– Panagiotis Koumian, Greece

The finalists are Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Cristiano Ronaldo. I think the world of Iniesta, and he was deservedly named the best player at Euro 2012. But Ronaldo and Messi were on another planet in 2012.

Mourinho would pick Ronaldo because he won La Liga … and to keep his star player happy. Patrice Evra likes Ronaldo because he was great without the supporting cast that Messi has. Both make valid points, but if there’s a time to downplay team accomplishments and focus on the individual, it’s now.

Ronaldo was slightly ahead after his good showing at Euro 2012, but Messi’s pulled away from August – December. He’s scored 36 goals in all competitions, while Ronaldo (and Madrid) failed to keep pace. Sure, goals aren’t everything, but when a player breaks a 40-year-old record goal-scoring, we have to pay attention. I’ll expand on this in the next week or so, but it’s Messi.

Can Chelsea win the Premier League title under Rafa Benitez?
– Christopher, Atlanta, GA 

Anything is possible, but I don’t think Chelsea is strong enough to sustain a title assault. The “old guard” is missing their top Drog (Didier Drogba), and they’re another year removed from their best days. I expect Chelsea to have another blip or two in the coming months, leaving little chance of winning the Premier League.

Also, Manchester United is already seven points clear, and I think they’re only going to get better in the second half of the season. The title is United’s to lose, and if it does, City will be there to scoop it up … again.

Thanks for the question, Christopher.

What did Santa Bring you for Christmas?
– David, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Hi, David. Santa was great as always. He brought me all the practical things I need, but never have the good sense to go out and get myself. These include some clothes, a whole bunch of food and drink, two epic parties and a bit of rest. I’ve got to thank my family for another great holiday season — easily the best in four or five years.

That’s all for this week. Thank you very much for all the support. I wish you a happy holiday season and all the best for the new year.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

There was reportedly no face-to-face meeting between Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and Magic general manager Rob Hennigan on Tuesday, but L.A. remains committed to pursuing Howard even without assurances he'd sign a long-term extension.

ESPN's Chris Broussard has reported that nothing is imminent between the two teams, but a source familiar with the Lakers' interest in Howard reportedly told ESPN.com that there is an "ongoing" dialogue between the two teams, even though a trade would be "very tough to pull off." There is reportedly also a possibility that any of the teams involved — including Cleveland and Houston, who've been seen as potential third-team facilitators — could walk away from talks at some point this week.

Another issue is that the Magic may not want to pull the trigger on a deal that would land them Bynum without an assurance that he'd sign a long-term extension with the team.

In other words, there's a lot that still needs to be ironed out before we can see Howard teaming up with Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, but the possibility remains there.

Click here for an opinion on what Dwight Howard would mean to the Lakers >>

Photo via Flickr/Keith Allison

The 32-year-old finally fell out with Flamengo after watching their relationship deteriorate over the last year. He’s been criticized for his love of the nightlife and lack of discipline. This week, he missed practice in order to visit his sick mother. Although he was supposed to return in time to play in an exhibition game on Wednesday, he never showed up. That was the last straw for club directors. They publicly ridiculed him for his attitude and performances. Their shots echo those of fans who had turned on him long ago.

But Ronaldinho is a professional soccer player. He plays for money, and Flamengo has not paid him on time for the last several months. It has been unable to foot his $8.4 million salary after the sports marketing firm Traffic Sports, which had been paying the bulk of his wages, severed ties with the club. On Thursday, Ronaldinho sued Flamengo for nearly $20 million in unpaid salaries and delayed payments. His contract with Brazil’s biggest club was terminated, and he is looking for a new home.

MLS has flirted with the Samba star in recent years, but now is the time to make a move. The league is rightfully trying to shed its reputation as a retirement home washed-up veterans, instead investing in talented young players. But MLS desperately needs star power in order to increase television ratings, and Ronaldinho has it to spare.

From 2001-2011, he starred in Europe’s top leagues. He won a Serie A title with AC Milan, and led FC Barcelona to two La Liga championships and one UEFA Champions League crown.

While conquering Europe at club level, he became a global superstar wearing the yellow jersey of Brazil’s national team. He was a key figure in its triumphant campaign at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Since then, Brazil has regularly played lucrative friendlies around the world, as fans flocked to see Ronaldinho and his fellow samba kings.

Signing him would win his new team legions of fans, and take the league and its brand into new markets around the world. He is also one of the few players that the average American sports fan would recognize and tune in to watch.

On the field, Ronaldinho is well past his best. He probably wouldn’t lead his new team to a championship, may not be the best role model for young players, and would certainly be the top earner at a North American club. Rather than a string of wins, he’d be good for a few highlights — maybe an eye-catching goal or two — and a number of interesting headlines.

That’s not what signing him is about. More than any other player who has played in the last 15 years, Ronaldinho embodies the phrase “Latin-American flair.” It’s something that is largely missing from MLS and American soccer, and the lack of flair players in the league makes it harder to grow the sport here. He would expose more people to one of the best things about the game: pure skill.

It wouldn’t be a bad thing for the league to have the pop-stardom of David Beckham, the urban cool of Thierry Henry and the frustrating genius of Ronaldino on display at the same time. Although he wouldn’t fit into the new ethos of No Country for Old Men, he’s an exception an MLS team needs to make.

If an MLS team — FC Dallas, Chivas USA, Toronto FC or Montreal Impact come to mind — can sign him for half of what he makes now ($4.2 million), it would be a steal. Players around the world recognize the league as one that is well-run and pays its players on time. Ronaldinho is probably interested in such an arrangement at this point in time.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

“Bale is the type of player PSG need… But he is very happy at Tottenham,” the Mirror reports Jonathan Barnett told Telefoot.

Bale, 22, won last season’s Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Player of the Year award. This season’s outstanding performances have cemented his status as one of British soccer’s top players, and made him one of world soccer’s most in-demand players.

He will reportedly consider his future over the summer. If Tottenham fails to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League, and manager Harry Redknapp takes over as England manager, Bale could conceivably leave North London in a blockbuster transfer.

A transfer bid in the region of £50 million ($79.2 million) could convince Tottenham to sell the Welsh star. FC Barcelona and Inter Milan are among his rumored suitors.

PSG is awash with cash, and has set about recruiting some of world soccer’s biggest names. Leonardo and Carlo Ancelotti have the mandate to build the club into a French and European powerhouse, and have spent nearly £100 million ($157 million) on new players.

The Parisian club has been linked with a host of superstars in recent months, including Liverpool FC’s Luis Suarez. Signing Bale would be a transfer coup and make a bold statement of intent. His addition would likely attract other players of his stature to the French capital, bringing the dreams of Qatari owner owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi that much closer to fruition.

But Bale should shun the riches on offer at PSG, as he talents would be blunted by the slower rhythm of the French game.

The way Bale plays the game is not best-suited for French soccer. He terrorizes defenders with his uncanny mix of speed, power and skill. It is highlighted every weekend in the open style of English soccer (especially the way Spurs play).

The French game is slower, less direct and more defensive than its English counterpart. He would find space harder to come by, as opposing fullbacks are less likely push into the attack. Defensive lines tend to play deeper in France, leaving less space for Bale to use his sprinter’s speed to devastating effect.

It is entirely possible that he would be less effective in the tighter confines of French soccer. The sight of the Welsh international trying to run past two or three defenders into a dead-end when receives the ball would frustrate the player and his fans.

It would likely be followed by the inevitable cries of “what a waste of money” from the notoriously fickle PSG fans. Add the possibility that he would not embrace the French lifestyle as fully as Joe Cole has done, and it makes for a risky move on the part of both player and club.

A player of Bale’s ability belongs in the UEFA Champions League. But there are plenty of other clubs that could offer him that platform without the risks attached. But hey, it’s not my money being spent.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

The Qatar Investment Authority (QSI) bought a 70 percent stake in the club in May, and financed a spending spree that brought nearly £100 million ($157 million) worth of talent to the French capital.

Al-Khaelaifi installed former AC Milan honchos Leonardo and Carlo Ancelotti as director of football and manager respectively. The project is progressing at a steady pace, and PSG leads Ligue 1 with 12 games to play. Barring any slip-ups, it should capture its first league championship since 1994.

But QSI's ambition is not to conquer French soccer. It wants to turn PSG into a world soccer power, and build a team capable of winning the UEFA Champions League. That's where Suarez comes in. The three amigos in charge at PSG know they must bring the top players of this generation (and next) to Paris. Suarez fits the profile and then some.

"We are already looking at the market for next season," Al-Khaelaifi told Sky Sports. "We have clear targets in mind. It is true that we want Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain. Our real short-term targets are to win the Champions League and find a new Lionel Messi.

"We will spend what is normal for a top-class club. We prefer to invest a lot and immediately."

"El Pistolero" is only 25, but has already proven himself on the international stage. He powered Uruguay to victory at last summer's Copa America and was named Player of the Tournament. Few players on earth can torment a defense like Suarez. He's just entering his peak years, and there's no reason to think he won't regain and maintain his top form over the coming years.

Suarez, a £22.8 million ($35.8 million) gift from the soccer Gods, came to Liverpool at a unique moment in the club's history. He arrived at the beginning of a restoration project designed at bringing the glory days back to Anfield.

It didn't take long for LFC to realize it had a star in its midst. He scored in his debut (as a substitute) against Stoke City. He set up two goals in a famous victory over Manchester United a month later.

While no player is bigger than Liverpool FC (or any other club), Suarez is as close as a player can come to being "irreplaceable". The Reds are a better team when he is on the field. That is beyond dispute.

He may be even more important off the field. The Uruguayan created a new legion of LFC fans in his homeland (and certainly in other parts of South America). He is also that rare breed of player that can — and will — attract other top players to join the club.

Sol Campbell moved across the North London divide for the same reason back in 2011. LeBron James joined the Miami Heat for a similar move. Great players want to play together, and they can't all play for FC Barcelona.

Victory in the Carling Cup saw Liverpool pass that first road-sign in its journey back to the top. Selling Suarez — at any price — would be a setback. Even if PSG offered triple the £22.8 million LFC paid for him, it wouldn't equal Suarez's true value to the project. Players score goals, win games and lift trophies. Money alone does not.

It's exceptionally difficult to find players that can constantly perform in the Anfield pressure-cooker. It's even harder to get them in their peak years. In Suarez, Liverpool has a rare gem. Al-Khaelaifi must know it would take more than a few petrol-dollars to pry him loose.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O'Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer's Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Jermaine O'Neal

The report surfaced on Monday, that O'Neal could very well be released by the Boston Celtics if he elects to have surgery rather than returning to the team and trying to play out the rest of the season.

The Celtics already have a depth problem in their front court and O'Neal's extended absence would probably open the door for a free agent to fill the void in the middle.

So, while JO still toys around with the idea of playing in pain or having surgery, the Celtics might as well consider their potential replacements.

Boston's best options for replacing O'Neal would likely be from a handful of players who still haven't linked on with a team, and possibly even a couple familiar faces.

Kyrylo Fesenko would likely be the first option, as the 7-footer still has solid upside at just 25 years old and showed potential on the blocks at the end of 2011 with the Utah Jazz.

Dan Gadzuric played just 14 games with New Jersey last season but he's been playing over in China since the lockout started in the fall. He's a big body that could alleviate pressure from Kevin Garnett at the center spot and take up 8-10 minutes per night.

Another possibility would be Fabricio Oberto, the former San Antonio Spurs center isn't an offensive threat by any means, but much like Gadzuric he could help fill out the roster and ease some of the pressure on KG and Brandon Bass to hold down the middle.

Then comes a pair who many Celtics fans would remember from the 2008 chanmpionship team.

Leon Powe has been on the market since the offseason and could be had for a veteran minimum deal. He played just 16 games for Memphis in 2011, averaging 5.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per, but was a solid contributor in Boston for three seasons and could fit right into Rivers' system.

The last option on the table would be the return of defensive-specialist James Posey. Another one who hasn't seen the floor this season, Posey has spent the past three seasons fighting for minutes in New Orleans and Indiana since leaving Boston for a richer contract in 2008. Even at 35, Posey could still be a viable force on the inside, as a swing forward and center in smaller sets. He averaged almost five points and three rebounds per in 49 games last season.

All Didier Drogba wants is a multi-year contract that pays him up to £6 million ($9.6 million) per season. Is that too much to ask for? Why soccer teams around the world aren’t lining up to throw that money his way is a mystery.

The Chelsea striker is out of contract at the end of the season, and it appears that his time at Stamford Bridge is coming to an end. He rejected the club’s offer of a one-year contract in November, and a longer-term deal doesn’t seem to be coming his way.

Drogba can leave the Blues on a free transfer for the destination of his choosing, and money will be a one of the deciding factors. Recent reports put his salary demands in the £6 million range, but his public relations company told the International Business Times that the quoted figure was wide off the mark.

Landing the 34-year-old Ivorian hero for even that amount would represent a coup for any club. He’s sharp, fit and explosive enough for Chelsea — still one of Europe’s stronger teams — to back him to perform at or near his current level for another year. Interested teams should also take note that the very people who him perform on a daily basis think he’s good enough to save both Chelsea’s season and his manager’s job.

If the next stop in Drogba’s career takes him to a league that is a lower standard than the Premier League, there’s no reason why he cannot continue to play at a high level for the next two to three years.

The Drogba-lead Ivory Coast slipped up at the last hurdle in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations. He took the loss particularly hard, but vowed to continue playing for his country. The four-time African Footballer of the Year is determined to lead the Elephants at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and he’ll surely stay sharp at club level to prepare for the big stage.

Drogba’s presence may or may not provide £6 million worth of on-field value over the next few years, but he’ll certainly cover the difference off it. Few players can match his achievements — for club and country — over the last decade. Chelsea ended a 50-year championship drought when he arrived in 2004, and has been at or near the top of the league ever since. For Ivory Coast, he is the 24-karat gem in its golden generation of players.

He would bring skill, professionalism and a fierce competitive nature to which ever locker room he graces. He would inspire and mentor young players, showing them what it takes to reach the top level. Under-performers would be “devoured” (as former manager Carlo Ancelotti describes his approach) by the fiery veteran.

Drogba enjoys iconic, almost mythical, status in many parts of the world but particularly in Africa. Other than Nelson Mandela, he may be the most well-known and admired public figure on the continent. He is revered for his charity work — the Didier Drogba Foundation is building a $4.7 million hospital in Abidjan, Ivory Coast — and politicians rush to associate themselves with him.

The team that lands his signature will become a household name in the global south. That club will also make headlines in the western media, similar to the way the L.A. Galaxy came to prominence after signing David Beckham.

The goals, spotlight and jerseys he would sell should make Drogba an attractive target for any team looking for an impact player. £12-£18 million is a risky bet, but the payoff could be so much greater than that.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

9:00 p.m.: Two deals have been completed that we have followed since the start of our live blog. 

Zamora has sealed his move to QPR, leaving Fulham in a £4.5 million ($7.1 million) deal. The England international striker signed a contract which runs until 2016. 

Jelavic has also finalized his move to Everton. The 26-year-old penned a contract that will keep him at Goodison park until 2016.

Lest we not forget, LFC reserve goalkeeper Martin Hansen signed with Danish club FC Viborg. 

That will conclude our live coverage of the deadline day dealings. We will report late deals and have some analysis in the coming days, so keep an eye out on NESN.com. 

8:30 p.m.: Tottenham remained busy up until the deadline. The North London club bolstered it's defense, adding Blackburn (and former D.C. United) defender Ryan Nelsen on loan.

The veteran center back has been limited to just one game this season because of a knee injury. Redknapp brought him in on a free transfer to provide cover in the heart of the Spurs defense.

8:20 p.m.: Spurs didn't want to admit it for much of the day, but Steven Pienaar is returning to Everton on loan until the end of the season.

The South African midfielder has only made two league appearances (both as a substitute) for the high-flying Spurs this season.

The 29-year-old midfielder joined Tottenham last year in January, but was unable to secure a regular place in Harry Redknapp's team. 

8:10 p.m.: Roman Pavlyuchenko is getting his wish, and finally leaving Tottenham. He will return to Russia with hopes of playing regular games and nailing down a place in Russia's Euro 2012 squad. 

Lokomotiv Moscow is his destination, as he departs for a fee believed to be around £8 million ($12.6 million). 

8:00 p.m.: The January transfer window has officially closed, but there will be a steady trickle (stream?) of news coming out over the next few hours. We will have it all for you, as it becomes official. 

6:30 p.m.: Pizzaro's move to City is complete. It is a loan deal that will run until the end of the season. 

The Chilean international joins the Premier League leader from AS Roma. Manager Luis Enrique has used him sparingly this season. Roberto Mancini could find his versatility and experience to be useful assets in City's title charge.

6:15 p.m.: Tottenham defender Sebastian Bassong has joined Wolves on loan until the end of the season.

The Cameroonian international has only made one start in the Premier League this season. 

Wolves could have used his services against Liverpool on Tuesday. 

6:05 p.m.: West Ham has signed Manchester United's rebellious teenager Ravel Morrison.

Sir Alex Ferguson was outraged by the soon to be 19-year-old's salary demands. He would have been a free agent at the end of the season, so United let him go for an undisclosed fee. 

5:59 p.m.: Edson Buddle, the former L.A. Galaxy striker, has been released from his contract by German club Ingolstadt FC.

The 30-year-old USA international had a trial with Everton in December.

5:50 p.m.: Zamora's move to QPR may have hit a snag because of his salary demands. 

A basic fee of £7 million ($11 million) — rising to £9 million ($14 million) with performance clauses — has been agreed to, but if Zamora doesn't pen a contract, the move will be off.

5:40 p.m.: With the deadline fast approaching, we can confirm a few moves. 

Saha is off to Spurs. He leaves Everton on a deal that runs through the end of the season. 

4:55 p.m.: What did we miss during LFC's demolition of Wolverhampton Wanderers? We'll round up the afternoon's transfer activity shortly. 

2:35 p.m.: QPR is assembling a real strike force at the deadline. Fulham's Bobby Zamora looks set to join Cisse in a revamped attack. 

2:30 p.m.: As if a ton is not enough, Arsenal has added another teenager to its ranks. 

Borrusia Dortmund's Thomas Eisfeld is going to try his luck at Prof. Wenger's finishing school. The 19-year-old has starred in the youth setup of the German champion, but has not made his first-team debut.

12:55 p.m.: AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri said that as of last night, he had "no hope" of signing Tevez.

The Mirror reports Milan and Manchester City were only £4 million ($6.3 million) apart in their respective valuations of the Argentine striker. But it doesn't look like anything will happen on the Tevez front before the deadline. 

12:05 p.m.: David Pizzaro looks like he's heading for Manchester City. 

The 32-year-old midfielder has been granted a work permit, and could help City's title charge in the months ahead. It will be a loan deal that may contain an option to buy him outright at the end of the season.

12 p.m.: With Jelavic looking set to complete his move from Rangers to Everton, the Scottish Champions have set their sights on Norwich Captain Grant Holt. 

Rangers' early bid was turned down, but they could come back with an improved offer. 

11:45 a.m.: Cisse's move to QPR is now official. The French international striker signed with the West London club until 2014.

He should be available to play in Wednesday's trip to Aston Villa.

11:30 a.m.: We have another confirmed deal to report. Roy Hodgson's West Brom has secured the transfer of Birmingham City defender Liam Ridgewell.

The reported fee is £2.5 million ($4 million). 

10:55 a.m.: Sotirios Kyrgiakos (remember him?) is back in England. He was last spotted in Sunderland, looking to seal a loan from German club Wolfsburg.

10:45 a.m.: German club Bayer Leverkusen has no use for the great Michael Ballack. But it has sealed a deal for Tottenham outcast Vedran Corluka. He joins Leverkusen on loan until the end of the season. 

The Croatian fullback hasn't started a league game since August, as Kyle Walker's steady performances have kept Corluka off the field. 

10:30 a.m.: Blackburn manager has told defender Christopher Samba that he is staying at the club for the remainder of the season. 

The experienced defender has pushed for a move away from the relegation contender in recent weeks, but it looks like he may not get his wish.

10:05 a.m.: Arsenal and Bolton have confirmed that teenage winger Ryo Miyaichi has joined Bolton on loan through the end of the season. 

The 19-year-old winger made just two appearances for the Gunners this season. He should return to Arsenal in the summer with some Premier League experience under his belt. 

9:45 a.m.: The Guardian reports Everton is agreeing to let Saha leave for Tottenham six months before his contract expires.

This, of course, is subject to the 33-year-old completing a physical, putting the chances of a move around 10 percent (just kidding, it's likely to happen). 

9:35 a.m.: Staying in Italy, it looks like Tiago Motta is joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) from Inter Milan. 

The 29-year-old midfielder was a key figure in Inter's 2010 UEFA Champions League-winning team, but the Italians are cashing in on him. 

He will join PSG for a reported £8.4 million ($13.3), in what looks like a cost-cutting measure. 

PSG will benefit from his experience, composure and versatility. 

9:11 a.m.: Sulley Muntari has completed a loan move from Inter Milan to across-the-hall rival AC Milan. 

The much-traveled Ghanaian has been a spectator for much of the season, and will help ease AC Milan's injury crisis in the midfield.

9:00 a.m.: Anzhi Makhachkala could solve Arsene Wenger's Andrey Arshavin dilemma. The Arsenal manager can't stop playing the misfiring Russian, yet he can't win with Arshavin in the lineup.

The mega-rich Russian club is in talks with Arsenal about bringing Arshavin back to his homeland. The Russian transfer window closes next month, so it does not have to happen before the close of the European transfer window. But Arsenal would need to sign a replacement on deadline-day.

8:56 a.m.: Marcus Olsson's move to Blackburn has been confirmed by the Premier League club.

The 23-year-old moves on a free transfer. His addition might not be enough to save Blackburn from relegation.

8:50 a.m.: Wayne Bridge has found an escape route from Manchester City that takes him to Sunderland. 

The former England left back joins Martin O'Neil's band of brothers on loan until the end of the season. 

8:30 a.m.: Pavel Pogrebnyak, a 28-year-old Russian striker with German club VFB Stuttgart, is in West London undergoing a physical with Fulham, according to numerous sources.

If he joins the Cottagers, Bobby Zamora could be headed to QPR, as has been rumored. Others could be on the move to and from Fulham as well.

8:20 a.m.: This move is confirmed. Kevin De Bruyne is joining Chelsea from Belgian club Racing Genk … in the summer.

The Associated Press reports the Blues signed the Belgian winger for a reported £9 million ($14.2 million), then waffled on his start date. They loaned De Bruyne back to Genk through the end of the season. He signed a contract that runs until 2017, so time is on his side. Yes it is.

8:10 a.m.: Here's another rumor for you: Lois Saha is on his way from Merseyside to North London.

A loan from Everton to Tottenham seems to be a possibility. 

7:45 a.m.: Rumor has it, AC Milan has reopened talks about signing Tevez. 

And it appears Tevez is appealing the fine of six-weeks' pay with which Manchester City hit him back in December. He's taking his case to the Premier League. 

7:30 a.m.: Blackburn is attempting to reunite the band. It has signed Swedish winger Marcus Olsson from Swedish club Halmstads.

Olsson's twin brother Martin has been with Blackburn since 2007.

7:20 a.m.: Expect QPR to be very busy on deadline day. New manager Mark Hughes will throw some money around to strengthen his team as it battles relegation.

His first move is to bring Djibril Cisse to London from Lazio. The former LFC striker will reportedly cost £4 million ($6.3 million).

7:10 a.m.: It looks like Everton will win the race for (Glasgow) Rangers striker Jelavic. He is heading to Merseyside to negotiate a contract with the Toffees, and take that all-important physical. ESPN reports the transfer fee is reported to be around £8 million ($12.6 million). It is unknown where Everton came up with that kind of cash. 

7:05 a.m.: First up, it's all quiet on the Liverpool front with no word of any players coming or going.

 7 a.m.: Good morning, good afternoon and good evening to all of you out there. There's plenty of action to talk about, so we're just going to dive right in. 

12 a.m. ET: Call it the calm before the storm, but the January 2012 transfer window has been a very quiet one so far. But the close of any transfer window is always good for a flurry of deadline-day deals, and we'll have them covered right here.

Manchester City's Carlos Tevez is on his way back to the Premier League leader, but he may not get a chance to unpack his bags. Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic was rumored to be longing for a move to Anfield, but he may land at Everton instead. Arsenal could be adding another young player, Thomas Eisfeld, to its ranks.

Join us right here, as we'll follow all the comings and goings around Liverpool, the Premier League and world soccer. We'll have news, analysis, insight and opinion about the major deadline-day moves starting at 7 a.m. ET.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O'Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Much of the speculation about the 21-year-old leaving Twente was caused by one short answer he gave in response to a question about his future. He spoke of his desire to someday play outside of his country – as all the Dutch greats do at some point — and he was instantly linked with any Premier League club rumored to be looking for a striker.

The fact of the matter is that De Jong has shown no real desire to leave Twente in the near term. He developed from a talented, but raw, teenager to a full international in two-plus seasons at the club. He is also in contention for a place in the 23-man Dutch squad at next summer’s European championships, and a move to a new team (especially in a higher-level league) would jeapordize his chances. Any adaptation period could hurt his form, confidence and playing time.

In a bit of recycling, Twente hired Steve McClaren as its manager earlier this month. The former England manager led the club to the Eredivisie title in 2010. McLaren was in charge at Twente when it brought De Jong to the club from De Graafschaap back in 2009. The manager and will likely depend on the hitman to lead the third-place club’s title charge this season.

Sibling rivalry could play a role as well. De Jong’s older brother, Siem, is an attacking midfielder at title rivals Ajax Amsterdam. Ajax pipped Twente to the title on the final day of last season. Luuk may see this season as a great chance to get one over on his older brother, before setting out on his own European adventure.

De Jong’s agent recently said no Premier League club has contacted him about his client. That does not mean one sale within the league won’t set off a domino effect — as we saw last year when Fernando Torres left Liverpool for Chelsea. But it’s more realistic to think De Jong will end the season at Twente, play for the Netherlands at Euro 2012, drive up his price, and leave for another club in the summer.

If a potential buying club is that certain about his talent and ability, it would be wise to bring him into the fold sooner rather than later. Several millions of dollars are at stake. Any goal he scores at Euro 2012 will see he price tag multiply. De Jong and Twente would have it no other way. The buying club would feel the sting.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Liverpool FC has been linked with a number of players in recent weeks, including Darren Bent, Luuk De Jong and Esteban Granero, just to name a few. Some may think the club has holes to fill, but LFC won’t discuss potential deals until they are sealed. It’s standard practice for most teams, actually.

Dimitar Berbatov could be playing his last few months with Manchester United. And what are the chances Fernando Torres ends his Chelsea nightmare and high-tails it back to Spain?

NESN.com’s Marcus Kwesi O’Mard and European Soccer Correspondent Ben Lyttleton discuss the latest transfer rumors surrounding Liverpool FC and big names in English and European soccer.

Listen to the podcast or download it in the player below.

The transfer window opened a week ago Sunday, and we're still waiting for some big names to switch teams. Don't hold your breath. There will be more movement toward the end of January. For now, teams are window shopping.

These things take time and are often the result of sensitive negotiations. There are other cases like that of Lionel Messi. The agreement between FC Barcelona and his family to bring the then 13-year-old to Europe was originally made on a napkin (pictured). The rest is history. Let's get to the questions. 

Hi Marcus, I know Liverpool doesn't reveal its transfer targets, but can you tell us some of the players that have been linked with Liverpool in recent months and weeks? Thank you.
– Andrew, Rochester, U.K.

Hello Andrew. Without editorializing or commenting on the likelihood of each, the ones I've heard about are as follows: Aston Villa striker Darren Bent, Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic, FC Twente striker Luuk De Jong, Porto midfielder Fernando Reges, Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tioté and Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero.

There's another group of players that has been linked to the club, but not widely (if at all) reported in mainstream news outlets. They are: FC Koln's Lukas Podolski, Tottenham's Niko Kranjcar, Birmingham's Nathan Redmond, Lyon's Bafetimbi Gomis, Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace, and Junior Hoilett from Blackburn.

Thanks for the question, Andrew. Make of those names what you will.

I read you your report that Kaka is leaving Real Madrid. Has he fallen so far that Jose Mourinho will sell him in January?
– Chris, Boston

Hi Chris, thanks for the local support. I don't see Kaka leaving Madrid in January. He's finally back to playing regular games, and I expect him to make an even greater contribution in the second half of the season. 

Some have argued that he's a spent force, but I don't think that's entirely fair. He battled a knee injury in the second half of the 2009-10 season (his first in Spanish soccer), played through the pain at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, before finally shutting it down before the 2010-11 season. He returned to the field a year ago and, predictably, suffered a couple more strains and pulls.

I think Mourinho still values the Brazilian international, but won't give him an automatic place in the first 11. If Kaka can accept that, he'll stick around as a squad player on a team challenging for every trophy for which it is competing. If he rattles cages behind the scenes, he'll go. I think he's still got another year or two of greatness left in him. Thanks, Chris.

Dear Marcus, you previously discounted Spurs from finishing in the top 4. Are you prepared to eat your words yet? Also, Man City appear to be showing sign of where and tear. Do you consider them to be favorites?
– Issac, Gaborone, Botswana

Isaac, you've sent so many great questions to the mailbag this week, I'll let you carry it from here. I can't thank you enough for the support.

I'm not prepared to eat my words, but I'm preparing to prepare to eat them (if that makes sense). I have to give Spurs their deserved credit for performances in the first half of the season. They're in third place with some distance between Chelsea, Arsenal, LFC and Newcastle. But is it enough? I'm not so sure.

Everything has gone Tottenham's way in the first half of the season, but its squad depth will be put to the test going forward. Scott Parker, Aaron Lennon, William Gallas and Sandro have all suffered injuries recently. If anything (injury, suspension, arrest, etc.) happens to Gareth Bale, Tottenham's cooked. 

As for City, I consider them title contenders, but I still refuse to call them favorites. I'm deferring to the law of averages as my reason for thinking they will suffer a blip. With the Toure brothers in Africa and Gareth Barry suspended, we'll see what the upstarts are really made of in the coming weeks.

Marcus, why are big teams signing mid-table players and expecting to become world-class teams? Is Gary Cahill's move to Chelsea the solution to their woes or more evidence the AVB is out of his depth?
– Issac, Gaborone, Botswana

Cahill is part of the ongoing transition at Chelsea. Manager Andre Villas-Boas was brought in to re-make Chelsea and nobody told him he has to be nice about it. A year from now, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Flourent Malouda, Alex, will most likely leave Stamford Bridge. Petr Cech, Ashley Cole and even John Terry could follow them shortly therafter. 

Adding Cahill is just one piece of the puzzle for Chelsea's future. If AVB surrounds him with world-class players, the Bolton defender could be quite useful at a big club. But he's 26 and has made only seven appearances for England. He's not going to improve much beyond his current level by moving to a "big" club.

My take is that he mirrors Chelsea. The Blues are a good team, but nowhere near an elite team. Unless Villas-Boas adds some champions into the squad, they will be what they are.

That's all for this week. Thanks for all the questions and support. Keep sending them both. 

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O'Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Darren Bent can provide instant relief for Liverpool’s goal-scoring woes. The Aston Villa striker is a proven Premier League goal scorer, and a rumored move to LFC makes sense for Bent and both clubs.

The 27-year-old has played in the Premier League for Ipswich, Charlton, Tottenham, Sunderland and Villa, and has consistently scored at each stop. His 97 goals in 224 top-flight games put him in position to join the select group of 100-plus goal scorers in the near future. 

A knock on Bent in the past has been that he lacks a complete, all-around game. Critics say he is too direct and doesn’t bring his teammates into the flow of the game. But one thing that has never been in doubt is his ability to put the ball in the back of the net.

Liverpool has had difficulty scoring goals in the 2011-12 season and adding a finisher of Bent’s caliber would provide an option worth testing. The Reds create chances in bunches, and having someone with Bent’s qualities should see the team convert a higher percentage of them, according to simple mathematics.

Liverpool has money to spend in January and Bent could cost as much as £15 million ($23.1 million). That fee wouldn’t necessarily hinder LFC’s future transfer dealings.

Aston Villa is a team in transition. First-year manager Alex McLeish is trying to build a team in his own image, but needs money to recruit his favorite players from previous stops at Birmingham and Rangers. Selling Bent, a player whose performances this season have not matched those of last season, would allow him to fund a needed rebuilding project.

Although McLeish claims he has no intention of selling Bent, he could be posturing that way in order to get the highest possible fee for a player whose long-term future at the club is in doubt.

Bent could see Liverpool as an ideal sporting challenge. At 27, he’s in the prime of his career. Helping take LFC back to its rightful place at or near the top of the Premier League would cement his legacy as one of the English game’s top players in recent years. It would also give him a chance to score goals in the UEFA Champions or Europa Leagues. That would make him an almost automatic inclusion for England squads (if healthy) for the 2012 European Championships and 2014 FIFA World Cup.

If the three parties can agree on a transfer fee and salary, there’s no reason why the move should not go through.  

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

For the Celtics, the season kicked off in earnest on Thursday, when team president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and head coach Doc Rivers met with the media, a chore they no doubt missed terribly during the NBA's hiatus. While there were certainly no shortage of topics to discuss (including, ahem, who exactly is going to play basketball for the Celtics this season), the most pressing issue was Rondo. 

"I don't anticipate that, no," Ainge said flatly when asked if he plans to trade Rondo, according to The Boston Globe.

"I'm not, no," Ainge also said when asked if he is trying to trade Rondo.

Of course, Ainge had nothing else he possibly could have said. It would have been considered somewhat bad business to tell the media, "Why yes, you brilliant sleuths, you've figured me out! I am trying to trade Rondo — do you have any suggestions?"

But for the Celtics' sake, Ainge better be serious, and for a number of reasons.

The first is that if you send away Rondo, you officially have two players under contract for the 2012-13 season. Those two players would be a 35-year-old Paul Pierce and Avery Bradley, who currently has played 162 NBA minutes. As it is right now, the Celtics have Rondo, an All-Star point guard, locked up for relatively cheap money for four more years. Most teams don't like trading that away.

Another issue, maybe, is that you have to be concerned about Rondo's mental state. He's been criticized through the years for being fragile, or temperamental, or hard-headed, and so on. Some of it's fair, of course, but that same sensitivity is exactly what makes Rondo and every other great athlete a great athlete. Why does Rondo elevate his game in the playoffs, or when he's facing a Steve Nash or Chris Paul or Deron Williams? It's because of that mentality of having something to prove. It's driven people to forever love Dustin Pedroia. It's not always sensible, but it shouldn't have to be.

Ainge, for his part, isn't overly concerned with Rondo's attitude in the midst of flying rumors.

"Rondo will be fine," Ainge said. "Rondo knows that we love him. He knows that we like him. … He's a great player. There's a lot of people that call me and ask me about Rondo. How these rumors get out is unfortunate. We didn't leak those rumors out. He'll deal with it, he'll be fine."

The third issue is that if you take Rondo off the Boston roster, the average age of its starting five jumps from around 32.6 years old to 34.5 years old. Again, most NBA teams would prefer getting younger and not older — that is, if winning is a priority. The 66-game season will be a grind, with much less rest, and seven-game series in the playoffs are always a struggle for knees that have been jumping up and down and bending and banging for the past 35 years or so. Just ask Kevin Garnett.

Rondo, at 25 years old, is perhaps the most athletic player in the league. He continues to improve on almost everything, except free-throw shooting. If he could actually get that under control (not impossible), his points per game would go up to the 13-14 range, thereby quelling all those concerns about his jump shot. He may not ever be Magic Johnson, but being Rondo is actually not all that bad. You can ask the 2008 Celtics about that.

"I think he's one of the top point guards in the NBA. I think Rondo has established that," Rivers said Thursday. "He is a great basketball player, and he does so many things for our team. He should be flattered in a lot of ways that this is news."

Flattered? Sure, I guess. Getting your name bandied about as a potential trading partner for the best point guard in basketball (Paul) doesn't happen to most players. But he better also better be trusting, and Ainge better be honest, because if these rumors turn out to be more than just fodder, the road to a Celtics title this season will get infinitely more difficult.

Yet that's the situation the Red Sox currently face.

While Josh Reddick is doing his best to dispel the notion that the Sox need to upgrade their right-field situation, a right-handed bat, particularly a veteran, could really give the Sox a boost down the stretch and into the postseason.

That's where Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran comes in. 

OK, so maybe Beltran — or any right fielder, for that matter — would be more of a luxury than anything for the Red Sox, given the potency of the rest of the lineup. But with the Sox sitting atop the American League, pretty much any addition the team makes will be a luxury.

Beltran isn't going to make or break the Sox. Frankly, I'm not sure any player available at this year's trade deadline has that sort of potential. But he'd give the Red Sox a bonafide impact player to plug into a position from which they've received some of the worst production in all of baseball.

And since most of the Sox' current concerns are internal, with the health of their pitching staff at the top of the list, he just might be what the doctor ordered when it comes to acquiring someone from outside the organization who could help elevate them to the next level on a nightly basis.

Entering Monday's matchup with the Orioles, here is where the Red Sox rank among major league teams in terms of production from the right-field position (which has consisted primarily of J.D. Drew, Darnell McDonald and, once upon a time, Mike Cameron):

Hits: 73 (30th)
Doubles: 9 (30th)
Home runs: 10 (19th)
RBI: 41 (21st)
Runs: 37 (28th)
Total bases: 114 (30th)
Batting average: .217 (29th)
On-base percentage: .299 (30th)
OPS: .638 (29th)
Slugging percentage: .338 (28th)

The Mets, who have had Beltran start in right field for 83 of the team's 94 games, rank in the top 10 in the majors in all of those statistical categories.

Of course, that right-field production hasn't translated into a great deal of success for the Mets, but Beltran's true value could become more evident in Boston, where he's a career .327 hitter in 25 games. Now, 110 plate appearances isn't much of a sample size, but that .327 clip at Fenway is tied for the second-highest average in any park in which he's played more than 12 games.

And not only is Beltran a switch-hitter, which would fulfill the Sox' desire to add a right-handed bat, but he's shown a propensity for thriving on the big stage when given the opportunity.

Beltran's highest career batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS for any single month is August, with his second-best marks in all of those categories historically coming in September/October. In other words, the Sox would be getting him just before he usually peaks.

He also seems to thrive late in ballgames, something that would also be an upgrade over their current right-field situation. While J.D. Drew is a career .258 hitter in the ninth inning and Darnell McDonald is a career .200 hitter in the frame, Carlos Beltran has a .323 career ninth-inning average to go with a .391 on-base percentage — each the highest of any inning for him.

With the stakes even higher during postseason play, Beltran has been a monster. The only problem is that the six-time All-Star hasn't been given much of an opportunity to perform on the big stage in the playoffs, having played for the Royals, Astros and Mets in his 14-year career.

But when he has had the opportunity, he hasn't disappointed — with the exception of the infamous called strike three to end the 2006 NLCS, for which Mets fans will never forgive him. In 22 career playoff games, he has 11 home runs, 19 RBIs, a .366 average, a .485 on-base percentage, an .817 slugging percentage and a 1.302 OPS — all of which are simply amazing. In fact, he pretty much single-handedly carried the Astros to within one game of the 2004 World Series.

Oh yeah, by the way, he's a career .351 hitter in 97 career at-bats against A.J. Burnett, Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia – three starters in the current Yankees rotation.

Of course, Beltran's probably past the days of carrying an offense quite like he did in the early 2000s, but he doesn't need to be a "make-or-break" player in Boston. He would just need to give the Sox what they haven't gotten thus far in 2011 — a stabilizing force in right field.

The major hurdle for the Sox, though, is that a deal for Beltran could get complicated. It's believed that the Mets are looking for a top prospect in return, rather than simply trying to dump salary.

For a rental player, that could end up being a steep price. It won't seem so steep, though, if Beltran can arrive on the scene, give the Sox three consistent months and help the team win its third World Series in eight seasons.

Sometimes you've just got to roll the dice. And since the Red Sox currently have most of the pieces to a World Series puzzle in place, it might be a good time to do so.