Okay.  I lied.  I am going to talk about the possibility of Clemens returning to Boston.  How could I resist?  Read the following article from Gordon Edes at the Globe today, detailing the take of Sox pitching coach and Clemens’s long-time pal Al Nipper on the situation:

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/04/26/for_nipper_it_would_be_classic_reunion/

Of course, Nipper is hardly an unbiased source.  He is lobbying his friend hard to come back to where it all started for the Rocket, and why wouldn’t he?  The Sox sure could use Clemens, and Nipper would love to win a ring with the team.  The old buddies both came close as teammates in ’86, but we all know how that ended.

Surely it would be poetic for Roger to return to the team with which he got his baseball start, the organization with which he won 192 games (tied with Cy Young himself for the most in Red Sox history), three Cy Young Awards, and an MVP, the city in which he was beloved for 13 seasons.  Should he return, he would be beyond beloved — he would be a mythical figure, the prodigal son returning.  If Clemens led Boston to a World Championship…Well, words can scarcely describe that status…but it would leave more than a few Bostonians starting a new religion.

Truth be told, Clemens should return to Boston.  It just feels right.  It’s the right story.  It’s the right ending.  It’s all the drama and all the pressure and all the adrenaline: the stuff of Rocket’s dreams and then some.  It seems like — dare I say it? — destiny.

But we all know that destiny, however palpable it seems, is beyond our control.  For now, we can only hope.  But what a destiny it would be.

The Sox have given up newly re-signed Bronson Arroyo (3 years, $11.25 million) and cash in a trade to Cincinnati for outfielder Wily Mo Pena.  Pena will serve Boston as a fourth outfielder.  To date in his young career, the 24-year-old Pena has not shown an ability to hit righties well (.237 AVG/.286 OBP/.454 SLG over three seasons), but he has had great success against lefties, mashing them to the tune of an .883 career OPS in three seasons (.276/.347/.536).  He will be an ideal platoon partner with Trot Nixon (who most often sits against lefties, or at least reasonably tough ones) and serve as the team’s fourth OF in general.  Nixon has had a strong spring with the Sox (.323 BA/.516 SLG).

Arroyo was quite expendable for Boston and the trade made great sense for the Red Sox.  Pena has huge up side at his age and experience level and could well develop into a guy who hits righties with better success.  He’ll be good enough to play against any lefty in the OF for Nixon (or as DH) and in general whenever Crisp or Manny need a rest as well.  Arroyo is a career 5th starter (4th in his best years maybe).  He throws strikes but never dominates.  The Sox have a sixth option at starter in Papelbon, who could easily be a number 2 starter in a couple years, and they have Jon Lester waiting in the wings.  Schilling has looked great this spring with his ankle finally fully recovered, and Beckett even more so.  Wakefiled will be able to pitch until he’s 50 (and knuckleballers, like fine wine, get better with age).  Wells, though rotund and outspoken, has made at least 30 starts in 9 of the last 10 seasons (and at least 29 in 10 of 11).  Clement, also looking strong this spring, has not had a history of health problems, starting at least 30 games in each of his 7 Major League seasons.

As for Bronson’s "hometown discount," those moaning about it are listening too much to the spin from Arroyo’s agent.  The Red Sox made it clear to him that there was absolutely no guarantee that he would not be traded.  He knew what he was getting into when he signed for a very fair price of $3.75 million per year.  It should not surprise him that he was bait when the team had 7 starters and he was the cheapest (other than Papelbon).  He was an excellent contributor to the team and I’m sure will be missed in the clubhouse, but this was straight up business.  The fans in Boston surely wish him well in Cincinnati.