Carl Everett By CARL SCHWEPPE Almost 10 years ago, Lou Gorman gave the Astros one of the best players in the NL today, Jeff Bagwell. Recently, Dan Duquette cashed in on the debt owed to the Red Sox and picked up Carl Everett. No, he's not as good as Bagwell, but then, Bagwell can't play center field. Everett will be the best CF the Sox have had since Fred Lynn was traded. In that time, CF has been manned by Tony Armas, Dave Henderson, and Ellis Burks, but also by Steve Lyons, Darren Lewis, the immortal Bob Zupcic, Billy Hatcher, Otis Nixon, Lee Tinsley, Willie McGee, and Darren Bragg. Everett was a tremendous player last year. He posted numbers that, per at bat, were comparable to Bernie Williams. On the minus side, he missed 30 games and last year was his best year. On the plus side, he posted those numbers in the Astrodome, which is one of worst parks for a hitter in the Major Leagues. (...Continued on Page 3)

Pedro Martinez won many awards in the offseason, including two of ours. The Sox Fan Magazine Awards     Major League Baseball has the MVP, the Cy Young, the Rookie of the Year, and the Manager of the Year awards which are annually distributed following the season. We have a different set of awards at Sox Fan Magazine. Here they are:     The Best Newcomer award goes to Jose Offerman. The all-star second baseman provided the Red Sox with a pure leadoff hitter, something they lacked in 1998. Brian Daubach and Ramon Martinez came in a distant second; neither had a full season. (...Continued on Page 4) Carlton Fisk has been elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Sox Fan Magazine's Bob George has the story.

Jeff Fassero By BEN BADLER On December 23, 1999, the Red Sox padded their rotation when they inked free agent left-handed pitcher Jeff Fassero to a 1-year deal. Fassero, who recently turned 37, is the perfect fit for the Boston Red Sox. He will be reunited with pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, GM Dan Duquette, and pitcher Pedro Martinez, all of whom he knew from their Montreal Expos days. He is also sick of the Yankees. “I’m not happy watching the Yankees win every year,” said Fassero. “And I think Boston is one of those teams that could beat them. If I can help and Boston can get over that hump, it would make me very happy.” Fassero’s main reason for wanting to sign with Boston was Joe Kerrigan’s presence. (...Continued on Page 3)