No doubt about it, getting exposure in Batter's Box is the key to securing work in major-league baseball. Just kidding, of course -- Josh Boyd, who gave us an extensive overview of the Blue Jays' minor-league system just weeks ago, has long had great credibility within the game, which is one reason why he's left his position as National Writer for Baseball America to join the San Diego Padres as an area scout, responsible for the Eastern Seaboard area. As Gerry McDonald, who reported the news, observed wryly: "We got him to talk just in time." Batter's Box sends its best wishes to Josh in his new position.

Josh Boyd isn't the first person to go from analyzing and writing about the game to being part of it: Jays fans know that Vice-President of Baseball Operations Keith Law was a widely respected analyst for Baseball Prospectus before joining the club. And of course Bill James, the Dean of Sabrmetrics, is a consultant for the Boston Red Sox; other sabmetricians and analysts are similarly employed elsewhere in the game. I think we'll continue to see talented people join the industry from the growing field of baseball research and analysis, as more clubs become aware of the very smart people -- and the competitive advantage -- available there.