MLB.com

By Tom Singer / MLB.com

Derek Lowe (left) and Pedro Martinez are two of Boston's potential free agents. (Michael Dwyer/AP)

Now that the Red Sox have reigned on their parade, and even before the cleanup crews have finished tidying up Boston, the baseball calendar shifts from the field to the boardroom.

But the focus will remain the same for a while. The World Series champion Red Sox are leaders in the offseason, with more potential free agents than any other MLB team.

Boston general manager Theo Epstein has to make calls, some much harder than others, on 17 free-agency eligibles. The Chicago Cubs are second in this regard, with 14 players, while among American League teams, the Rangers are next, with 13.

Though their seasons came to contrasting finishes, those three teams were among the Majors' most competitive in 2004, so their personnel challenges are weighty. The rumor mill is already grinding around Boston's Foremost Four -- Pedro Martinez, Jason Varitek, Derek Lowe and Orlando Cabrera.

But free agents, who won't hit the open market until Nov. 12, are still only in the smoldering stage. Right now the Stove is hottest with managerial openings, one of which was filled on Monday with Arizona's hiring of former Mets infielder Wally Backman.

That leaves two hot seats unoccupied, and Jim Leyland remains the most wanted to fill both. Leyland was the front-runner in Philadelphia until the New York Mets put him on their short list late last week.

Earlier, in case you missed it amid the World Series frenzy, the Mariners filled their managerial vacancy with Mike Hargrove.

For free agents, this still is basically declaration season. Through late Monday afternoon, 123 of the 217 eligibles had filed.

Guaranteed, not all of them will be getting new contracts: The list includes Mo Vaughn, who hasn't appeared in a game for two years but had to formally declare free agency to get his name off the Mets' 40-man roster.

Among the early legitimates, the Red Sox players are not the biggest names, a rank reserved for Carlos Beltran, Adrian Beltre and Carl Pavano.

However, they are the brightest names, thanks to the glare of a World Series title.

And it is more than a little interesting to note how two weeks in October have totally changed the perceptions of a couple of right-handers whom the Red Sox Nation was ready to turn away in September.

Now Martinez and Lowe are scalding-hot commodities.

Martinez, with his rich history, is already the newest hot-button in Red Sox-Yankees relations, with reports of George Steinbrenner's interest in the big-game pitcher.

Market-posturing aside, many view a Martinez-Yankees union as an extreme longshot. Even if you discount Martinez's litany of Yankees put-downs, there's the matter of his heart -- which at the moment appears to still belong to Boston.

In fact, Martinez is said to have confided to the Boston Globe's Stan Grossfeld, during the happy flight home from the World Series clincher, "I promise I'm not going to the Yankees. I want to stay right here."

Depending on his options, Martinez also would not mind reuniting in San Francisco with Felipe Alou, his former manager when both were with the Expos. To make him more attractive to the Giants, Martinez is even hinting about his willingness to make a John Smoltz-like switch to the bullpen.

For Lowe, who wasn't in Boston's original postseason rotation nor in their future plans, Epstein would have to revise his budget.

Varitek, the clubhouse and on-field leader, is very prominent in that budget, though not yet as prominent as his agent, Scott Boras, would like. Gordon Edes of the Globe has reported that the team is already presenting a three-year offer for $24 million. Varitek's opening request is believed to be closer to $50 million across five years.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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