AGRI Biz

When he was first hired as Red Sox GM, Theo Epstein inherited a largely barren minor league system. One of his first priorities was to create an immediate infusion of talent at the upper levels of the farm system. For that reason, the ball club focused on college players during the first three drafts conducted under Epstein, believing they were more polished and closer to being ômajor league-ready.ö From 2003-2005, the ...

The Red Sox shortstop saga appears to be at an end. According to reports, the club and free agent shortstop Marco Scutaro have reached agreement on a two-year contract, pending a physical. Alas, the Sox no longer have to contemplate shifting Dustin Pedroia to shortstop! Truth be told, I thought the whole "Pedroia to shortstop" thing may have been floated as posturing by the Red Sox in the hope Toronto would think ...

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez has decided not to wait any longer while the Red Sox try to make up their mind… he has reportedly signed a one-year, $2.75 million dollar deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, with a team option for 2011 ($2.5 MM). Gonzalez came to the Red Sox in a trade after starting the 2009 season with the Cincinnati Reds…although he is known primarily as a defensive whiz, he managed to ...

I do not share the current fascination with acquiring Adrian Gonzalez or Roy Halladay, or for signing free agent Matt Holliday for that matter. For the life of me, I don’t understand the reason most fans, media members and pundits are drinking the Steinbrenner Kool-Aid. Memo to Red Sox Nation: Got milk? Good. Then drink it, and leave the Kool-Aid alone. The prescription for fixing what ails the Red Sox roster does ...

The free agency period is now upon us, so we have been hearing lots of talk about Type-A and Type-B free agents and draft pick compensationàand the discussion leaves some people wondering what is all means. For those of you who think you need an abacus to figure it all out, letÆs see if I can help simplify it a little bit for you. For the sake of discussion, letÆs say the ...

Anxious fans congregated on the third floor of the Boston-Woburn Hilton early on Saturday morning in anticipation of meeting one of the true heroes of Boston sports. At approximately 10:45 AM, a large round of applause greeted the man of the hourà Carl Michael Yastrzemski was in the house! The rare personal appearance by Yaz delighted a diehard crowd who braved the torrential rains that enveloped New England on Friday night and ...

The agent for relief pitcher Billy Wagner is reporting that his client may reverse his previous position and accept arbitration from the Red Sox, if offered. This new stance represents a change of heart for the 38-year-old Wagner, who is just 15 saves from 400 career saves. He waived his no-trade clause to accept a trade to the Red Sox prior to the trade deadline. In exchange the ball club promised they ...

As expected, the Red Sox have exercised their 2010 option on C / 1B Victor Martinez while declining their option on SS Alex Gonzalez. The ballclub now has Martinezùwho was acquired from the Cleveland Indians at the trading deadline for RHP Justin Masterson and pitching prospects Nick Hagadone and Bryan Priceùunder contract at $7.1 million for 2010. Martinez, 30, was a hit during his two-month stint with the Red Sox, batting .336, ...

The Arizona Fall LeagueÆs all-star game, called The Rising Stars Classic, was played last nightà after an off-day today, the second half of the AFL season will get underway tomorrow. The Red Sox have eight players who are assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox for the 2009 AFL season, two of whom were named to the Rising Stars Classic. HereÆs a look at how each of the eight prospects are faring thus ...

The Red Sox have acquired OF Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins in exchange for minor league left-handers Jose Alvarez and Hunter Jones. Hermida was the Marlins first round pick (11th overall) back in 2002. He has been a starter for The Fish since 2006 and is a career .265 hitter, with 57 HRà this past season he hit .259, with 13 home runs in 129 games. It would seem the trade ...