It’s no secret the Boston Red Sox have some major holes to fill in their rotation and will look to both free agency and the trade market to find their needs. Rumors are already swirling about who Boston will target.

The biggest pitching names associated with Boston so far are James Shields, Jon Lester, Cole Hamels and even Chris Sale. Realistically, I think the Red Sox bring in one starter through free agency and one through trade. There are other potential free agents like David Price and Max Scherzer, but I think they stay away from both those guys who will have much higher asking prices than Boston is willing to pay.

The latest speculation presents Shields to the Red Sox as almost a done deal and that the potential of bringing back Lester gets smaller and smaller each day. It’s been reported that the Chicago Cubs are going to go all out on signing Lester as their ace, and with Theo Epstein as the club’s general manger, I can understand the thinking behind that.

That being said, I’m not sold just yet. It’s all just talk right now and a lot can happen before winter meetings take place and deals start getting done. Lester is too caught up in chasing a playoff spot with the A’s to comment on his pending free agency right now, but he’s expressed his love for Boston and potentially rejoining the club already. On top of that, the Red Sox seem to be on good terms with him since the trade. There is no doubt in my mind they will pursue him heavily this offseason.

With money to spend, management is in a good position to offer him a contract that meets both their needs. We’ll see how high Boston is willing to bid to bring their former ace back, and if they really get outdone by the Cubs. My gut tells me this was the plan all along and Lester will be pitching on April 6, 2015, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

Where does that leave Shields? Well, like I said, I don’t think the Red Sox go after more than one guy through free agency, so Lester, in my opinion, is that guy. Shields however is a good backup plan if a deal with Lester falls through, of course.

Now we look to a starter the club can trade for. There have been some rumblings from the Chicago White Sox camp that they may make Sale available via trade this winter, but I’m not necessarily buying it. Chicago just locked him up through at least 2017 and as a team in rebuilding, I think they want to at least see if they can be more competitive with him leading the charge. That leaves Hamels, who I think Boston can easily acquire given all the talented prospects they have as trade chips. With four years and about $90 million remaining on his contract, Boston gets great bang for their buck, while sending maybe Anthony Ranaudo, Garin Cecchini and Brian Johnson to the Philadelphia Phillies in return; just an idea.

I think that deal is not only fair, but it frees up the Phillies’ cap space a little bit since they are dying to get those huge contracts of Hamels, Ryan Howard and Cliff Lee off the books. Pursuing Hamels will be a top priority for Boston this offseason and I see a deal getting done.

Nonetheless, some combination of Lester and Hamels or Shields and Hamels could be a deadly top of the rotation for the Red Sox come 2015; not to mention, if Sale becomes available as well. Red Sox Nation is itching to get to winter and see what moves Boston makes.

Spencer German is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Spencito6. “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google