It is never too early. Even as the Patriots prepare to bring to Boston and New England another championship, the Red Sox roster continues to fill out.

Doug Mientkiewicz, he of the last-out ball fame, has gone to the New York Mets for a nonroster player in the latest deal. The Sox were so ready to move him that cash also went to the Mets.

The ball will be displayed in a still-to-be-worked-out deal between the Sox and Mientkiewicz. The argument over who ultimately claims possession of the sphere will continue.

Is there some great irony here in that the player who caught the last out to end the drought for the Sox is now with the Mets and has taken the ball with him? Is this 1986 in some schizophrenic light?

Anyway, the Sox roster will be different. With Matt Clement, Wade Miller and David Wells joining the staff, the starters could be very good even without Pedro Martinez. Health and stamina will be the issues here.

Mark Bellhorn, Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller, Edgar Renteria, and Kevin Youkilis form the core of the infield. That is an interesting group of middle-level offensive players, but so long as they do the defensive job and find ways to get on, it works. That does mean the outfield and DH numbers have to be good again.

David Ortiz will be in the DH hole. Enough said.

The outfield will have Trot Nixon, Johnny Damon, and Manny Ramirez and the addition of Jay Payton. Payton has power but a lot of holes in his swing.

Another irony. Payton and Nomar Garciaparra were teammates at Georgia Tech and the best of friends. They still are.

It was Payton who was supposed to come out of college and be the big star. It was Nomar who tried to find a way for Payton to come to the Sox while he was still here.

Nomar is gone and Payton has arrived.

Payton is 33 and a righthanded hitter who has played all three outfield positions. His .260 average last year with San Diego was below his .285 career average. He had eight home runs and 55 RBI last year.

An ongoing problem for Payton has been leg troubles, primarily hamstring pulls. That has cost him a lot of playing time. With the chance to be a part of a good mix in Boston’s outfield and DH situation, he just might be ready for a big season in a year the legs can be rested as needed.

Fans will enjoy Payton. He is gregarious and a team player. If the setting can improve a player, this is Payton’s best chance to have that happen.

Go Pats and sorry if we keep peeking at the little-ball season to come with an opening day and home opener that will be for the ages.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and ABC sportscaster.