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Follow the Sox on opening day

If you can't be near a television Monday afternoon when the Red Sox open their regular season against the Rangers, check in with Projo.com for the updated score and a log of highlights from the game. Also, on Sunday, The Providence Journal features its full Red Sox preview special, with information to get you ready for the season, and a PawSox preview as well.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 4:31 PM | Permalink

Ortiz extension not done yet

Journal baseball writer Sean McAdam reports that while talks are active between the Red Sox and slugger David Ortiz, a deal is not imminent. Ortiz, the runner-up for American League Most Valuable Player last season, is in the second and final guaranteed year of his current Red Sox contract. A report earlier today on ESPN Deportes said that Ortiz and the Red Sox were finalizing terms on a four-year extension worth $50 million.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:44 PM | Permalink

Report: Ortiz near deal on contract extension

ESPN Deportes is reporting today that the Red Sox and designated hitter David Ortiz are finalizing terms on a four-year, $50-million contract extension that would keep Ortiz in Boston through the 2010 season. The report quotes an unnamed source close to Ortiz. The agent for the 30-year-old slugger declined to comment, other than to say that the sides are in active negotiations.

If the details in the ESPN report are true, Ortiz would double his salary. During the club's 2004 world championship season, Ortiz agreed to a two-year contract extension worth a total of $12.5 million -- an amount considered to be a bargain for a top-notch slugger. That extension included an option for a third year.

Ortiz joined the Red Sox in 2003 as an unheralded player who had been nontendered by the Minnesota Twins. In Boston, he has been a star with a penchant for delivering game-changing hits. He was the MVP of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees in 2004, delivering two game-winning hits, and was the runner-up for American League Most Valuable Player last year. He has played in the last two All-Star Games, last year as a starter.

He hit .288 with 31 home runs in 2003; .301 with 41 home runs in 2004; and .300 with 47 home runs last year.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments 2

Sox to face reshuffled Rangers rotation

The regular season has yet to begin, but the Red Sox' first opponent has already suffered a big loss.

Right-hander Adam Eaton, projected to be the Texas Rangers' second starter, injured a tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand during a spring-training outing on Wednesday. Yesterday the Rangers learned that Eaton, 28, whom they acquired in an offseason six-player trade with San Diego, will be out for at least three months.

The Dallas Morning News reports today that the Rangers will replace Eaton in the rotation with Juan Dominguez, who had lost his starting spot after showing up in camp overweight and being tardy for spring-trading workouts. Barring a trade, Dominguez would start the fifth game of the season for the Rangers.

For Monday's opener, Boston will pitch Curt Schilling against Texas' Kevin Millwood. Assuming the Rangers move up their other starters a day, it would be Tim Wakefield against Vicente Padilla on Tuesday, and Josh Beckett against Kameron Loe on Wednesday.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 9:49 AM | Permalink