Lars Anderson, last year's consensus #1, has likely fallen. Who will take over in his place? via View full size photo » ...

Lars Anderson, last year's consensus #1, has likely fallen. Who will take over in his place? via View full size photo » ...

More photos » by Tom Olmscheid - AP 11 days ago: FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 file photo...

Now it's official: Jason Varitek will be back as a Red Sox next year: Jason Varitek's 10-year run as the Red Sox's primary catcher is over. But his reign in Boston isn't. Despite the club's decision to decline its $5 million option on Varitek this week...

by Tony Gutierrez - AP 7 months ago: Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Zack Greinke delivers to the Seattle Mariners in...

The Sox love their new Cuban shortstop, Jose Iglesias. Epstein said that as they search for a shortstop for this season, it's with the knowledge that Iglesias is the shortstop of the future. No answer yet from Varitek - Extra Bases - Red Sox blog ...

by Mark Avery - AP 2 months ago: FILE - In this May 25, 2009 file photo, Chicago White Sox's Jim Thome watches the ball f...

More photos » by Mark Duncan - AP Could this guy win SBN's Rookie of the Year for the AL? Maybe. ...

[Note by Randy Booth, 11/10/09 2:02 PM EST ] According to the NESN report, Varitek reported that he will pick up his option, not necessarily that he had picked up his player option. We could see Varitek officially pick up his option today. OK, so may...

Globe colleague Tony Massarotti spoke to Tim Wakefield about his new two-year, $5 million deal. It sounds like this will be the final contract for the 43-year-old. "Yes, I’m done after two more,’’ Wakefield said. "That’ll put me at 45." Wakef...

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP 3 months ago: Boston Red Sox batter Jason Varitek heads back...

More photos » by LM Otero - AP 4 months ago: Boston Red Sox's Jason Varitek unsuccessfully tries...

More photos » by Eric Shelton - ASSOCIATED PRESS 4 months ago: Boston Red Sox starter Tim Wakefi...

More photos » by Ben Margot - AP Remember Javier Lopez? Turns out he's a free agent. Bro...

More photos » by Matt Rourke - AP about 1 month ago: Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy addresse...

Books are fun! View full size photo » A lot of other blogs do this, so I'll throw it out, too: is anyone interested in p...

More photos » by Elise Amendola - AP 2 months ago: Boston Red Sox' Alex Gonzalez, center, celebr...

So, let me throw a small hypothetical out to ya. I'm not the stat research guy around here. As it turns out, YOU are my stats research. So, this may be the stupidest idea ever, I dunno. But, how do we all feel about a potential Hermida for Juan Pierre t...

Sorry about the lack of posts for the past few days - apparently, parents don't like realizing that they've raised an insomniac. Posts might be a little further spaced out, but with more links in each edition, depending on how much I can get done before...

According to a baseball source, the Sox had been engaging with the Brewers in on-and-off discussions involving Hardy since the trading deadline, roughly two weeks before Milwaukee sent the struggling shortstop to the minor leagues. Talks continued up u...