Theo Epstein helped the Red Sox end their 86-year World Series drought by assembling their 2004 title-winning club. However, Epstein said Tuesday night at a Lecture given at Sacred Heart University that winning the team's first championship in almost a century wasn't his proudest moment with Boston. He got more pleasure out of winning the 2007 World Series because of all the homegrown talent the Red Sox used to win their second title in four years. There was just one homegrown player on their 2004 team, outfielder Trot Nixon. Three years later, Boston won the final game of the baseball season with 12 homegrown players -- including stars like Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and Jon Lester.

Brian Cashman is one of the longest-tenured executives in professional sports, but he never desired to become the general manager of the Yankees. Cashman joined the Yankees organization in 1986 as an intern and he moved up the ladder and was named general manager in February 1998. At the time, he was the youngest general manager in professional baseball at age 30. "I never wanted to be the general manager of the Yankees," Cashman told an audience at Sacred Heat in Fairfield, Connecticut. Cashman and former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein were featured in the college's "Lecture Series" on Tuesday night. "I still don't want to be the general manager of the Yankees," Cashman added with a smirk. Cashman took over after Bob Watson retired from the position.

The Yankees and Red Sox, bitter rivals, haven't consummated a trade since August 13, 1997. Boston traded Mike Stanley and minor leaguer Randy Brown to New York for a player to be named later and Tony Armas that day. It has been nearly fifteen years since the Yankees and Red Sox were trading partners, but an inexperienced Theo Epstein once tried to engage New York in talks. Epstein admitted as much on Tuesday night while giving a talk with Brian Cashman as part of Sacred Heart's "Lecture Series" in Fairfield, Connecticut. When asked why Cashman and Epstein, now with the Cubs, never made a deal, the former Red Sox general manager said he once tried as a newcomer to the bitter rivalry. Epstein threw out the idea of sending Shea Hillenbrand to the Yankees for Nick Johnson, but Cashman wasn't interested.

The Marlins are on schedule to open their new ballpark for the start of the 2012 season. Workers will begin laying sod Thursday, installing 50-foot rolls four feet wide. The field will consist of 110,000 square feet of Bermuda grass, and installation will take about three days.

The Yankees have hired Jim Hendry as a special assignment scout, according to a Major League source. Hendry, formerly the general manager of the Cubs, will report to New York general manager Brian Cashman. He worked 17 years in the Cubs organization in numerous positions, including farm director, scouting director, assistant general manager and general manager.

New Astros owner Jim Crane says he won't change the team's name. Crane said last week that he was considering a switch, but he emailed a video message to season-ticket holders on Monday saying, "one thing that we are not going to change is the name." The team was established in 1962 as the Colt .45s and has been called the Astros since 1965 when the name was changed to coincide with the move to the Astrodome.

Pat Burrell has decided to retire after twelve Major League seasons, according to multiple reports. Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors first reported that the 35-year-old outfielder was hanging up his cleats and FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal confirmed the report. Burrell was the No. 1 overall pick back in 1998.

The Rangers have given Ron Washington a two-year contract extension. That puts the manager under contract with the club through the 2014 season. Washington has led the Rangers to back-to-back World Series appearances.

The Brewers lost Prince Fielder via free agency and Ryan Braun could miss significant time due to suspension. Still, Nyjer Morgan doesn't want the team's fans panicking as the 2012 season approaches. "Basically, don't panic," Morgan said. "Everything's going to be OK. We're all professionals. Doug and Gord, they brought players in to help get us back on top and still continue what we're doing. There's no panic." Milwaukee still expects to contend. "I've been here for a pretty long time now, and we never had pitching," Rickie Weeks said. "Last year was the first time we had pitching. I don't care how much offense you have, if you don't have pitching you can't win ballgames. We have that now still. Prince, he'll be missed, but at the same time I think we have some pieces in place that will still keep us at that top level."

Bobby Valentine, hired to replace Terry Francona this offseason, is looking to put the team's 2011 collapse in the rear-view mirror. "There might have been some things that went on," Valentine said. "We've all made mistakes in life, but the greatest thing we're allowed to do is learn from our mistakes. The greatest right we all have is the right to change your mind. Talking to the players, I don't think there's one guy that thinks things went proper last year. I don't think it's my job to bring to everyone's attention what happened last year. They get it. They know some of the things were wrong, and we're gonna go about playing baseball." Valentine added that he's excited to get to know Dustin Pedroia, he'll probably use a committee at shortstop and that he spent New Years with ace Josh Beckett.