12:32 PM EDT on Thursday, June 24, 2004

BOSTON -- If the Red Sox had adopted a campaign slogan for their approach to last year's trading deadline, it would have been this: It's the pitching, stupid.

In the span of two weeks, the Red Sox acquired two relievers -- Scott Williamson and Scott Sauerbeck -- and a starter -- Jeff Suppan -- to bolster their staff for the final two months.

This year, the strategy has changed. Put simply, the Sox are looking for the best player available. And that best player, unquestionably, is Carlos Beltran, whom the Sox are very much pursuing.

It doesn't mean they're going to get him when he is dealt, which sources say could be as soon as this weekend and no later than next weekend. In fact, conversations with a handful of executives in both leagues place the Red Sox' chances at fair, at best. The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and New York Yankees are, in the estimation of a number of people in the game, all better positioned than the Sox to land the talented Beltran.

But the Sox' interest in Beltran is instructive in a number of ways.

First, it signals that the Sox aren't much interested in what little is available in the way of pitching. If the Sox package Kevin Youkilis and Kelly Shoppach for Beltran, it will leave them with little else to offer for a starting pitcher. The upper levels of the farm system will be pretty much bare.

"They have some other people I like," said a rival GM who has discussed some deals with the Sox, "but they're guys at Class A. And I don't like dealing for Class A guys. They're still a few years away and a lot can happen."

A lot can -- and will -- change before the final week of July, when the trade market crystalizes. But for now, the only quality starter available is Freddy Garcia, and with the Mariners on their first hot streak of the season (7-3 in their last 10 games before last night), even Seattle ownership is hedging on beginning its sell-off.

Further, as high as the selling price will be for Beltran, it's likely that Garcia may, oddly enough, fetch more in return. Teams routinely overpay for pitching. Teams unwilling to get into the bidding for Beltran aren't as reluctant to do so for Garcia, a reflection of how scarce quality arms are.

Then, too, teams may feel that trading for Garcia may give them the upper hand in re-signing the pitcher to a new contract. That's not an available option with Beltran, who will enter the free-agent market this offseason, regardless of how successful he is with his new team or how much he enjoys a new city.

The reason? Beltran is represented by Scott Boras, who intends to make him the top prize of this winter's free-agent class. Boras, according to some who have talked to him, intends to get Beltran a six- or seven-year deal with an average annual value of, minimally, $15 million.

No doubt, some of the Red Sox' reluctance to deal for Garcia comes from their experiences of a year ago. The Sox positioned themselves to obtain the best available starter, Suppan, and thought his acquisition to be quite a coup.

But reality was far different. Suppan won just three games in his 10 regular-season starts and was left off the roster for the ALCS.

Garcia is more accomplished than Suppan, but ask yourself this: If the playoffs started tomorrow, would Garcia be guaranteed a starting assignment? Not if Derek Lowe keeps pitching the way he has in his last four starts.

The Sox' starting staff is what it is. If Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling and Lowe pitch to their capabilities, the club should qualify for the postseason. Once there, there's little room for anyone else. And, if along the way one of the Big Three goes down, there's no one available as good as any of that trio.

By the same token, outfield is one of this team's obvious strengths, particularly with a healthy Trot Nixon back in the lineup. But because Beltran is one of the 10 best players in the game, his availability intrigues them.

While Beltran may seem like a luxury, his presence would represent a dramatic upgrade on several fronts. Because his arrival would mean alternating Manny Ramirez and Trot Nixon at DH and left field -- with Beltran in right and Johnny Damon remaining in center -- and would push Kevin Millar out of the lineup.

Millar hasn't produced since June of last year. Since last season's All-Star break, he has just 56 RBI in 140 games. On the basepaths, an even bigger chasm exists between Millar and Beltran; the former may be the slowest baserunner in the league, the latter the fastest.

Of course, if Beltran's arrival also transforms Ramirez into (effectively) the full-time DH, well, the defensive gap between the two needs little explanation.

And while the Sox wouldn't be deepening their pitching, Beltran's presence would improve both team speed and defense, two components that become more valuable in the postseason when the pitching is better and the games are closer.

Should the Sox fail in their bid for Beltran, it's more likely they'll turn their attention to another bat, and not as they might have done last year, to another arm.