AGRI Biz

Drafted: First Round 2009 (Fernando Callejo HS, in Manati, Puerto Rico) Height: 6′0″ Weight: 170 lbs. Born: Feb. 12, 1991 Fuentes is a cousin of NY Mets CF Carlos Beltran. He is just the sixth Puerto Rican to be drafted in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft. He has drawn comparisons to former Red Sox CF Johnny Damon, but at the moment doesn’t show the power that Damon possesses—he likely will be ...

Earlier today, the Red Sox acquired infielder Kevin Frandsen from the San Francisco Giants for a player to be named later, or cash—they also signed free agent left-handed reliever Scott Schoeneweis. The question is: why? Frandsen is 27-years-old. He appeared in 23 big league games last year, hitting a not-so-robust .140, with one RBI . In announcing the trade, the Boston Globe declared, “He protects the Sox as a backup shortstop.”  Oh, really? Has ...

Tim Wakefield made his sixth start of the spring yesterday against the Florida Marlins, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five Fish. It was just the second time this spring he surrendered runs, as he improved to 3-1, 3.66. Afterwards, he said he hasn’t been told anything about the ball club’s plans for him once the regular season opens, though he seems assured to start the ...

It may be just 10 days before Opening Day, but for starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka—who has been sidelined by a series of aches and pains for a large portion of spring training—it’s much more akin to March 1. Dice-K took his first steps towards becoming a contributing member of the rotation yesterday with two innings of work against the Florida Marlins, allowing a run on two hits in his outing. It was ...

Let’s set the debate aside for the moment over the Red Sox's shift in philosophy. Volumes were written this winter (here and elsewhere) about the front office’s desire to transition the team more towards pitching and defense. What can be said with near certainty is that once Theo and Company decided to head in this direction, it was clear the club should spend its $80 million on pitcher John Lackey instead of ...

Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett missed his start on March 14 when he came down ill. He made his scheduled start last Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he pitched in a weakened state and was largely ineffective. So all eyes were on the big Texan this afternoon in Bradenton—hoping to get some indication as to whether he will be ready to take the ball on Opening Night against the Yankees, ...

The play looked innocent enough when it happened. Last night, Minnesota leadoff hitter Denard Span ripped a one-hopper that seemed destined for right field until Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia made one of his patented diving stops—ranging to his left to snag the ball and then popping up to throw the ball to first base. The fact he threw wide of first for an error was irrelevent…it was a classic ...

The Red Sox seem quite comfortable spending liberally to bring players into the organization from other teams while simultaneously refusing to give their own players similar consideration when negotiating new deals. The question is—why? Is it a question of knowing all of the peccadilloes of your own players while not knowing about those of the players being signed from other teams? It is inarguable that the Red Sox ownership has spent money ...

Southpaw Jon Lester allowed three runs and struck out seven batters over 5.1 innings in his start this afternoon in Fort Myers, but the Houston Astros scored six runs off closer Jonathan Papelbon in the seventh inning to propel the visitors to a 10-7 victory in a split-squad game that was called after eight innings because of rain. Papelbon retired just one batter in his stint. The Astros jumped out to a ...

This afternoon, Red Sox manager Terry Francona announced the cause of the recent bout of fatigue that infielder Jed Lowrie has been dealing with. He is suffering from mononucleosis. Lowrie complained of fatigue a week ago. Thereafter, the ball club subjected him to a battery of tests in an effort to uncover what ailed him. Now we know. Francona said: “He can play as tolerated. He was on the bike yesterday. I don’t think ...