Both Teixeira and Sabathia fit the Sox's preference for younger free agents, but Epstein almost certainly would not go to six years on Sabathia, which is what the Yankees offered. Yet, the Sox gave right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka a six-year deal at 26. And they've shown interest in another free-agent right-hander, A.J. Burnett, who is looking for five.

"There will be pitchers signed to free-agent deals who go on and are worth every penny and more, dominate for years to come," Epstein told the Boston media this week. "We're interested in a lot of those pitchers, but we have an approach and we'll probably stick with it."

Fair enough, especially considering the long-term health concerns surrounding both Sabathia and Burnett — and every other living, breathing starting pitcher, for that matter.

Burnett's injury history is well-documented; Sabathia has been far more durable. Still, Sabathia underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee at the end of the '06 season. Some rival executives wonder if his 290-pound frame will lead to further breakdowns. And several teams were disturbed by his workload last season with the Indians and especially the Brewers, who pitched him on short rest in each of his final four starts.

But ask Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon and Jon Lester — the Red Sox rank among the game's best at designing pitching regimens and keeping pitchers healthy. What's more, the Red Sox could use an innings-eating ace to help reduce the pressure on their younger pitchers.

Matsuzaka is not that guy, at least not yet. Beckett, even in his healthiest seasons, barely clears 200 innings. Lester stands a good chance of becoming a workhorse, if he isn't already. But Lester is not yet 25, and the Red Sox want to keep his pitch counts and innings totals within reason.

Enter Sabathia.

Beckett is two years away from free agency, or maybe even one if the Sox decline his option for 2010. Future free-agent markets, meanwhile, will offer little in the way of solutions.