This column originally ran in The Standard-Times on Nov. 12, 2004.

By Nick Tavares

It's that time again.

With another glut of free agents in the market, there are several interesting situations developing. Players could be jumping teams, changing the market or getting shut out of the big bucks completely.

So who's going where? Here's a few possibilities

Carlos Beltran

Current team Houston

Future team Los Angeles

Outlook Beltran's incredible performance in the postseason, along with 38 homers in the regular season, brilliant defense in center field and Scott Boras's representation, means the former Royal will be looking for Manny Money -- 8-10 years at $15-17 million per. While every expert already has him fitted for the pinstripes of New York, I think the Dodgers could make a serious run for him. With Los Angeles a perennial contender in the National League, playing in Chavez Ravine could be much more appealing than New York.

Derek Lowe

Current team Boston

Future team Detroit

Outlook Lowe's chances of re-signing with the Red Sox are nil, and after his terrific performance in the playoffs, he'll be looking for at least two-to-three guaranteed years. Detroit, coming off a stellar improvement from 2003, would be the perfect fit -- their payroll isn't off the charts yet, they have a young team and he would pitching near his hometown of Dearborn, Mich.

Jason Varitek

Current team Boston

Future team Boston

Outlook Boras has already demanded a five-year, $50 million deal with a no-trade clause, which has sent a shiver up the spine of every Red Sox fan in the country. Even with that ridiculous demand however, he's still the soul of the team, and the only free agent Theo Epstein might consider overpaying for.

Carl Pavano

Current team Florida

Future team Boston

Outlook Pavano is a proven postseason pitcher coming off an All-Star season in which he led the defending World Series champs in wins. Florida is strapped for cash again, so his eyes will be fixed on the Yankees, Boston and Baltimore.

Granted, he's a New Englander by way of Connecticut, but while he was in the Sox' farm system in the late 1990s, he was set on becoming a part of the Boston rotation. Now, he'll finally get that chance.

The Shortstops

Players Nomar Garciaparra (Chicago), Orlando Cabrera (Boston), Edgar Renteria (St. Louis), Christian Guzman (Minnesota), Omar Vizquel (Cleveland)

Outlook With the market so full of All-Star shortstops, it's really hard to make heads or tails of it all. Renteria is a good bet to stay in St. Louis, but some have him coming to Boston. Nomar may re-sign with the Cubbies for one year, setting up a possible 2006 payday if he can prove himself. Guzman is a slick fielder who will get a nice two-year deal somewhere, Vizquel seems to have the White Sox in his sights and Cabrera could wind up just about anywhere else.

Ow. I have a headache.

Pedro Martinez

Current team Boston

Future team San Francisco

Outlook As big a mistake as it would be to leave the Red Sox, I just have a bad feeling the negotiations for Petey will fall through. But he won't become a Yankee, in spite of George Steinbrenner's attempts.

If he leaves, he's a good bet to sign with the Giants. He'd pitch for a contending National League team in a pitchers park where he could again be a No. 2 starter -- this time behind Jason Schmidt.

Most importantly, he would once again be guided by Felipe Alou, the manager who helped him transform from skinny middle reliever to dominating Hall of Famer.

Nick Tavares is a columnist for the Standard-Times. Email him at ntavares@s-t.com.

This story appeared on Page C1 of The Standard-Times on November 12, 2004.