who wants to do a practice fantasy baseball draft tonight?

[charlie and algernon]

I'll set one up on mockdraftcentral.com if anyone is interested. let's say for 11pm.

[SoxFan]

1. I'll wait

Too many unanswered questions.

For example, I wouldn't touch Jarrod Saltalamacchia if he's going to start the season at Oklahoma City or as a backup in Texas. If he ends up in Boston, as rumored, then he could be a nice pick-up.

[charlie and algernon]

2. yeah, it's way early

but it's nice to get back in the grove again. I could care less about fantasy football, Fantasy baseball is my thing.

[SoxFan]

3. I'm celebrating my fantasy football championship

God bless D'Angelo Williams, the best waiver-wire pickup in history!

[Chan790]

4. Blue, I've got a sox rumor for you. (Not a big rumor, but something nice nonetheless)

The rumor is that the Sox have an agreement to be signed sometime tomorrow with Rocco Baldelli to be the 4th OF and are sitting on it so they can announce the signing tomorrow night at the Boston Baseball Writer's Banquet which Theo, Tito, John Henry and Baldelli are all attending.

I like the kid. Great arm, great bat, great glove, runs well. All that and he won't complain about PT like Coco did because he knows he's not capable of playing a full schedule due to his fatigue/health issues. He can fill-in for the injury-prone Drew and Ellsbury though with little or no fall-off in talent.

[SoxFan]

5. I've heard the same thing

Baldelli's a local kid, fills a pressing need as a 4th outfielder, and seems to be a good clubhouse/chemistry guy who will mesh well with gamers like Yook and Pedroia.

I liked the Brad Penny signing. He's less than two years removed from a sharp 16 win season, and with Beckett, Matsuzaka, and Lester in the rotation, he isn't facing the pressure of being a number one starter.

[Chan790]

6. It's on the MLB.com site...which means it's pretty much official.

Baldelli will join 'hometown' Red Sox
Rhode Island-born outfielder close to deal with Boston
By Ian Browne / MLB.com

BOSTON -- All along, Rocco Baldelli had planned to be at the Boston Baseball Writers Dinner on Thursday night, where he will be honored as the winner of the Tony Conigliaro Award. As it turns out, Baldelli may now be receiving that as an official member of the Boston Red Sox, the team he grew up rooting for as a kid.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090107&content_id=3736388&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

[SoxFan]

7. Smoltz might be next

ESPN is reporting that the Sox are close to a deal with John Smoltz.

Another nice, low-risk signing. A respected veteran who can mentor the young guns like Lester, Buchholz, Bowden, and Masterson, and a guy who can step in as a starter or as a set-up guy in the pen.

It also gives the Sox the flexibility to deal one of the pitchers to accquire a long-term replacement for Varitek.