Some recent news out of Sox country (or non-news in one case).

Theo Epstein still hasn't been signed. Contract negotiations are still continuing, although the Red Sox put out three different statements (one from Theo) about Dale Sveum leaving.

The Dallas Morning News reported the Red Sox have received permission to talk to Texas coach DeMarlo Hale, a former manager in their minor-league system, about their third-base coaching position.

Trot Nixon underwent successful surgery to repair an injured left knee. Nixon is expected to resume his offseason conditioning program in less than a month.

More construction is being done on Fenway (picture right). There will be two separate areas. The first is the EMC club, which will consist of 406 open-air seats directly behind home plate, in essentially the same spot where the .406 Club seats were located.

There also will be a pavilion level of roughly 400 open-air club seats above the EMC club. Through the work of the corporate department of the Red Sox, most of those 800 seats behind home plate have already, in Lucchino's words, "been spoken for."

David Wells is requesting a trade to the West Coast.

Manny wants to go to Anaheim, not the Mets.

Red Sox