The Winter Meetings came to a close Thursday afternoon, and I think it’s fair to say things didn’t turn out exactly the way Sox fans wanted.  After losing out on Torii Hunter two weeks before, the Sox lost Miguel Cabrera to a division rival, watched the price of free agents continue to balloon ever skyward and heard their frustrated GM spout off a laundry list of excuses for his lack of action as well as give us all a lesson on the value of 50 cents.

Yes, the price for free agents is higher than Tony Soprano in the desert. But while many teams seem undeterred in their efforts to acquire their main target, it is always Ken Williams whose monocle shatters into his martini glass. (“That’s my third monocle this week! I simply must stop being so horrified!”)

In one of the final signings at the Winter Meetings, the Los Angeles Dodgers shelled out $36 million for two years of centerfielder Andruw Jones, who is coming off one of his worst offensive seasons as a pro. So it’s down to this: cult hero Aaron Rowand and Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome are the last two remaining “big name” free agent outfielders.

All right Kenny, who’s it gonna be? True, the Sox could pass on both Rowand and Fukudome to settle on a cheaper option, like free agent Mike Cameron, or an in-house candidate, like Jerry Owens, Brian Anderson or Ryan Sweeney. But come on, we all know Williams wants to make a splash.

But with the Tigers firmly entrenched as the class of the AL Central, what exactly is one “splash” going to accomplish for this team right now? Many Sox fans think the Sox, facing a humongous climb to contention in ’08, should change course and rebuild.

Maybe you’re new in town and haven’t met Ken Williams: That simply is not going to happen.

The good news is, despite whiffing on Plans 1 and 1A, the Sox aren’t licked yet. Bleak as things may seem now, all it would take to turn this team from an afterthought to serious contenders are these three pick ups: a top-of-the-order hitter, a middle-of-the-order hitter and a starting pitcher.

As crazy as it sounds, all three of those things are available on the market, prime for the Sox to pluck, right now. We’re talking quality ballplayers, not retreads or rookies, that teams are actively looking to move.

For the lead off spot, take your pick from Brian Roberts, Ryan Freel or Alex Rios. For a middle of the order bat, try Fukudome, Hideki Matsui or Rowand. And to give the Sox a respectable pitching staff, there’s Erik Bedard, Dan Haren or Joe Blanton.

While it’s fashionable to knock the Sox farm system and doubt the organization’s maneuverability, the fact is these moves are all within the team’s reach.

Whether or not Ken Williams and co. decide to pull the trigger on any of these deals is debatable. But my point, for now, is that there’s still a fighting chance.