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04:42 AM ET 11.21 | Theo Epstein is nothing if not logical, so we wouldn't be shocked to learn that the Red Sox' bloodless general manager is quietly shopping David Ortiz this off-season. We have no hard evidence to support this suspicion, mind you. It's just that, if certain things fall into place during the hot stove season, it makes more sense than some of us wish to admit. Consider: Should the Red Sox win the Mark Teixeira lottery -- and we're absolutely convinced that a lucrative-bordering-on-obscene offer will be forthcoming from Yawkey Way -- manager Terry Francona will be obligated to try to cram four high-quality everyday players (Ortiz, Teixeira, Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell) into three positions (third base, first base, designated hitter). Rather than dealing with that conundrum (not to mention the egos), it's more likely that the Sox would deal one of the quartet -- most likely Lowell, assuming he returns in good form after hip surgery. But it's no longer blasphemous to suggest that Epstein should at least gauge interest in the 33-year-old Ortiz as well.