Given that they've made some big trades that included prospects over the past year or so, I'm not surprised at where Keith Law of ESPN (PDF) ranks the Boston Red Sox minor league system. He has them as the 19th best in all of MLB.

Here's what he had to say about the Red Sox minor league system:

This system is terribly thin up top given the money the Red Sox have spent in the past few years on amateur players. I do see a large group of prospects from low Class A and below that should produce a couple of breakout prospects in 2012, including Brandon Jacobs, Garin Cecchini, Henry Owens, Matt Barnes and Sean Coyle.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Yesterday we learned what 2012 Boston Red Sox spring training games NESN would be broadcasting. Now the Red Sox have released their full spring training broadcast schedule which includes radio and television.

Here's the release and scheduled from the Red Sox:

BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox have announced the broadcast schedule for the 2012 Spring Training season.

This spring, NESN will televise 12 of the club’s 33 exhibition games, including eight games at the team’s new Spring Training facility, JetBlue Park at Fenway South.  The flagship radio station of the Red Sox will air 15 total games, including Boston’s Grapefruit League home opener on Sunday, March 4 at 1:35 p.m. against Mayor’s Cup rival Minnesota Twins.  Eleven of those broadcasts will be carried on WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM with four games airing on WRKO 680 AM.  Additionally, ESPN will televise three of Boston’s contests including the team’s game against the New York Yankees on March 22.

Note: I added in YES on the March 13 game against the Yankees for those who live in a market where YES is available.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Earlier in the year, Baseball America released its 2012 Top 10 Boston Red Sox Prospects. Shortly thereafter, MLB.com released their 2012 Top 20 Red Sox Prospects.

Now it's Keith Law of ESPN's turn (ESPN Insider link):

1. Xander Bogaerts, IF
2. Blake Swihart, C
3. Will Middlebrooks, 3B
4. Ryan Lavarnway, C/DH
5. Matt Barnes, RHP
6. Anthony Ranaudo, RHP
7. Brandon Jacobs, OF
8. Bryce Brentz, OF
9. Garin Cecchini, 3B
10. Drake Britton, RHP

Bogaerts and Swihart were also included in Keith Law's 2012 Top 100 MLB Prospects. Middlebrooks and Lavarnway just missed out on making the Law's Top 100.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

It's that time of year where the various media entities who cover Major League Baseball and the minors leagues put out of their top prospects of each organization and also a list of the top prospects from all of the organizations.

Earlier this year, MLB.com released their top 100 MLB prospects and that list included four members of the Boston Red Sox organization. This time around, it's Keith Law of ESPN's (ESPN Insider link) turn.

Included in his list of 100 top prospects are two Red Sox farmhands. They are shortstop Xander Bogaerts who comes in at No. 62 and catcher Blake Swihart who comes in at No. 100.

Here's what Law has to say about Bogaerts:

The Red Sox were aggressive with the Aruban-born Bogaerts, promoting him from the Dominican Summer League right to full-season ball, where only Jurickson Profar and Bryce Harper were younger among regular position players. But Bogaerts held his own due to excellent bat speed and enough pitch recognition to keep himself afloat. He starts out very wide at the plate and closes slightly when he gets his front foot down. The ball really comes off his bat well, thanks to strong wrists and forearms and a very rotational swing with great extension through contact.

He spent the year at shortstop, making an error every three games, but isn't likely to stay there with third base the probable destination. He has the arm and feet for it, assuming he does indeed outgrow shortstop. Boston's system is thin right now, with several prospects who project as solid regulars but nothing more. Bogaerts is the Red Sox's best chance right now to produce an All-Star.

Here's what Law has to say about Swihart:

Swihart is raw on both sides of the ball but extremely athletic with the bat speed and arm strength to profile as a potential All-Star at a number of skill positions. As a hitter, he can get out on his front foot early and doesn't finish rotating his hips to produce the power his swing should allow, but the bat speed is there and he has a decent feel for the strike zone. As a catcher, he can throw and has already improved his release time since signing with Boston.

Having played a number of positions in high school, Swihart needs to work on receiving and game-calling. Given time and regular reps behind the plate, he could be similar to Matt Wieters, a switch-hitting catcher (perhaps with less power) who can add value through catching and throwing. If he has to move to another position, such as third base, he could still end up an above-average big leaguer but would obviously lose a good bit of his value.

Will Middlebrooks and Ryan Lavarnway were among Law's top 10 prospects who just missed out making the top 100.

Keith Law - Top 100 Prospects Index -- 1-25 -- 26-50 -- 51-75 -- 76-100 -- Top 10 Prospects who just missed top 100 (these links are to PDF printout)

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Here's the press release from NESN announcing their 2012 Boston Red Sox Spring Training coverage:

February 8, 2012 – NESN, New England’s most watched sports network, will deliver forty-six (46) consecutive days of Boston Red Sox Spring Training coverage that will include sixty-seven (67) hours of live programming leading up to opening day on April 5^th.  NESN’s live coverage from JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Lee County will feature:

• 13 days of Red Sox LIVE from Fort Myers presented by Jordan’s Furniture
• 5 days of WEEI’s The Dennis and Callahan Morning Show
• 12 Spring Training games in high definition

In addition, NESN Daily will feature nightly reports and exclusive interviews from Florida and NESN.com will include up-to-the-minute news from new Red Sox beat reporter Didier Morais and exclusive video in a special Spring Training section at NESN.com/springtraining.

“NESN is committed to bringing our fans the most comprehensive coverage of Red Sox baseball in 2012 starting with day one of Spring Training,” said Sean McGrail, NESN’s President and CEO. “JetBlue Park is a beautiful facility, and we can’t wait to give Red Sox fans a look at Fenway South.”

13 Days of Red Sox LIVE from Fort Myers presented by Jordan’s Furniture

NESN’s live Spring Training coverage begins the day pitchers and catchers report on Sunday, February 19 at 6 pm with Red Sox LIVE from Fort Myers presented by Jordan’s Furniture. The evening shows will be shot from inside JetBlue Park near the new ballpark’s Green Monster. NESN studio host Tom Caron will be joined by NESN’s Peter Gammons, Red Sox field reporter Jenny Dell, and Red Sox players, coaches, and executives to deliver 13 consecutive days of live programming from Fenway South.

5 Days of WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan Morning Show

NESN’s live coverage from Fort Myers will also include five days of WEEI’s The Dennis & Callahan Morning Show beginning Thursday, February 23^rd. John Dennis and Gerry Callahan will be in the brand new JetBlue Park to deliver exclusive interviews with players and coaches.

12 Spring Training Games, All in HD

NESN’s high definition (HD) coverage of twelve (12) Grapefruit League games will begin Saturday, March 3 at 7 pm when the Red Sox play Boston College in the first-ever televised game from JetBlue Park. Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy will team up for their 12^th season together in the NESN broadcast booth to deliver all the action.

To see the full schedule of NESN's 2012 Red Sox Spring Training Coverage, please click on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

The Boston Red Sox have been know to do their scouting all over the world. And their latest signing shows that effort.

Rob Bradford of WEEI.com confirmed a report from Australia that the Red Sox have signed 17-year-old Daniel McGrath. He will not play in the Red Sox organization this season as he has to finish up school which will end for him next November.

McGrath made 13 appearances for the Melbourne Aces in the Australian Baseball League, going 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA. He had made four appearances last year for the Aces with no record and a 3.86 ERA.

If you watch the video below, you will see that he slightly resembles Jon Lester on the mound.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Photo credit: TheABL.com

About two weeks ago, MLB.com revealed it's 2012 Top 100 prospects for all of MLB. Included in that list were four members of the Boston Red Sox organization.

They were third baseman Will Middlebrooks, outfielder Bryce Brentz (No. 64), shortstop Xander Bogaerts (No. 76) and catcher Ryan Lavarnway (No. 93).

Now MLB.com has released it's 2012 Top 20 Prospects for the Red Sox. Included in the list below if when MLB.com thinks they will help impact the Red Sox.

1. Will Middlebrooks, 3B - ETA: 2012
2. Bryce Brentz, OF - ETA: 2013
3. Xander Bogaerts, SS - ETA: 2014
4. Ryan Lavarnway, C - ETA: 2012
5. Anthony Ranaudo, P - ETA: 2013
6. Felix Doubront, P - ETA: 2012
7. Brandon Jacobs, OF - ETA: 2014
8. Kolbrin Vitek, 3B - ETA: 2014
9. Garin Cecchini, 3B - ETA: 2014
10. Jose Iglesias, SS - ETA: 2012
11. Blake Swihart, C - ETA: 2015
12. Matt Barnes, P - ETA: 2014
13. Drake Britton, P - ETA: 2014
14. Oscar Tejeda, 2B - ETA: 2013
15. Stolmy Pimentel, P - ETA: 2014
16. Sean Coyle, 2B - ETA: 2014
17. Jose Vinicio, SS - ETA: 2016
18. Jackie Bradley, OF - ETA: 2013
19. Juan Carlos Linares, OF - ETA: 2012
20. Brandon Workman, P - ETA: 2014

You can read more about each player by heading over the 2012 Top 20 Prospects for the Red Sox on MLB.com.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

When the Boston Red Sox signed Cody Ross, they needed to make room on the 40-man roster for him. They ended up doing that by designating Scott Atchison for assignment.

On Monday, Atchison cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. Since he is no longer on the 40-man roster and under a minor league deal, the Red Sox have invited him to spring training as a non-roster invitee.

He'll report with the rest of the pitchers and catchers in 10 days on February 17th.

Atchison spent the 2011 season shuttling between Pawtucket and Boston making 17 appearances with the Red Sox. In those 17 games, he was 1-0 with a 3.26 ERA. He will be given a chance to compete for a spot in the revamped Red Sox bullpen.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

If you wanted to know what type of mentality newcomer Mark Melancon brings to the Boston Red Sox bullpen, you don't have to look any further than the video below.

Recently, Melancon went to New Zealand and went swimming with great white sharks. And to me, yes you have to be crazy to do that. 

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

In order to avoid going to arbitration, Boston Red Sox GM Ben Cherington had to work out deals with Alfredo Aceves and David Ortiz. And with the hearings scheduled for both of them sometime within the next 12 days, he's running out of time to avoid the Red Sox going to arbitration for the first time since the 2002 season.

Well now,at the very least, he only has to worry about going to arbitration with one of them.

The Boston media is reporting that the Red Sox and Aceves have agreed on a one-year, $1.2 million contract. Alex Speier of WEEI.com states the contract also includes up to $100,000 in bonuses depending on how many games Aceves starts or how many appearances he makes. There's no word on whether the contract also includes towels to wipe the pouring sweat off of his head on the mound.

Aceves had asked for $1.6 million while the Red Sox were offering $950,000 so the two sides almost met in the middle.

We do know that Aceves is heading to spring training as a starter and will compete with a slew of others for the final spot in the Red Sox rotation barring another signing (Roy Oswalt).

He was a rock out of the Red Sox bullpen in 2011. He made 55 appearances (four starts) and was 10-2 with a 2.61 ERA.

While their have been reports out there that the Red Sox are likely to go to arbitration with Big Papi, he told ESPN Deportes on Saturday that he still is holding out hope for a multi-year deal with the Red Sox.

Big Papi is seeking $16.25 million from the Red Sox while the team is offering $12.65 million.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Photo credit: Getty Images