Wagner signs with Atlanta

[rooster1]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091202&content_id=7740258&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Wagner would make $7 million in 2010, and if he finishes 50 games, a $6.5 million option would vest for the 2011 season.

[gtown]

Excellent deal for the Sox. Traded two minor league guys in August to get a type A free agent--Boston now has the #20 pick from Atlanta and a sandwich pick + Boston's original 1st round pick.

Now, if they let Bay walk to, say, the Angels, and then sign Holliday, LA would get Boston's pick, and Boston would get the St. Louis pick plus another sandwich pick.

So by letting a guy they had for a month walk and then swapping Bay for Holliday (probably an upgrade), the Red Sox would wind up with two late first round picks and two sandwich picks. Not bad at all!

[byrdz]

Excellent deal for the Sox. Traded two minor league guys in August to get a type A free agent--Boston now has the #20 pick from Atlanta and a sandwich pick + Boston's original 1st round pick.

Now, if they let Bay walk to, say, the Angels, and then sign Holliday, LA would get Boston's pick, and Boston would get the St. Louis pick plus another sandwich pick.

So by letting a guy they had for a month walk and then swapping Bay for Holliday (probably an upgrade), the Red Sox would wind up with two late first round picks and two sandwich picks. Not bad at all!

Without checking I think they've done this more than other teams over the years. Which explains why they consistently have more draft picks than most other teams. That combined with Bill James telling them who they should pick in the draft explains why they churn out so many good homegrown players. Then they just continue the cycle and their minors stays stocked with talent. Pretty darn smart and frustrating to watch at the same time.

[twoBshorty]

Without checking I think they've done this more than other teams over the years. Which explains why they consistently have more draft picks than most other teams. That combined with Bill James telling them who they should pick in the draft explains why they churn out so many good homegrown players. Then they just continue the cycle and their minors stays stocked with talent. Pretty darn smart and frustrating to watch at the same time.

On the flip side, they just lost scouting director Jason McLeod, who was a big part of that. Gammons is reporting that he's going to be Jed Hoyer's assistant in SD. Both of those guys are a huge loss.