How about this for an eye-grabber:

It sounds like voodoo economics, but it’s possible that the only way the Red Sox can afford both ace Curt Schilling and closer Keith Foulke and still stay under the luxury-tax threshold of $120.5 million for 2004 is by making another deal — one that nets them Alex Rodriguez and the biggest contract in sports.

Gordon Edes sure knows how to get the reader’s attention. I will continue to play the paranoid patsy until Rodriguez is not a Red Sox. Meanwhile, the Red Sox and Curt Schilling will talk turkey today. Schilling is in the driver’s seat here. At this point, the Sox will look bad if they can’t reel him in. Look for Schilling to ask for the anything he wants, and look for “Theo and the Trio” to give it to him. Boston hopes to satiate Red Sox Nation will dreamy headlines for the holiday tomorrow.