For those of you who don’t understand what the Rule 5 Draft entails, I will use the explanation that I used in last year’s post.

Included in the new CBA, which went into effect last October, was an alteration to the Rule 5, giving teams an extra year of protection to further aid the development process. Instead of clubs having three years (for players signed at age 19 or older) or four years (for players 18 and younger) to wait before adding players to the major league 40-man roster, they now have four and five years.

The Rule 5 draft is split into two segments: In the major league phase, clubs draft eligible players off Triple-A reserve lists. Players selected in the major league phase of the draft cost $50,000 each and must remain on the selecting team’s big league roster for all of the 2008 season or be offered back to the player’s original team for $25,000.

The minor league phase is split into two sections, the Triple-A phase and the Double-A phase. In the Triple-A phase, clubs draft players off Double-A reserve lists for $12,000 apiece; in the Double-A phase, clubs draft players off Class A reserve lists for $4,000 each. In neither case do players drafted have to be returned to their original team.

During the Major League portion of the draft, the Boston Red Sox took pitcher Miguel Gonzalez from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s Triple-A roster. Gonzalez missed the 2008 season with a knee injury but is putting up good numbers in the Mexican Winter League.

In 10 games (6 starts), Gonzalez is 3-1 with 0.99 ERA for Venados de Mazatlan.

During the Triple-A phase of the draft, the Red Sox selected Jason Rice from the Chicago White Sox and Miguel Marquez from the Seattle Mariners. The Red Sox didn’t lose any players in any phases of the draft.

A look at the results of the Rule 5 draft from all three phases after the jump.

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According to Steve Phillips of ESPN.com, the Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks are discussing a trade that would send Eric Byrnes to Beantown for Julio Lugo.

Essentially this would be a swap of contracts as Lugo has two years and $18 million remaining while Byrnes has 2 years and $22 million left on his contract.

If the trade happens, Byrnes would be the 4th outfielder for the Red Sox while Lugo would man second base in Arizona.

Byrnes hit just .209 with 6 home runs and 23 RBIs in an injury plagued 2008 season  where he saw action in just 52 games. Lugo hit .268 with 1 home run and 22 RBI in 82 games.

Lugo has become expendable by the Red Sox due to the rise of Jed Lowrie during the 2008 season.

As we found out yesterday, UConn Huskies running back Donald Brown was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized by the coaches in the Big East with this award,” Brown said. “It really means a lot to me. I think awards like this also help our program out considerably. The more attention and recognition that the school can get will show that the program continues to build and go in the right direction.”

Joe Perez of the Norwich Bulletin wonders why Brown wasn’t a finalist for the Doak Walker Award.

Brown was also named the Big East Offensive MVP by ESPN.com’s Brian Bennett.

Donald Brown, Cody Brown, Darius Butler and Jasper Howard were named to ESPN.com’s All-Big East Team.

Are you interested to see what the UConn players will be getting for gifts. Check out the 2008-09 bowl swag.

Here’s a look at the UConn football television spot for the International Bowl.

Former Husky Carla Berube is enjoying the quiet life coaching at Tufts.

Renee Montgomery is very quiet off the court.

Jim Calhoun has spent the exams break evaluating his team.

David Gillett has a look at UConn recruits Alex Oriakhi and Jamal Combs-McDaniel.

UConn women’s volleyball player Annie Luhrsen was named the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association (AVCA) Regional Freshman of the Year for the Northeast.

Casey Kelly will pitch and play the infield next year.

Boston Red Sox 2008 first round draft pick Casey Kelly will start the 2009 season as pitcher in the minor league system. Kelly played shortstop this year during his time in the Gulf Coast League and short stint with the Lowell Spinners.

Mike Hazen, the Red Sox farm director, spoke about the plans for Kelly.

“He’s going to transition into a pitching role for next year,” said farm director Mike Hazen. “We’re going to look at it like a first-year pitcher coming out, in the 100-inning range.”

Alex Speier of WEEI.com adds that after Kelly reaches 100 innings, he will go back to being a position player.

This is very interesting to hear. I’d have to assume that Kelly would probably take batting practice a few days of the week as well to keep his timing for when he makes the transition from the mound to the plate.

Day 3 at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Las Vegas is almost over and for the Boston Red Sox it was another quiet day of rumors and no action.

The latest news for the Red Sox involves the chase for the services of free agent pitcher A.J. Burnett. It’s being reported that the Red Sox are no longer involved in the talks as it is now down to the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves. With the Yankees picking up C.C. Sabathia earlier in the day on Wednesday, Burnett would be another nice addition to the Yanks staff.

I’m not so sure the Red Sox were really that interested in Burnett but they did their due diligence as they should.

The biggest news of the day was that Scott Boras spoke to the media about two of his clients, Jason Varitek and Mark Teixeira, both of whom the Red Sox have high interest in. Courtesy of the Boston Globe are these snippets.

On Varitek’s interest in Boston:

I think that Tek has always been a person — he’s the captain of a team, which is a rare event. And certainly Boston has let us know we want him back. We’re talking about it. We also have to go out and look into other situations that will be able to him.

On the Sox’ interest in Varitek:

Well, I mean, look, when a major league team approaches you about a player and offers them a contract, I guess that’s serious.

So he has been offered?

Yes.

On local ties being a factor for Teixeira:

Mark’s decision is complex. There’s regional ties. Certainly family is going to be part of his consideration.

How many teams have made offers so far?

Numerous.

On what else Teixeira is considering:

Obviously, the club’s ability to win, and win long-term. Commitment by the owners, long-term, to the franchise being successful. Where they play, the city they’re in. He’s played in both leagues. He’s had an opportunity to make an analysis of what’s best for he and his family. And, of course, the economics.

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein later responded to Boras’ comments but he cited the club policy of not talking about whether or not offers had been made.The Boston Herald is reporting that Varitek has been offered a 2-year deal.

In late news, it appears the Red Sox could be close to signing Teixeira to a deal.

Earlier on Wednesday, it was learned the Red Sox have some interest in free agent pitcher John Smoltz.

Dan Roche of WBZ thinks the Red Sox need to stay away from the big name free agent pitchers.

Earlier in the day yesterday it was thought that Derek Lowe was close to signing with the Yankees. That doesn’t appear to be the case now and apparently the Red Sox are still involved.

Hopefully something gets finalized by the Red Sox with Teixeira later in the day today and we’ll have something to talk about.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Boston Red Sox could be on the verge of signing free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira.

The Red Sox are making progress in their quest to sign free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, according to a major-league source.

“Headway was being made earlier today,” one source said.

A rival general manager whose plans could be affected by the Red Sox’s addition of Teixeira also indicated that a deal was getting closer.

Let’s hope the Red Sox can get this deal done tomorrow and worry about the fallout later.

I will have a recap of the events from Wednesday coming up very shortly.