Alex Gonzalez News

With the passing of midnight, the Sox' exclusive negotiating window with Jason Bay closed, making him a true free agent.

The World Series may still be fresh in your mind, but MLB GMs are already focusing on next season.

The World Series may still be fresh in your mind, but MLB GMs are already focusing on next season.

I repeat my assertion that the Reds need a solid shortstop to be an authentic contender for the Central Division championship.

Marco Scutaro and Orlando Cabrera are two shortstop possibilities for the Reds on the free agent market this off-season. As Walt Jocketty spends his time in Chicago, cozying up to the other GMs for a long Winter's nap season of dealing, he appears to have two priorities on his mind : shortstop and catcher.

Alex Gonzalez still could be the starting shortstop for the Red Sox next season.

Not only will Tim Wakefield be back with the Red Sox next season, he now has a contract for 2011.

A couple of days ago the Cincinnati Reds dumped $8.5 million by not picking up the option year of catcher Ramon Martinez.A Now let's say that the Reds don't go all nutters and start trading like a stockbroker on crack.

The Red Sox exercised their $7.7 million option on Victor Martinez and declined options on Jason Varitek and Alex Gonzalez on Monday.

As expected, the Red Sox have exercised their 2010 option on C / 1B Victor Martinez while declining their option on SS Alex Gonzalez.

The Red Sox declined their $6 million option for shortstop Alex Gonzalez on Sunday, according to The Boston Globe, which added that the club "still may have interest in bringing the player back in 2010 on a lesser salary." Gonzalez, an 11-year veteran, made $14 million his previous three years, with Boston reportedly taking a $500,000 buyout ...

We're about a month into the offseason already and almost six weeks since the last installment of the Reds Inbox.

URPRISE, Ariz. -- Since the start of the 2004 season -- a lifetime ago in local baseball history -- the Red Sox [ team stats ] have gone through shortstops like an office might go through temp workers.

Alex Gonzalez proved his fitness in the field and at the plate. The Cincinnati Reds shortstop made an outstanding play in the field and doubled in a run in a 9-6 victory over the club's top minor-leaguers in Dayton.

With the organizational meetings completed last week in Arizona, the Reds front office has maintained a low profile but kept busy.

Now that everyone in Red Sox Nation has had about a week to digest what happened against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, I would just like to say one thing.

It's Boston. The Red Sox just flopped in the playoffs. Someone - maybe multiple someones - will take the hit.

The first time Red Sox shortstop Alex Gonzalez went to the postseason, the Venezuelan native enjoyed a Carlton Fisk-like moment.

A team that desperately craves success and credibility, the Reds found themselves stuck in the baseball wilderness again.

At no point this season did the Red Sox take the field without a shortstop on the field.