AGRI Biz

Who makes the most money in professional baseball? A-Rod? Nope. CC Sabathia? Try again. Mark Teixeira ? Give up, you aren’t even close. The man who makes the most money in professional baseball would have to be agent Scott Boras. Good agents haul in between three to five percent of a player’s salary. So, if you would look at some of the horses in his stable, you may see for yourself. Barry Zito had his ...

Jim Thome is one of my favorite players ever, certainly current players withstanding. It is painful to see his apparent value diminish to a pinch hitter's role with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thome loves Chicago, considers it home, and would love to come back to the White Sox. They would like to have the slugger back. White Sox GM Ken Williams has not discounted the idea of re-signing Thome, after having traded ...

First things first, I donÆt hate the New York Yankees. My best friend loves them, so I must dignify everything I say about them. The latest acquisition , center fielder Curtis Granderson , late of the Detroit Tigers, is the most recent arrow in the quiver of Yankee haters everywhere. Easily one of the better center fielders in the game, Curtis becomes yet another power hitting left-handed batter for the Bronx ...

Reds fans, listen up! How would you like to have Jose Reyes as your shortstop? I thought that would get your attention. The RedsReporter reported that the Reds are in talks with the New York Mets concerning Reyes. If you click on the link they provide, it takes you to the movie Psyche Web site. It took me three clicks to realize they were playing a joke, in all probability. However, it ...

To report that Andy Pettitte will be back on the mound for the New York Yankees in 2010 is no more surprising than saying they will play their home games in the beautiful, new mini-park known as Yankee Stadium. Yet, ESPN reported it today. If you will still be 37 until just before the All-Star break, and you can make at least $6,000,000 playing a game with other grown millionaires, where ...

When Jay Bruce came up from Louisville in 2008 he showed shades of brilliance. He reminded me in a small way of Mickey Mantle. He certainly had the strikeouts down pat. After settling down, he showed no further signs of greatness last season. In 2009 his power revealed itself on the major league level. He had 15 home runs before Memorial Day and looked like he was set for a 40/HR year. His ...

What do I want for Christmas? A million bucks in small bills. I realize that is not going to show up under my tree, so let me think again. Oh yeah, how about a baseball style wish list? Yes, that's it! First, I would like to see Roy Halladay end up with the Cincinnati Reds this offseason. It probably won't happen, but I didn't think I was going to get that ...

I recently took a written beating for saying that I thought Joe Mauer was helped greatly by being a catcher, in his recent naming as the American League's Most Valuable Player for 2009. With that being said, is Mauer not only the best catcher in the game, is he also the best player in MLB? Let's not throw pitchers in this mix, I would like to be able to compare "apples ...

This is the sixth installment of the grading of the starters for the Cincinnati Reds' 2009 performances. Willy Taveras is my biggest disappointment of the Reds' acquisitions last season. He came in as the reigning National League stolen base champ with 68. This season, he "tentatively" stole only 25 bases and finished a dismal ninth in the league. Michael Bourn of the Houston Astros was the league's most prolific thief this ...

In a showdown of American League's "best," it probably comes as a surprise to very few (living outside of New York) that Joe Mauer won the Most Valuable Player Award walking away. The only other first-place vote went to Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers. Catchers seem to have a bone tossed their way on a regular basis, don't they? What's that? You disagree, you say? We must look no further than ...