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SoxProspects News

December 28, 2008 at 10:45 PM

Sox bring back Josh Bard


According to the Providence Journal, the Red Sox have signed free-agent C Josh Bard to a non-guaranteed one-year contract worth $1.7 million. The deal could be worth up to $2.5 million including incentives in 2009, and includes a club option for 2010. Bard spent last season with the San Diego Padres, putting up .202/.279/.270 numbers to go with 9 doubles, 1 home run, and 16 RBI in 178 at bats. He was originally acquired by the Red Sox following the 2005 season alongside Coco Crisp and David Riske in a trade that sent Kelly Shoppach, Guillermo Mota, and Andy Marte to Cleveland. Bard played in only 7 games with Boston in 2006 before being dealt to San Diego with Cla Meredith in exchange for Doug Mirabelli.

A six-year veteran, the switch-hitting Bard owns career .265/.333/.395 numbers with 28 home runs and 168 RBI in 431 games played with Cleveland, Boston, and San Diego. At this point, Bard is not expected to be the Red Sox' starting catcher, although he may compete for the job depending on who else the Red Sox add this off season.
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at 10:20 PM

Sox sign Brad Penny


In an effort to bolster their starting rotation, the Red Sox have reportedly signed veteran RHP Brad Penny to a one-year contract. According to Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald, the deal would pay Penny a base salary of $5 million, with the potential to earn $3 million more if he pitches at least 160 innings. Penny, 29, made only 17 starts last season due to shoulder injuries, although he did not require surgery, producing a 6-9 record, a 6.28 ERA and 51 strikeouts to go along with 42 walks in 94.2 innings pitched.

The Red Sox will be hoping Penny returns to his 2007 form, when he was an All-Star and posted a 16-4 record with a 3.03 ERA in 208 innings pitched. Penny struck out 135 batters that year while walking 73, and gave up only 9 home runs all season. Penny owns a 94-75 record with a 4.06 ERA, 1032 strikeouts and 475 walks over his 9-year career with the Florida Marlins and L.A. Dodgers. He will likely compete with Justin Masterson and Clay Buchholz for the final spot in Boston's starting rotation alongside Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Tim Wakefield.
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December 23, 2008 at 3:40 PM

Red Sox lose out to Yankees on Mark Teixeira


According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, highly coveted free agent 1B Mark Teixeira has reached an agreement on an eight-year contract with the New York Yankees. The deal is believed to be worth between $170 and $180 million, and includes a $5 million signing bonus and a full no-trade clause. Teixeira had also received offers from the Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, and Washington Nationals before opting to accept a late offer from New York. On Thursday, Red Sox principal owner John Henry said the Red Sox had been outbid for Teixeira and were "not going to be a factor" in signing him, although the team was believed to have remained as serious suitors for the slugger. The Angels pulled their offer off the table Sunday night.

Teixeira, 28, put together a combined .308/.410/.552 line with 41 doubles, 33 home runs, and 121 RBI in 157 games last season, splitting time between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels. Teixeira also put together a .467/.550/.467 line in 4 games during the Angels’ 2008 divisional series match-up against the Red Sox. Because Teixeira was a Type A Free Agent, the Angels will receive the Yankee’s first-round selection (approximately 26th overall) in the 2009 Draft. The Angels will also receive a pick in the first supplemental round (approximately 44th overall) as compensation for losing Teixeira. New York has also surrendered its second round pick to the Milwaukee Brewers for signing LHP CC Sabathia, as well as their third round pick to the Toronto Blue Jays for signing RHP AJ Burnett.

A two-time Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award winner and 2005 American League All-Star, Teixeira was originally chosen out of high school by the Red Sox in the ninth round (265th overall) of the 1998 Draft, but did not sign. He was later selected fifth overall by the Texas Rangers in 2001 after an impressive college career with Georgia Tech. The Severna Park, Maryland native has career .290/.378/.541 numbers with 203 home runs and 676 RBI in 6 seasons with Texas, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
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December 22, 2008 at 5:59 PM

Red Sox announce 2009 minor league coaches


The Red Sox organization announced its minor league coaching staffs for the 2009 season today. New to the organization are Dick Such, who will be the pitching coach for Salem, Kevin Walker, who will fill the same role for Lowell, and trainer David Herrera, who will also do his work for Lowell. According to redsox.com, the teams will be staffed as follows:

Pawtucket (AAA) will once again be managed by Ron Johnson, alongside pitching coach Rich Sauveur, hitting coach Russ Morman, and trainer Greg Barajas.

The Portland Seadogs (AA) retain manager Arnie Beyeler, pitching coach Mike Cather, hitting coach Dave Joppie, and trainer Jon Jochim as the team attempts to return to the Eastern League playoffs in 2009.

First-year Sox affiliate Salem (High-A) will be led by manager Chad Epperson, who will be joined by Such and hitting coach Carlos Febles. The team's head trainer will be Paul Buccheit, who held the same post last season with Greenville.

The Low-A Greenville Drive will see another season from manager Kevin Boles, pitching coach Bob Kipper, and hitting coach Billy McMillon. They will be joined by trainer Brandon Henry, who was the head trainer for Lowell last season.

Lowell (Short-Season) will be managed once again by Gary DiSarcina, who will welcome Walker and Herrera to join returning hitting coach Luis Lopez.

The Gulf Coast League Red Sox (Rookie) will see 2008 coach Dave Tomlin become the team's manager. He will be joined by pitching coach Walter Miranda, who held the same post for Lowell during the 2008 season, and hitting coach U.L. Washington. The team's trainer has yet to be announced.

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December 19, 2008 at 4:04 PM

Zach Nicholson joins SoxProspects.com


SoxProspects.com added another staff writer to its lineup on Friday, bringing on Zachary Nicholson as a blogger and a member of the Red Sox coverage team.

Zach resides in Cambridge after graduating from Northeastern University with a degree in Journalism. He has a self-proclaimed "psychotic" knowledge base of all things Red Sox.
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December 12, 2008 at 7:17 PM

Cash non-tendered


With tonight's midnight deadline approaching, the Red Sox declined to tender a contract to C Kevin Cash, making him a free agent. Signed as a minor league free agent in 2007, Cash spent the bulk of that season with Pawtucket and made 12 appearances with the big league club, before spending 2008 as C Jason Varitek's backup and serving as RHP Tim Wakefield's primary catcher. Cash performed admirably behind the plate but struggled in the batters box posting a .225/.309/.338 (.647 OPS) line with three home runs and seven doubles in 142 at-bats 0ver 61 games in 2008 ... 1B Kevin Youkilis, RHP Jonathan Papelbon and LHP Javier Lopez were tendered contracts, the remaining unsigned players may have their contracts renewed.
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December 11, 2008 at 4:09 PM

Sox select Gonzalez in Rule 5 Draft


On Thursday afternoon the Red Sox selected right-handed pitcher Miguel Gonzalez with the 18th pick of the 2008 Rule 5 Draft. Gonzalez throws a decent low 90s fastball with excellent command, as well as a slider and a change-up. He missed all of the 2008 season with a knee injury, but has impressed in the Mexican Pacific League this off-season. Pursuant to Major League Rule 6, he'll need to remain on Boston's 25-man roster (or the disabled list) for the entire 2009 season, or he will need to be offered back to the Angels. Chances are that Gonzalez will not make the team out of spring training, but with relief pitchers, there's aways a chance that the team can catch lightning in a bottle.

In the Triple-A phase, Boston selected pitchers Jason Rice and Miguel Marquez. Both are raw pitchers with a lot of potential, and will likely play in the lower levels of the system next season. Rice played for Kannapolis (CWS) in 2008, and Marquez missed the season with an injury. Marquez was once a well-regarded prospect in the Seattle system.

The Red Sox did not lose any players in the draft.

In other news, the Red Sox sent Beau Vaughan to Texas as a PTBNL in an earlier trade for Wes Littleton. There will reportedly be another PTBNL to complete that deal in the future. One thing that
could mean is that that player is a 2008 draft pick, as those players cannot be traded until early January.
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at 12:10 PM

Red Sox Rule 5 Eligibles


The following Red Sox minor-leaguers are eligible to be selected in today's Rule 5 Draft:

Juan Apodaca, Bubba Bell, Zach Borowiak, Jose Capellan, Robert Coello, Jeff Corsalettii, Sean Danielson, Andrew Dobies, William Durazo*, Zak Farkes, Kyle Fernandes, Javier Garcia, Rafael Gil, Matt Goodson, Mickey Hall, Tommy Hottovy, Jimmy James, Mike James, Jay Johnson, Chris Jones, TJ Large, Will Latimer, Blake Maxwell, Paul McAnulty, Marcus McBeth, Dan Miceli*, Jeff Natale, John Otness, Ryan Phillips*, Bryan Pritz, Mike Rozier, Ryan Schroyer*, Luis Segovia, Roberto Sosa*, Iggy Suarez, Billy Traber, Jose Vaquedano, Beau Vaughn, Gil Velazquez, Yahmed Yema, and Armando Zerpa (* - Restricted List).

It's speculated that
Beau Vaughan and Paul McAnulty are the two players that might be drafted by other teams. Theo Epstien has indicated that the Sox will likely not make a selection in the major league portion of today's draft.
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December 4, 2008 at 3:54 PM

Sox officially sign Tazawa


The Boston Red Sox officially announced the signing of Japanese RHP Junichi Tazawa this afternoon. Tazawa, 22, spent the last four seasons with Nippon Oil ENEOS of the Japan Industrial league. He posted a 13-1 record with 5 saves and an 0.80 ERA, while striking out 115 batters against 15 walks in 113 innings this past season. A highly-sought-after international signing, Tazawa reportedly turned down more lucrative offers from other teams for the chance to pitch with his idol Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Terms of the deal

Signing Bonus - $1,800,000
2009 - $450,000
2010 - $500,000
2011 - $550,000
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December 3, 2008 at 3:42 PM

Pedroia signs six year extension


The Red Sox have signed reigning American League MVP Dustin Pedroia to a six year, $40.5-million contract extension, including a seventh-year club option worth $11 million. Pedroia, who also took home Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards in 2008, would have only been eligible to receive a league-minimum salary, $400,000, for the 2009 season due to his two plus years of service time, and would have been locked into arbitration for another three seasons after 2009. By signing the contract, Pedroia guarantees six years of his contract, but gives up two potential years of free agency, which would he would have been eligible for in the 2012-2013 off-season.

According to the Boston Globe, the deal includes a $1.5-million signing bonus and breaks down as follows:

Base salaries
2009 - $1.5 million
2010 - $3.5 million
2011 - $5.5 million
2012 - $8 million
2013 - $10 million
2014 - $10 million
2015 - $11 million (club option or a $500,000 buyout)
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December 1, 2008 at 10:15 AM

Dana-Farber's Red Sox themed holiday cards, candles and ornaments on sale to help fight cancer


PUBLIC SERVICE ADVERTISEMENT

BOSTON – A festive collection of holiday cards, candles and ornaments -- including many with a Red Sox theme -- is now on sale to support adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. One hundred percent of sales benefit Dana-Farber through its Jimmy Fund.

There are 18 different designs, including artwork of a snowfall at Fenway Park and a snowy game of baseball between snowmen and gingerbread men -- with Santa as the umpire, in the 2008 card collection to wish friends, colleagues and family Seasons Greetings, Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah. Some designs were created by Dana-Farber patients. Each box costs $25 and includes 20 cards of the same design and 21 envelopes. Purchase three or more boxes of cards and receive a FREE limited-edition Red Sox Santa Hat! Just enter promo code: HOLIDAY at check out. Offer valid while supplies last.

The 2008 collection also includes three limited edition Aunt Sadie’s candles with specially designed Red Sox and Patriots themed labels, offered in pine, juniper fir and bayberry scents. There are two ornaments for sale; one for Sox fans, the other for Patriots enthusiasts. All of these items are $20 each.

Visit www.jimmyfund.org/holidaygreetings to view the entire 2008 holiday card, candle, ornament, and apparel collection and to make an online purchase. The cards will be sold in Crate & Barrel retail stores throughout Massachusetts and the entire collection will be sold in the Dana-Farber lobby at 44 Binney Street in Boston from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Imprinting of company logos and customized messages are available for inside the cards and on envelopes for an additional fee. Orders will be accepted until January 2009. Delivery takes two to three weeks. Call Monica Zurlinden at 617-582-7724 to place an order.

Founded in 1948, the Jimmy Fund has been an official charity of the Boston Red Sox since 1953. It supports the fight against cancer at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which is a leading cancer research and care center for adults and children. Unrestricted support from the Jimmy Fund is an integral part of Mission Possible: The Dana-Farber Campaign to Conquer Cancer, a $1 billion capital campaign to accelerate cancer research, speed development of life-saving therapies, and expand the Institute's signature patient- and family-centered care.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (www.dana-farber.org) is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.
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November 28, 2008 at 11:59 PM

Littleton acquired from Texas


The Red Sox have acquired sidearm RHP Wes Littleton from the Texas Rangers for two players to be named later or cash, and have placed him on their 40 man roster. In 102.3 major league innings over 80 appearances Littleton (26) has shown an aptitude for inducing ground balls, 196 ground outs to 78 fly outs (78 percent) and has held right handed batters to a .236 BAA. Littleton spent the bulk of the 2008 season with AAA Oklahoma City, going 7-1 with six saves in 58.3 innings pitched over 44 appearances, allowing 26 earned runs (4.01 ERA) on 55 hits (.248 BAA), and striking out 58 while walking 25. In 18 innings with Texas over 12 appearances in 2008 he allowed 12 earned runs (6.00 ERA) on 18 hits, striking out 14 and walking eight. Littleton was a fourth round pick out of Cal State-Fullerton in 2003 and made his major league debut in 2006. He was designated for assignment by Texas on November 20, and is out of options.
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at 3:32 PM

Sox name Tim Bogar first base coach


The Red Sox have filled the opening on their coaching staff by naming Tim Bogar first base coach. Bogar spent 2008 as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Rays, with duties including infield and base running instruction, but additionally working with the front office and scouting department on advance series preparation and scouting. In this role he was not a uniformed member of Manager Joe Maddon's staff, but sat in the stands observing as would a scout. Bogar, a nine-year former major leaguer, managed in the Indians and Astros organizations, leading his teams to the post season three out of four seasons, and was twice named Manager of the Year (Appalachian League, 2004; Eastern League, 2006).
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November 26, 2008 at 9:22 AM

Sox sign Traber, re-sign McBeth and Velazquez


Per SoxProspects.com sources, the Red Sox have signed Billy Traber to a minor league deal for the 2009 season. Traber, 29, pitched in the Yankees system in 2008, splitting time between New York and AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre. He struggled to the tune of a 7.02 ERA in 16.2 major league innings. In terms of stuff, Traber is a lefty reliever that induces a lot of ground ball outs. He makes use of a high-80s fastball, a 78 mph circle change, a low-70s curve, and a decent splitter. He has dominated lefties over the course of his career, but in 2008 worked about equal against right and left handed batters. Traber previously spent a brief stint in the Red Sox organization four years ago, when he was claimed off waivers from Cleveland in November 2004 and then non-tendered in December 2004, never putting on a Sox uniform. This time around, he should get a shot at making Boston's bullpen in 2009, but will likely also see some time in Pawtucket.

Boston has also re-signed Marcus McBeth and Gil Velazquez to minor league deals. McBeth was claimed off waivers from Cincinnati in August, and thereafter went 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA and an 11/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 7 innings with the PawSox. Velazquez should be penciled in as Pawtucket's starting shortstop, and will provide versatility and insurance to the organization, much as he did in his brief cup-of-coffee with Boston in September.

In other news, last week the Sox reinstated Zach Borowiak from the inactive list. The 27-year-old shortstop will apparently take another shot at playing pro ball in 2009 after "retiring" prior to the 2008 season.
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November 21, 2008 at 6:40 AM

Reddick's 10th inning homer gives Scottsdale win


11/21 Cup of Coffee: Josh Reddick's homer in the top of the tenth inning provided the winning margin in Scottsdale's 10-9 win over Mesa. The win in their final game gave the Scorpions a 14- 22 record in the Arizona Fall League which left them in last place in the American Division. His homer was his only hit in 5 at bats in the game. He finished the fall schedule with a .189 batting average with 5 home runs. He had a .210 on base percentage and an OPS of .599. Mark Wagner went 1 for 5 with a home run in the game. He ended the fall season with a .288 batting average, 4 homers, a .373 on base percentage and a .916 OPS. TJ Large threw 1 inning in the game and allowed 2 runs on 2 hits. He had 2 strikeouts. He finished the fall season with a 0-2 record and a 6.00 ERA. In 18 innings he allowed 6 walks while striking out 15. Other Sox prospects final statistics for the Arizona fall season include Aaron Bates who hit .200 in 25 at bats with 1 home run. He had an on base percentage was .310 and an OPS of .670. Clay Buchholz finished with a 1-2 record and a 3.86 ERA. In 21 innings, he allowed 18 hits and 6 walks while striking out 17. Beau Vaughan had a 1-2 record with a 3.52 ERA. He allowed 18 hits in 15.1 innings. HE gave up 1 walk while fanning 18. Ryne Lawson had a 0-3 record with a 6.43 ERA. In 14 innings, he allowed 24 hits and 11 walks. He had 6 strikeouts. Eammon Portice finished with a 0-1 record and a 6.14 ERA. In 7.1 innings, he allowed 6 hits and 5 base on balls. He had 8 strikeouts.

Well the coffee pot has been emptied for the 2008 season, see you all in the spring.
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November 20, 2008 at 7:18 PM

Westmoreland has shoulder surgery


According to a report in the Providence Journal, Red Sox 2008 5th round draft pick Ryan Westmoreland had surgery today on his right shoulder. He is expected to miss some time in the spring, but the Red Sox are hopeful that he will be ready to start next season with Lowell in June 2009.
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at 3:17 PM

Sox add three to 40-Man Roster


As previously anticipated, the Red Sox added three players to their 40-Man Roster this afternoon: LHPs Hunter Jones and Felix Doubront and catcher Mark Wagner. All three would have been eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, scheduled to take place on December 11. It was speculated that the Sox might have also considered protecting RHP Beau Vaughan and OF Bubba Bell, but faced with several potential off-season acquisitions, the Sox apparently opted to take the risk of exposing those players to the Rule 5 Draft to ensure the extra roster space.
In other news, Boston signed OF Paul McAnulty to a minor league deal. McAnulty has excelled in San Diego's minor league system since 2002, but has failed ti impress in three stints with the Padres. He should vie for the 4th outfielder spot, and will likely provide more depth in Pawtucket in early 2009. In addition to Vaughan and Bell, McAnulty will also be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft in December.
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at 6:02 AM

Portice tosses 3 scoreless innings in losing cause


11/20 Cup of Coffee: The Peoria Javelinas blanked Scottsdale 5-0 on Wednesday behind a dominating performance by Yankee prospect Phil Hughes who pitched 5 scoreless 2 hit innings. He had 10 strikeouts. Sox prospect Eammon Portice threw 3 scoreless innings of relief. He allowed just 1 hit and a base on balls. He had 3 strikeouts. Josh Reddick went o for 4 and fanned 3 times. He did have an outfield assist throwing out a runner at third base. The Scorpions play their final game of the fall season this afternoon.
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November 19, 2008 at 1:00 PM

40-Man Roster deadline looms


Look for Boston to make a few roster moves on Thursday to protect some players from the 2008 Rule 5 Draft. Eligible players must be added to their teams’ respective 40-man rosters by close-of-business on November 20 in order to remain protected from selection in the draft, which is scheduled to take place on December 11. In the Red Sox organization, the following players will be eligible to be selected if they are not added to Boston’s 40-Man Roster on or before November 20:

Juan Apodaca, Bubba Bell, Jose Capellan, Robert Coello, Jeff Corsalettii, Sean Danielson, Andrew Dobies, Felix Doubront, Zak Farkes, Roberto Feliz, Kyle Fernandes, Felipe Garcia, Javier Garcia, Rafael Gil, Matt Goodson, Joseph Guerra, Mickey Hall, Tommy Hottovy, Jimmy James, Mike James, Jay Johnson, Chris Jones, Hunter Jones, TJ Large, Will Latimer, Blake Maxwell, Jeff Natale, John Otness, Bryan Pritz, Jorge Rodriguez, Luis Segovia, Iggy Suarez, Jose Vaquedano, Beau Vaughan, Mark Wagner, Yahmed Yema, Armando Zerpa

The Red Sox 40-Man is presently at thirty-four, leaving six open roster spots. But don't expect all those spots to get filled - Boston always leaves a lot of breathing room for upcoming off-season acquisitions. However, I still expect that two to four players will be added tommorow. The primary candidates are Hunter Jones (pictured), Mark Wagner, Beau Vaughan, Bubba Bell, and Felix Doubront. With the exception of Doubront, each of these players contributed at AA or above in 2008, and each could vie for playing time with the big league club in the near future. Doubront, the 24th-ranked prospect in the organization (per SoxProspects.com), spent most of the 2008 season at Low-A Greenville, but is eligible for selection as a result of signing his first pro contract with the Red Sox at the age of sixteen in 2004. In 2008, he went 12-8 with a 3.64 ERA, 118 strikeouts, and 24 walks for Greenville, and 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in three late-season starts for High-A Lancaster. While its less-than-likely that he could stick on a major league club for the entire 2009 season, the Sox may not want to take the chance of losing this promising young lefty. Otheerwise, its unlikely that any of the other players will be protected – but you never know, as it was somewhat of a surprise to see Argenis Diaz added in 2007, which became somewhat of a necessity after his impressive performance in Hawaii Winter Baseball that off-season.

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at 12:18 PM

Red Sox acquire Ramon Ramirez for Coco Crisp


The Red Sox today acquired right-handed reliever Ramon Ramirez from the Royals in exchange for outfielder Coco Crisp. Ramirez pitched in a setup role for Kansas City in 2008, and posted a 2.64 ERA with a 70/31 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 71 2/3 innings. It is expected that Ramirez will become a key contributor to the Boston bullpen in front of closer Jonathan Papelbon. Ramirez relies heavily on two above average pitches: his fastball sits between 92-95 mph with nice late movement, and he also makes use of an plus slider. He is cost-controlled for another four seasons, but is out of options. Crisp will be missed in Boston's outfield, but will likely get the opportunity to be the every day centerfielder for the Royals.
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at 6:25 AM

Scorpions blank Surprise 1-0


11/19 Cup of Coffee: Scottsdale edged Surprise 1-0 on Tuesday. Josh Reddick went hitless in 4 at bats in the game and saw his average drop to .198.He struck out twice. He was the only Sox prospect to see action in the game.
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November 18, 2008 at 2:14 PM

Pedroia wins AL MVP Award


This afternoon the Baseball Writers Association of America named Dustin Pedroia the 2008 American League Most Valuable Player. Pedroia is the first AL 2B to win the award since Nellie Fox in 1959 and the first Red Sox player to take home MVP honors since Mo Vaughn in 1995. Pedroia can add the MVP trophy to his mantle, which already includes a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award in 2008, the 2007 AL Rookie of the Year, several player-of-the-month and player-of-the-week awards, and a multitude of NCAA honors from his time at Arizona State. In 2008, he led the AL in runs, hits, doubles, and multi-hit games. He received sixteen first-place votes.

Twins 1B Justin Morneau finished second in the voting, and Boston's Kevin Youkilis finished third, garnering two first place votes. Youkilis was named on all thirty ballots, while Pedroia was named on twenty-nine - one voter from the Dallas Morning News left Pedroia off his ballot.

Pedroia is the ninth Red Sox player to be named AL MVP, following in the footsteps of Jimmie Foxx (1938), Ted Williams (1946 and 1949), Jackie Jensen (1958), Carl Yastrzemski (1967), Fred Lynn (1975), Jim Rice (1978), Roger Clemens (1986), and Vaughn (1995).

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at 5:49 AM

Lawson has strong start in Scottsdale loss


11/18 Cup of Coffee: Ryne Lawson started and went 4 innings in Scottsdale's 4-3 loss to Surprise on Monday. He allowed 1 run on 3 hits and a walk. He had 1 strikeout. Mark Wagner went 1 for 4 in the game.
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November 17, 2008 at 6:18 AM

Kalish finishes Hawaiian League with .449 OBP


11/17 Cup of Coffee: With the Hawaiian League finished, it is time to review the performances of the Sox Prospects on the Honu who by the way finished with a 14 win 22 loss record. Ryan Kalish finished with a .279 batting average, a .449 on base percentage and a .368 slugging percentage. Yamaico Navarro finished with a .207 batting average, a .283 on base percentage and a .253 slugging percentage. Jonathan Hee had only 9 official at bats and had 1 hits. He did earn 4 walks. Jose Capellan finished with a 0-1 record with a 4.74 earned run average and a 1.70 WHIP. He walked 9 hitters while striking out 22. Dustin Richardson finished with a 0-2 record with a 2.41 earned run average and a 1.29 WHIP. He walked 6 hitters while fanning 26.

The Arizona Fall League was idle on Sunday.
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November 16, 2008 at 6:13 AM

Large suffers loss in Scorpion game


11/16 Cup of Coffee: Scottsdale held a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the 9th on Saturday but gave up 3 runs to fall 5-4 to the Peoria Saguaros. TJ Large was charged with a blown save and the loss after giving up 3 runs on 5 hits in the 9th. He had 1 strikeout. Josh Reddick went 0 for 4 with a RBI.

North Shore's final game of the Hawaiian League schedule against West Oahu was cancelled.
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November 15, 2008 at 6:21 AM

Scorpions and Honu both suffer defeat


11/15 Cup of Coffee: On Friday, the Peoria Saguaros blanked Scottsdale 6-0. Josh Reddick went 0 for 4 while Mark Wagner was hitless in 3 at bats although he reached base on a walk.

In Hawaii, West Oahu edged the North Shore 6-5. Ryan Kalish was the only Sox prospect to see action in the game. He went 1 for 3 and scored a run.
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November 14, 2008 at 9:25 PM

Salem Avalanche renamed Salem Red Sox


This afternoon the Red Sox announced by a press release that its High-A affiliate, the Salem Avalanche, will be renamed the Salem Red Sox.

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at 7:16 AM

Large takes loss in Scorpion game


11/14 Cup of Coffee: TJ Large threw only o.2 of an inning but was charged with a blown save and the loss in Phoenix's 15-6 win over Scottsdale. He allowed 4 runs on 3 hits and 2 base on balls. Eammon Portice threw 1.1 innings allowing 2 runs on 1 hit. He had 2 strikeouts.

The North Shore Honu game against Waikiki was cancelled.
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November 13, 2008 at 6:01 AM

Scorpions have a thing for tie games


11/13 Cup of Coffee: After completing the 11th inning of the game that was suspended on November 7, the game was still tied 6-6. It was decided to leave it at that and go on to the regularrly scheduled game between Scottsdale and Phoenix which also went 11 innings and was called with the game tied at 5. Ryne Lawson started and went 1.2 innings giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk. Beau Vaughan threw 2 scoreless innings allowing 2 hits. He had 2 strikeouts. Josh Reddick went 1 for 5 with a home run. Mark Wagner went 1 for 3 with a home run and 2 base on balls.

In Hawaii, Waikiki defeated Honu 3-2. Dustin Richardson was charged with the loss going 1.2 innings of relief and allowing 1 run on 1 hit. He had 2 strikeouts. Yamaico Navarro went 1 for 4 with a walk.
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November 12, 2008 at 5:45 AM

Large throws 2 scoreless innings in relief for Scorpions


11/12 Cup of Coffee: The North Shore Honu scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to edge Honolulu 5-4. Ryan Kalish went 0 for 3 but scored a run. Yamaico Navarro went hitless in 4 at bats with a RBI. Jonathan Hee went 0 for 1 with 2 base on balls. He scored a run.

Scottsdale downed Surprise 14-4. TJ Large went 2 scoreless innings allowing 1 hit and 0 walks. He had 1 strikeout. Eammon Portice threw a scoreless, hitless inning giving up 2 base on balls. He had 1 strikeout.
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November 11, 2008 at 6:24 AM

Vaughan earns save in Scorpion win


11/11 Cup of Coffee: Beau Vaughan retired the final 2 hitters to earn a save in Scottsdale's 7-5 win over Surprise on Monday. He allowed 1 hit and struck out 1. Mark Wagner went 2 for 2 in the game with a RBI. Josh Reddick went 0 for 4.
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November 10, 2008 at 11:59 AM

Ellsbury third in AL ROY voting


Red Sox Centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury finished third in the 2008 American League Rookie of the Year Voting, behind Alexi Ramirez of the White Sox and Evan Longoria of the Rays. Ellsbury, 25, posted a .280/.336/.394 line with nine home runs, 22 doubles and seven triples, and stole 50 bases (11 CS) in 554 at-bats over 145 games. Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia won the award in 2007.
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at 5:45 AM

Honu prevent West Oahu from clinching Western title


11/10 Cup of Coffee: With teams agreeing to play only a 7 inning game to preserve their pitching staffs, the Honu rallied for 3 runs in the 7th to earn a 6-6 tie with West Oahu. This prevented them from clinching first place in the Western Division and a spot in the Hawaiian League Championship game. Jose Capellan started the game and went 4 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits. He gave up 2 base on balls while striking out 5. Ryan Kalish went 1 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice.
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November 9, 2008 at 6:54 AM

Scorpions edge Saguaros 16-15 in slugfest


11/9 Cup of Coffee: Trailing 10-9 going into the 9th inning, the Scottsdale Scorpions scored 7 times and the barely held off the Peoria Saguaros in the bottom of the 9th to score a 16-15 victory on Saturday. TJ Large was charged with a blown save despite pitching 2.1 innings of 1 hit scoreless ball. He did not walk a batter and had 4 strikeouts. Mark Wagner entered the game as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the 9th.

In Hawaii, West Oahu blasted North Shore 13-3. Dustin Richardson went 2.1 innings and did not allow a run on 4 hits. He did not walk a hitter while recording 4 strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 2.12. Ryan Kalish went 1 for 4 with a RBI and is hitting .290. Yamaico Navarro went 1 for 3 with a base on balls. His batting average now stands at .215.
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November 8, 2008 at 6:34 AM

Scorpion game suspended in the 11th inning


11/8 Cup of Coffee: The lights literally went out on Scottsdale last night. With the score tied 6-6 in the 11th inning, there was a power outage which forced the contest between Scottsdale and Phoenix to be suspended. Beau Vaughan went 2 scoreless, hitless innings but was still charged with a blown save. He did not allow a walk either. Mark Wagner was 1 for 4 with a home run at the time of the game's suspension. Josh Reddick was 1 for 5.

In Hawaii, West Oahu downed North Shore 4-1. No Sox prospect took part in the game.
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November 7, 2008 at 5:48 AM

Reddick drives in 5 in Scorpion loss


11/7 Cup of Coffee: Scottsdale fell 20-9 to the Peoria Saguaros on Thursday. Ryne Lawson started and lasted 1.2 innings. He gave up 4 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks. He struck out 1. TJ Large threw 1.1 innings and did not allow a hit or a run. He allowed 2 base on balls and had 1 strikeout. Eammon Portice went 1 inning and gave up 4 runs on 3 hits and a walk. Josh Reddick went 2 for 4 with a home run and 5 RBI.
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November 6, 2008 at 6:16 AM

Kalish reaches base 4 times in Honu win


11/6 Cup of Coffee: Ryan Kalish reached base 4 times going 1 for 2 along with 3 base on balls in North Shore's 11-1 win over Waikiki. He also scored a run and had a RBI. He is now hitting .293 in the Hawaiian League.

In Arizona, Scottsdale downed the Peoria Saguaros 7-3. Beau Vaughan threw a clean final inning of relief. Mark Wagner went 1 for 4 and scored a run. He is hitting .289 in the fall. Josh Reddick also went 1 for 4 in the game.
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November 5, 2008 at 5:47 AM

Richardson throws 2 scoreless innings in Honu loss


11/5 Cup of Coffee: Dustin Richardson tossed 2 scoreless innings of relief in North Shore's 8-6 loss to Waikiki. He allowed 1 hit and did not give up a walk. He had 3 strikeouts. His ERA is now 2.45. Ryan Kalish went 2 for 3 with 2 base on balls. He had a run scored. He is now hitting .286. Yamaico Navarro went 2 for 4 with a run scored and a RBI.

In Arizona, Scottsdale downed the Peoria Javelinas 9-3. No Sox prospects took part in the game.
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November 4, 2008 at 5:48 AM

Buchholz takes second loss in AFL play


11/4 Cup of Coffee: Clay Buchholz started and lasted 3.2 innings allowing 4 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks in Scottsdale's 11-7 loss to the Peoria Saguaros. He had 5 strikeouts. Beau Vaughan threw 1 clean inning of relief with 2 strikeouts. Mark Wagner went 2 for 5 with a run scored and a RBI. He is hitting .294 in the Fall League. Josh Reddick went 2 for 4 with a run scored and a RBI.
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November 3, 2008 at 6:31 PM

Red Sox spring home to remain in Lee County


The Red Sox announced Saturday that they have signed a thirty year lease to keep their spring training and rookie-ball facilities in the Fort Myers area. The team will relocate the facility in 2012 from City of Palms Park in Fort Myers to a yet to be constructed facility in Lee County. The new facility will include a 10,000 seat stadium modeled after Fenway Park and six practice fields. The major and minor league facilities will also be merged into one location, unlike the present set up. The Sox ultimately opted to remain in Lee County over Sarasota, who also aggressively pursued the Red Sox to move their spring facilities an hour north. Look for the Sox to invest in the area surrounding the facility leading up to its opening in 2012. There is also some reports that the team will look to add another High-A team to compete in the Florida State League out of the new facility starting in 2012.
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at 6:34 AM

Capellan throws 3.2 scoreless frames


11/3 Cup of Coffee: Jose Capellan started the game and went 3.2 scoreless innings in North Shore's 3-1 win over Honolulu. He allowed 4 hits and 2 walks while fanning 3. Yamaico Navarro went 0 for 3 in the game and saw his batting average fall to .194.
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November 2, 2008 at 5:57 AM

Portice makes debut in AFL


11/2 Cup of Coffee: Eammon Portice saw his first action in the Arizona Fall League on Saturday during Surprise's 7-1 win over Scottsdale. He threw 1 inning allowing an unearned run on 1 hit and a walk. He had 2 strikeouts. TJ Large also threw an inning. He gave up an unearned run on 1 hit. He had a strikeout. The last place Scorpions saw their record fall to 7-15.

In Hawaii, Honolulu edged the North Shore 2-1 allowing the Honu just 1 hit in the game. Ryan Kalish went o for 4 in the game while Jonathan Hee went hitless in 3 at bats.
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November 1, 2008 at 5:50 AM

Reddick homers, drives in 3 in Scorpion win


11/1 Cup of Coffee: Josh Reddick went 2 for 4 with a home run, 2 runs scored and 3 RBI in Scottsdale's 16-6 win over Surprise. Ryne Lawson started and went 2 scoreless innings giving up 1 hit. He had 3 strikeouts. Beau Vaughan pitched the final inning and did not allow a run. He gave up 2 hits while striking out 2.

The North Shore Honu downed Honolulu 5-1. Dustin Richardson pitched the final frame and did not allow a run on 1 hit. He fanned 2. Yamaico Navarro went hitless in 4 at bats. He drew a walk.
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October 31, 2008 at 5:38 AM

Hee sees action in Honu win


10/31 Cup of Coffee: Jonathan Hee went 1 for 2 with a run scored and 2 base on balls in North Shore's 6-3 win over West Oahu. Ryan Kalish went hitless in 1 official at bat but walked twice. He scored a run.

Mesa downed Scottsdale 11-6. Aaron Bates was the only Sox prospect to see action in that game. He went 1 for 4 and scored a run.
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October 30, 2008 at 5:39 AM

Buchholz goes 5 innings allowing 1 run


10/30 Cup of Coffee: Clay Buchholz went 5 innings giving up 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks in Scottsdale's 10-4 loss to Mesa. He also had 3 Ks. TJ Large threw 1.1 frames and gave up 1 run on 2 hits.

In Hawaii, the North Shore Honu downed West Oahu 7-3. Yamaico Navarro was the only Sox prospect to play in the game. He went 0 for 4 with a walk. He scored a run.
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October 29, 2008 at 5:37 AM

Capellan throws 5 scoreless innings in losing cause


10/29 Cup of Coffee: Jose Capellan tossed 5 scoreless innings in North Shore's 8-2 10 inning loss to West Oahu. He allowed 2 hits and a walk while fanning 3. Dustin Richardson threw a scoreless inning allowing 1 hit. He struck out 2. Ryan Kalish went 1 for 3 and drew 2 base on balls.

In Arizona, the Peoria Javelina's edged Scottsdale 3-2. Beau Vaughn pitched 1 scoreless inning. He allowed 1 hit and struck out 1. Josh Reddick went 0 for 3 with a walk.
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at 4:26 AM

Sox claim Vasquez from Detriot


The Red Sox have claimed RHP Virgil Vasquez, 26, off waivers and have placed him on their 40-man roster. Vasquez spent 2008 with the Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers) posting a 12-12 record with a 4.81 ERA in 159 innings over 27 starts allowing 179 hits (.283 BAA), while walking 37 and striking out 115. His 2007 campaign was much more successful as he posted a 12-5 record and 3.48 ERA in 25 starts, making three spot starts for the Tigers and earning a September call up and working out of their bull pen.
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October 28, 2008 at 5:44 AM

Javelinas down Scottsdale in AFL action


10/28 Cup of Coffee: Peoria Javelinas downded Scottsdale 6-3 in the AFL on Monday. Aaron Bates went 0 for 3 with a walk. He scored a run. He is batting .190. Josh Reddick also was hitless in 3 at bats. He had a RBI. He is hitting .195 in the Fall League.
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October 26, 2008 at 7:35 AM

Wagner homers drives in 2 in losing cause


10/26 Cup of Coffee: Mark Wagner went 2 for 5 with a home run, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI in Scottsdale's 13-10 loss to Phoenix on Saturday. Sox prospect, Ryne Lawson (0-3) started and took the loss going 2 innings. He gave up 3 runs on 7 hits. He did not walk or strikeout anyone. TJ Large made a relief appearance going 1.1 frames. He gave up 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk.

The North Shore game against Waikiki was postponed.



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October 25, 2008 at 7:49 AM

Reddick has 2 hits in AFL All Star game


10/25 Cup of Coffee: Josh Reddick went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI in the AFL All Star game last night. His two hits included a home run and a double. They came in a losing cause as the National League Rising Stars edged their American League conterparts 7-6.

In Hawaii, Waikiki hammered the North Shore Honu 10-3. Yamaico Navarro was the only Sox prospect to see action in the game. He went hitless in 4 at bats.
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October 24, 2008 at 6:26 AM

Vaughn takes loss for Scottsdale


10/24 Cup of Coffee: In the Arizona Fall League, yesterday Mesa downed Scottsdale 8-6. Beau Vaughn entered the game in the bottom of the 9th with the score tied. He retired 2 batters before giving up the game winning 2 run homer. Prior to the home run, he had also given up a base hit.

There was no action in the Hawaiian League on Thursday.
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October 23, 2008 at 5:32 AM

Buchholz shaky in third start in AFL


10/23 Cup of Coffee: Clay Buchholz started and took the loss going 4.1 innings giving up 4 runs on 7 hits and a walk in Scottsdale's 11-3 loss to Mesa. He had 2 strikeouts. Mark Wagner went 2 for 4. Josh Reddick went 1 for 4 and scored a run. Aaron Bates went hitless in 4 at bats with 3 strikeouts.

In Hawaii, North Shore blanked Honolulu 7-0. Dustin Richardson threw a perfect inning of relief. He had 1 strikeout. Ryan Kalish went 2 for 5 with a RBI.
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October 22, 2008 at 11:59 AM

Sox to bring back five big league coaches


The Boston Red Sox have extended 2009 contracts to Brad Mills (bench coach), John Farrell (pitching coach), Dave Magadan (hitting coach), Gary Tuck (bullpen coach) and DeMarlo Hale (third base/outfield coach). First base coach Luis Alicea was the sole 2008 coach not offered a new contract.
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at 6:21 AM

Kalish scores winning run in bottom of the 9th


10/22 Cup of Coffee: Ryan Kalish entered the game as a pinch runner in the bottom of the 9th and scored the winning run in North Shore's 3-2 win over Honolulu.

In the Arizona Fall League, Phoenix downed Scottsdale 10-6. None of the Red Sox prospects took part in the game.
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October 21, 2008 at 6:37 AM

Scottsdale hammers Phoenix 11-2


10/21 Cup of Coffee: In the Arizona Fall League on Monday, Scottsdale hammered Phoenix 11-2. TJ Large threw 1 scoreless inning of relief. He allowed 1 hit while striking out 1. Ryne Lawson threw a scoreless, hitless inning. He allowed a walk. Mark Wagner went hitless in 2 at bats.
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October 20, 2008 at 3:08 PM

2008 Rule 5 Draft


With the Red Sox season coming to an end last night, we now get to look forward to the hot-stove season and the construction of the 2009 roster. One of the first big steps in forming that roster is protecting players for the Rule 5 Draft. Eligible players must be added to their teams’ respective 40-man rosters by November 20 in order to remain protected from selection in the 2008 Rule 5 Draft, which is scheduled to take place on December 11. In the Red Sox organization, the following players will be eligible to be selected if they are not added to Boston’s 40-man roster by November 20:

Bubba Bell, Robert Coello, Jeff Corsaletti, Sean Danielson, Andrew Dobies, Felix Doubront, Zak Farkes, Roberto Feliz, Kyle Fernandes, Javier Garcia, Matt Goodson, Joseph Guerra, Tommy Hottovy, Mike James, Jay Johnson, Chris Jones, Hunter Jones, TJ Large, Will Latimer, Blake Maxwell, Craig Molldrem, Jeff Natale, John Otness, Bryan Pritz, Jose Vaquedano, Mark Wagner, Yahmed Yema, and Armando Zerpa

The following players from the Sox organization are eligible for minor league free agency this off-season. If the Sox re-sign any of these players to minor league deals, they will also be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft:

Juan Apodaca, Manny Arambarris, Miguel Asencio, Jose Capellan, Felipe Garcia, Dave Gassner, Rafael Gil, Keith Ginter, Tony Granadillo, Lee Gronkiewicz, Daniel Haigwood, Mickey Hall, Lincoln Holdzkom, Eric Hull, Jimmy James, Jason Lane, Sandy Madera, Edgar Martinez, Marcus McBeth, Jorge Rodriguez, Luis Segovia, Chris Smith, Kyle Snyder, Iggy Suarez, Jon Switzer, Michael Tejera, Joe Thurston, Beau Vaughn, and Josh Wilson

When the major league free agency period begins in November (sixteen days after the end of the World Series), a number of spots should open up on Boston’s 40-man roster. Eight Red Sox are eligible to become major league free agents at that time, and a few players presently on the 40-man roster may be designated for assignment before that date. As such, space on Boston’s roster is not likely to be a major issue come November 20, and the team will probably add a few of the aforementioned players to its 40-man roster at that time to protect them from selection in the Rule 5 Draft.

The players most likely to be added to the 40-man roster are Bubba Bell, Felix Doubront, Hunter Jones, and Mark Wagner. Beau Vaughan is another possibility if he is re-signed for the 2009 season. With the exception of Doubront, each of these players contributed at AA or above in 2008, and each could vie for playing time with the big league club in the near future. Doubront, the 23rd-ranked prospect in the organization (per SoxProspects.com), spent most of the 2008 season at Low-A Greenville, but is eligible for selection as a result of signing his first pro contract with the Red Sox at the age of sixteen in 2004. In 2008, he went 12-8 with a 3.64 ERA, 118 strikeouts, and 24 walks for Greenville, and 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in three late-season starts for High-A Lancaster. While its less-than-likely that he could stick on a major league club for the entire 2009 season, the Sox probably won’t want to take the chance of losing him. Other than that, its unlikely that any of those players will be protected – but you never know, as it was somewhat of a surprise to see Argenis Diaz added in 2007, which became somewhat of a necessity after his impressive performance in Hawaii Winter Baseball that off-season.

Rule 5 Rules & History

As many of you know, the major league portion of the Rule 5 Draft allows major league clubs to select certain eligible minor leaguers from other organizations. The original purpose of the Rule 5 Draft (referring to Rule 5 of the Major League Rules) was to prevent teams from stockpiling too many players in the minors.

Minor leaguers that have been under professional contract for four or more years (five or more years if that player signed his first pro contract at the age of 18 or younger) are eligible for the draft unless they are placed on their team’s 40-man roster. The selecting team is required to pay the original team a $50,000 selection fee. The order of the draft is determined by the reverse order of winning percentage from the previous season. If selected in the draft, a player must be kept on the selecting team's 25-man roster for an entire season following the draft. During that season, the player must be “active” for at least ninety days in order to reach the full-season requirement, or that player may be subject to additional service time requirements in the following season. A Rule 5 draftee can be traded, but remains subject to the full season requirements. Once the player meets the full-season requirement, that player becomes property of the selecting team without any restrictions. If the selecting team is unable to keep the player on its 25-man roster for an entire season, the selecting team must offer the player back to his original team, who would hold the option of taking that player back in return for a 50% refund of the selection free ($25,000). Upon return to his original team, selected players are no longer subject to any service restrictions. There are also AAA and AA phases of the Rule 5 Draft, where MLB organizations can select players from other club’s lower tiers if those players are not protected on the original club’s AAA and AA reserved lists.

While the Rule 5 Draft has essentially evolved into a procedural draft without a great deal of fanfare, historically a number of high-caliber players have been selected in the draft, such as Roberto Clemente, George Bell, Bobby Bonilla, Darrel Evans, and Johan Santana. While the Red Sox opted not to make any selections in 2008, a few notable Sox selections in recent years include Adam Stern (2004), Lenny DiNardo (2003), and Javier Lopez (2002 – ultimately returned to Arizona and later acquired in 2006 in an unrelated trade).

In 2008, there were only eighteen total selections made in the entire major league portion of the draft, with several clubs opting not to make a selection. Only four of those selected players spent the full 2008 season with their selecting team: Randor Bierd, Wesley Wright, Brian Barton, and R.A. Dickey. Of those players, Wright (selected from the Dodgers) was the only one player that made much of an impact in 2008, going 4-3 with a 5.01 ERA at 57 strikeouts in 55.2 innings of relief for Houston. This season, Washington holds the first pick, followed by Seattle, San Diego, and Pittsburgh. Boston has the 27th pick. Don’t expect much of a splash from that position if Boston even makes a selection. Nowadays, with the importance of roster flexibility for a top-tier team such as the Red Sox, the Rule 5 Draft is more about protecting the right players then it is about finding a diamond-in-the-rough from some other organization.
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at 5:59 AM

Cappellan allows 5 runs in Honu loss


10/20 Cup of Coffee: The Honu scored 4 runs in the top of the ninth inning but came up short and fell 7-5 to West Oahu. Jose Capellan started and took the loss. He pitched 3 innings giving up 5 runs on 6 hits and a walk. He fanned 5. Yamaico Navarro went 1 for 4 and scored 2 runs. Ryan Kalish went hitless in 3 official at bats but drew 2 base on balls.
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October 19, 2008 at 7:30 AM

Navarro has 2 RBI in losing cause


10/19 Cup of Coffee: Dustin Richardson was charged with a blown save and the loss in West Oahu's 7-6 win over North Shore. Leading 6-4 going into the bottom of the 7th, the Honu gave up 3 runs to give up the lead. Richardson threw 1.2 innings giving up 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks. He had 3 strikeouts. Yamaico Navarro went 2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBI. Ryan Kalish also went 2 for 4 with a base on balls. He scored a run.

In Arizona, the Scottsdale Scorpions were leading 11-8 going into the bottom of the seventh and gave up 6 runs to fall 14-11 to the Peoria Javelinas. Beau Vaughn threw 2 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits. He did not allow a walk while fanning 3.
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October 18, 2008 at 6:25 AM

Bates homers and drives in 3 in Scottsdale win


10/18 Cup of Coffee: Aaron Bates went 1 for 2 with a a home run that drove in 3 in Scottsdale's 7-3 win over the Peoria Javelinas. Mark Wagner went 1 for 3 with a RBI in the game.

In the Hawaiian League, West Oahu scored 3 runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat North Shore 6-5. Yamaico Navarro went 3 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBI. Ryan Kalish went 0 for 4 with a walk. He scored a run.
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October 17, 2008 at 5:47 AM

Buchholz dominates in second AFL start


10/17 Cup of Coffee: Clay Buchholz threw 5 scoreless, 1 hit innings in Scottsdale's 13-1 win over Surprise. He gave up 1 base on balls while striking out 4. TJ Large threw 1 clean inning of relief. He fanned 1. Aaron Bates went 1 for 1 while Josh Reddick went 0 for 4 but had a run scored and a RBI.

In Hawaii, the North Shore Honu downed Waikiki 7-4. Yamaico Navarro went 1 for 5 in the game with a home run.
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October 16, 2008 at 2:57 PM

Caribbean Winter Leagues underway


Three of the four Caribbean Winter Leagues started up in the past week. The primary recognized Caribbean Winter Leagues are the Dominican Winter League, the Venezuelan Winter League, the Mexican Pacific League, and the Puerto Rican Winter League. Generally, younger prospects from those respective areas participate in those leagues, but a number of major leaguers and ex-major leaguers play as well. There are also a few other under-the-radar leagues, including the Colombian Winter League and the Nicaraguan Winter League. Here are the Sox players who will be participating during the 2008-09 off-season:

Venezuelan Winter League
Tiburones de La Guaira: Devern Hansack, Chris Carter, Carlos Fernandez
Tigres de Aragua: Tony Granadillo
Bravos de Margarita: Edgar Martinez
Caribes de Anzoategui: Jose Alvarez, Michael Tejera
Leones del Caracas: Zach Daeges, Jimmy James, Armando Zerpa, Juan Apodaca
Navegantes del Magallanes: Argenis Diaz

Dominican Winter League
Los Toros del Este: Dusty Brown, Sandy Madera
Leones del Escogido: Hunter Jones
Estrellas Orientales: Miguel Asencio
Gigantes del Cibao: Oscar Tejeda will practice with the team, not likely to see much (if any) active time
Tigres del Licey: Yamaico Navarro will practice with the team after the Hawaii Winter Baseball season is over, not likely to see much active time

Mexican Pacific League
None

Puerto Rican Winter League
Starts November 6, rosters TBA


Follow along this off-season at the Fall-Winter League page.
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at 6:45 AM

Vaughn earns win in relief


10/16 Cup of Coffee: Beau Vaughn earned a win in Scottsdale's 6-2 win over Surprise on Wednesday. He threw 2 scoreless innings of relief allowing 1 hit. He struck out 5. Mark Wagner went 2 for 4 and scored a run. Josh Reddick went 1 for 4.
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October 15, 2008 at 6:24 AM

Richardson throws 2 scoreless innings in Honu win


10/15 Cup of Coffee: Dustin Richardson threw 2 scoreless innings in North Shore's 14-5 win over Waikiki. He allowed 1 hit and a walk while striking out 3. Ryan Kalish went 0 for 4 but had 2 base on balls. He managed to score 3 runs.

Mesa edged Scottsdale 6-5. Ryne Lawson was charged with a blown save and the loss in the game. He lasted 0.2 of an inning allowing 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks. Aaron Bates went 0 for 3 with a base on balls. He scored 1 run.
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October 14, 2008 at 5:46 AM

Reddick fans 3 times in Scottsdale loss


10/14 Cup of Coffee: Scottsdale's struggles continued yesterday as their record fell to 1-5 with their 7-0 loss to Mesa. Josh Reddick went hitless in 3 at bats. He struck out all 3 times. Mark Wagner had 1 hit in 4 at bats.
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October 13, 2008 at 6:52 AM

Cappellan starts and gives up 2 runs in 4 innings


10/13 Cup of Coffee: The North Shore Honu fell 6-3 to Honolulu on Sunday. Jose Capellan started the game and went 4 innings. He allowed 2 runs on 7 hits and a base on balls. He fanned 2 Honolulu hitters. Yamaico Navarro went 1 for 4 and walked once. He scored a run.

The Arizona Fall League was idle on Sunday.
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October 12, 2008 at 6:41 AM

Bates only bright spot on dismal Saturday


10/12 Cup of Coffee: Well it is going to take more than a Cup of Coffee to get this individual going after that miserable outcome in Tampa last night, I mean this morning but here it goes. Phoenix downed Scottsdale 9-4. Aaron Bates went 2 for 4 in the game. He scored 2 runs and drew a walk. Josh Reddick went hitless in 5 at bats. Beau Vaughn threw 1 inning and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits. He had 1 strikeout.
In Hawaii, Honolulu blanked North Shore 5-0. Yamaico Navarro was the only Sox prospect to see action and he went 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts. His average dropped to .188.
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