Sam Aiken leads the Pats with seven special teams tackles.-The Patriots resigned special teams ace and #4 wide receiver Sam Aiken to a two year extension through 2011. Aiken's special teams coverage and run blocking have been exemplary, and he's certainly filled the void left by WR Kelley Washington.
-OLB Tully Banta-Cain was released this afternoon by the Patriots. The linebacker had seen some time at defensive end, but was deemed expandable even though Adalius Thomas has started to fall out of favor. Thomas, Derrick Burgess, and Rob Ninkovich are the only OLBs on the roster. Although no corresponding roster move was made at this time,the team may have felt that adding veteran LB Junior Seau allowed them to cut TBC at this time. The window remains open to re-signing Banta-Cain at a later point in the season.
-The NFL trade deadline looms tomorrow afternoon, but Coach Bill Belichick said he would be "surprised" if the Pats made a move. There have been rumors about Joey Galloway, and the Pats could use some quality depth at linebacker so make sure to check in tomorrow after the 4:00PM trade deadline.
RED SOX
-The Red Sox discreetly purchased the contract of Reynaldo Rodriguez from the Yuma Scorpions of the Independent Golden Baseball League last week. The 22-year old Colombian was named a top prospect by Baseball America after hitting .335 with a .380 on-base percentage, .486 slugging percentage, slugging six homers, driving in 48 runs and swiping 18 bags through 74 games. Rodriguez is a natural first baseman but can also play other spots around the diamond as well.
-One of the Red Sox top prospects Jose Iglesias is off to a good start in the Arizona Fall League. The Cuban is the youngest player in the AFL and inked a contract with the Sox this summer that included a $6 million signing bonus. He's off to a sizzling start in the dessert with a homer, double, and four RBIs through two games. Iglesias is already a wizard in the field with his glove so the team is hoping that his time in the AFL will teach him some plate discipline and give his bat some time to develop.
-Takashi Saito became a free agent today after clearing waivers. The righty posted a 2.43 ERA in 55 2/3 innings, but was mainly used when the Sox were losing and rarely pitched on consecutive days. The Sox could look to bring Saito back to the bullpen in the offseason.
-Bench Coach Brad Mills and First Base/Infield Coach Tim Bogar are both interviewing for the Astros vacant managerial job and we should find out who is to be the new man in Houston soon.
-One coach we won't have to worry about is Pitching Coach John Farrell who was hotly rumored to be going to Cleveland to manage after former manager Eric Wedge was fired, but Farrell has recently stated that he has no intention of leaving his position on the Red Sox staff for that position at this time.
No comments:
Post a Comment