The All-Star Break begins tonight.

Thank God.

The Good Ship Red Sox has taken on a little water this week, battling through turbulent seas that forced the team to jettison some players overboard.

First, it was Keith Foulke being told to get his knees examined. After blowing his second save in three tries, Foulke was politely asked to return to Boston and undergo MRI tests on both knees. Sure enough, it was deemed the struggling closer needed arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and will be out four-to-six weeks.

Then, in another chapter of his heroic Red Sox career, Curt Schilling agreed to move to the bullpen as his rehab continued in Pawtucket. He could be closing games as early as next weekend when the Yankees come to town.

You’d think such a selfless act would be universally applauded by Schilling’s teammates, but not so. Johnny Damon said he thought Sox management was making a mistake, and that Mike Timlin should be the new closer. Or Bronson Arroyo. Damon said most of his teammates felt the same way.

Manager Terry Francona would’ve had a quick chat with Damon about his comments, but he had his hands full with Jay Payton. Payton’s always been unhappy with his reserve role, and he let the manager know it in no uncertain terms during Wednesday’s game against Texas. His run-in with the manager happened in front of the team, and you know what happens in that type of situation?

Man overboard.

Payton’s bags were pulled off the team’s charter, and he returned to Boston the next day as his suddenly former teammates went to Baltimore. Hours later, Ramon Vazquez (the other player acquired in the off-season deal that sent Dave Roberts to San Diego) was traded to Cleveland for infielder Alex Cora.

On Thursday, David Wells took the rain-shortened loss in Baltimore. After the game, he decided to lend his support to Kenny Rogers, the Texas pitcher who knocked a camera off a videographer’s shoulder – twice – and faces a 20-game suspension.

“I’m glad he did it,” said Wells, showing a lack of compassion for cameramen everywhere and a lack of understanding that there is no place for an outburst like that anywhere. We all face frustrations in our jobs, but we can’t just push, shove and potentially injure people because we’re angry.

As if that all wasn’t enough, ESPN reported that Kevin Millar wanted a trade. Kevin Millar? He should stop and thank God every time he wakes up and realizes he’s drawing a major-league paycheck. John Olerud should be in the lineup every time the Sox face a righty, but Terry Francona continues to stick by his man.

So Vazquez and Payton are gone. Cora and Adam Stern are here. Chad Bradford – the submarining right-hander who baffled the Sox in the 2003 ALCS – is reportedly coming for Payton. Foulke is gone (for a while) and Schilling is on his way back.

Just another week in the life of the defending World Champions. A week that ends with the Sox needing a vacation. Most of them have one and not a moment too soon.

Tom Caron is studio host for Red Sox telecasts on NESN.