The longer I’ve waited to write this story, the more drama has unfolded around the position.

Right on the heels of the Lackey signing, the Red Sox signed Mike Cameron to a 2 year, $15.5M deal to plug the hole in the outfield left by Jason Bay’s presumed exit.

What’s been the most interesting about this off season for me has been the change in attitude on the part of Boston fans towards Bay. What started out as a definite cry to re-sign him has become a “Vaya con Dios” mentality after he snubbed the Sox initial offer of $60M at 4 years.

Now, he looks like a simpleton for not taking it, having been seriously courted by no one…except the Mets. And good for him.

Now, the new word is the Sox are reportedly ready to break the bank and go after Bay again. RedSox.com is reporting that Ellsbury could be part of a potential trade to make room for Cameron and Bay. Is there a Red Sox fan alive who thinks this would be a good idea?

What’s most distressing about the seemingly endless Left Field drama are Bay’s 2009 numbers: .267 BA, but his 36 HR and 119 RBI’s make him attractive, but for  $15M+ a year, you’d expect excellent defense and something less than 162 strike outs. And the comments from Sox fans say as much across the internet.

The decision to go after Bay again disturbs me not so much because he isn’t worth the money, but because it makes me nervous about Theo’s mentality. Is he building the best team possible? Or is he pursuing the best of a weak free agent market in an attempt to keep up with the Yankees? And leveraging the future to do so?

The Yankees are always a concern, but the expenditures, particularly for Bay, lock the Sox into contracts that render them very weak 4-5 years from now. Again, is it better to leverage seasons from now in order to cobble together the next one?

Looking at 2010, I had already given it up as a lost season. Too many holes, too many problems, too many question marks.

Even now, the left field position is still up in the air. Cameron? Bay? Who knows?

Third base update: Talk about drama. Lowell was to be traded to the Rangers, then a medical exam of his thumb put it all on hold. Did Lowell know? He says he told everyone in the Sox office. Did they know about it and try to sneak him passed the Rangers?

One thing the Red Sox Dirt Dawg and I agree on. Lowell will not make it through Spring Training with the Sox.

Center Field next! Jacoby!