Unlike Michael Wilbon of Pardon the Interruption, I love the Hot Stove. Sure, 90 percent of the speculation will never come to fruition, but it’s always invigorating to consider the possibilities for your team and other teams. Example: I hope to Vishnu the Yankees sign Manny Ramirez. It’d be nice to see that Bronx team full of delusions once again. Besides, it’s obvious the Yankees still need pitching, which is why it’s surprising they declined the option on Carl Pavano. Granted, the guy only managed to make it to the hill 26 times in four seasons, but he proved towards the end of ‘08 that he was far from washed up. Who knows, maybe he’ll re-up with the Yankees for a cheaper base salary than the $14 million he would have received in ‘09. Or — and please, don’t pass out — he’ll come back to the team that drafted him.

Your Boston Red Sox.

Yeah, I know Pavano has become a punchline, particularly in New York, where the failings of the last four years have largely been placed at the feet of Carl. But the fact is, the Red Sox pushed hard to sign him in 2005, when he was a free agent coming off a career year in Florida. Have Theo Epstein and the powers that be lost all love for Pavano? Maybe. And maybe they know that signing Pavano would both inflame the Sox fan base and stoke the excitement of those fans of the Bronx. In other words — a double whammy.

Given that, we have to put Pavano firmly atop the list of players the Sox will hopefully avoid this off-season. Here are some others

*Adam Dunn. (He might walk a lot, but I can’t stomach another Mark Bellhorn-type who strikes out 190 times. I know that’s unreasonable, but I have to watch these games, and I can’t stand humps who can’t make contact. )

* Brian Fuentes (Looks like he’s slinging an egg from the kitchen into the living room. Too aesthetically funky.)

* Manny Ramirez (bah! Sorry… had to.)

* Nomar Garciaparra (Seriously, I’ll stop.)

* Javier Vazquez (He withered under the lights in New York with the Yankees. Great pitcher when the games don’t matter, but, alas, they tend to matter in Boston.)

* Jason Varitek (A four-year deal worth $52.4 million? That was the best joke I’ve heard all week.)

* Khalil Greene (I just recovered from Julio Lugo, and people want to kill me with the effing possibility of Greene? Before breaking his own hand, Greene "hit" .213/.260/.339 in 423 plate appearances. Who ever started this rumor ought to be flogged with a wet Lugo.)

* Mike Timlin (Word is he’s not retiring. If he’s on the Sox next year, I won’t watch. I am not joking. This man, a great Sox player through the years, needs to spend the rest of his life fishing or bowhunting. He’s earned that right. And I’ve earned the right not to watch him groove fastballs in the late innings of tight games.)

* A.J. Burnett (You thought Pavano was a tease? This guy is the ultimate injury-prone maybe. I hope he signs with the Yankees.)

Meanwhile, if the Sox can sign CC Sabathia and Mark Teixera, and trade for Jake Peavy and Russell Martin, I think we’ll be in good shape.