FORGET BELTRAN, SIGN #5

Nomar Garciaparra put the exclamation point on a solid performance by Boston Tuesday night, belting his fifth career grand slam as the Red Sox rolled past the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park, 9-2. The shortstop’s first home run of the year was part of a six-run seventh inning effort by the Sox, and Curt Schilling pitched seven strong innings to earn the victory. Schilling (9-4) allowed four hits and struck out five, allowing just one run and improving to 6-0 this season at home. David Ortiz contributed a home run and an RBI double, pushing his AL-leading RBI total to 65, while Manny Ramirez also hit a solo homer – his AL-leading 19th.

One big hit doesn’t mean that Nomar is fully recovered from the Achilles injury that kept him on the shelf for the first 57 games of this season, nor does it mean we can expect 430-foot bombs and curtain calls every evening. But perhaps it will serve notice to the Red Sox ownership that he should be their prized signing target. General Manager Theo Epstein’s attention currently appears to be elsewhere, with rumors of the team making a play for Kansas City outfielder Carols Beltran running rampant over the past few days. A number of scenarios have materialized for the Red Sox to acquire the Royals’ 27-year old soon-to-be free agent, a complete player who makes GMs salivate with his blend of power, speed and defense.

One potential three-way deal involves Boston obtaining Beltran, while sending reliever Scott Williamson and third baseman Kevin Youkilis to Oakland. Another has the Sox shipping those two players and minor leaguer Kelly Shoppach to the Royals for Beltran, straight up. As fun as it would be to thwart the Yankees, who also covet Beltran, neither plan makes sense. Where the Red Sox would play Beltran, with three strong outfielders already in place, is an unanswered question. Boston’s bullpen is not deep enough to make Williamson expendable. Youkilis has already shown flashes of his potential, and Shoppach is being groomed as the team’s catcher of the future. The price is just too high. With Beltran’s impending free agency after the season, is Boston really willing to risk mortgaging its future on what may amount to a three-month rental?

In order to ensure the team’s continuing success, Epstein needs to look no further than the guy wearing #5 on his own team . The cornerstone of the franchise since his Rookie of the Year campaign of 1997. A two-time batting champion who ranks in the top three among active players in career batting average. One of the premier shortstops in the game. A class act whose work ethic and team-first mentality are unparalleled. The Red Sox were willing to part with Garciaparra last winter during the Alex Rodriguez saga, but after a bizarre turn of events, they have been given a second chance. If any player is worth more than his “market value,” and should be retained for the rest of his career, it’s him. The ball is in Epstein’s court. Meanwhile, Nomar and his teammates – sans Beltran for now – look to make it two in a row against the Twins Wednesday at Fenway.