With both local winter teams off Monday, all the local attention could focus on Globe writer Ron Borges, who was benched for two months for plagiarizing a Seattle writer in his Sunday football column. (Deadspin has the passages in question.) When asked for a quote, Borges said (not really): "'Tis a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done." Good news in Florida, as Jon Lester got back on the mound......

Well, don't you all feel better? The centerfield and shortstop holes have been filled, and the Olde Towne Team is shaping up. After an arduous and sketchy month or so, the Sox finally came to terms with the Cleveland Indians, acquiring highly touted Coco Crisp, relief pitcher David Riske, and backup Catcher Josh Bard. The Sox sent the Indians 3rd base prospect Andy Marte, catcher Kelly Shoppach, relief pitcher Guillermo Mota, a player to......

The Olde Towne Team, which in recent months has been in GM hell, has finally begun wheeling and dealing this off-season in preparations for the 2006 campaign. Peter Gammons of ESPN.com is reporting that the Boston Red Sox have tentatively agreed to a deal with the Florida Marlins (pending physical examinations) that would send stud starting pitcher Josh Beckett and contract liability Mike Lowell to Boston for 2 top prospects (Hanley Ramirez SS, and......