Main page
« December 4, 2006
December 6, 2006 »

Sox nab Lugo, too

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Hours after they reached agreement with free-agent outfielder J.D. Drew on a five-year deal, the Red Sox came to terms with shortstop Julio Lugo on a four-year contract, with a vesting option for a fifth year.

Details of the contract are not yet known.

See tomorrow's Journal, and projo.com, for full details.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Art  at 9:55 PM | Permalink

Deal all but done with Drew; Lugo may decide tonight

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The long-awaited deal with J.D. Drew is done, pending a physical.

The Sox agreed to a five-year, guaranteed deal with the free-agent outfielder that could potentially be worth $70 million. Drew's salary will be $14 million per season in each of the first four years, and will remain at $14 million for the fifth year if he hits certain vesting numbers. If he doesn't, the salary will be lower.

The official annoucement could come as early as Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Sox should find out tonight whether or not they have a deal with Julio Lugo. The former Tampa Bay shortstop reportedly has eliminated the Cubs from his list of suitors, leaving his choice between the Red Sox (who want him to play shortstop) and the Mets (who want him to play second base). Sources say Lugo is expected to make his decision tonight.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Art  at 7:56 PM | Permalink | Comments 2

Lester "cancer-free," and has resumed pitching

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A CT scan performed last Thursday showed Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester to be cancer-free, Lester said in a conference call Tuesday evening with reporters.

Lester said he is due to undergo one more set of chemotherapy treatments for non-Hodgins lymphoma on Dec. 21, after which he'll have completed the necessary regimen. Lester will undergo further scans twice next year to ensure he remains cancer-free.

He began throwing Monday and said he fully expects to be in Fort Myers when pitchers and catchers are due to report in mid-February.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Art  at 6:20 PM | Permalink | Comments 2

Quick hits from the end of Day Two

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A couple of Red Sox notes:

-- The Manny Ramirez trade talks appear to be dissolving. After investing so much time and effort in attempting to move the slugging left fielder, the Sox are finding they are unable to get back what they consider to be equal value for Ramirez. As time passes, it appears more and more likely Ramirez will remain with the Sox, at least through the end of the winter meetings.

-- Talks have stepped up with former Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, now a free agent.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Art  at 6:20 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Dodgers appear out of Ramirez trade talks

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- It may be time to count the Dodgers out of the Manny Ramirez sweepstakes.

Sources familiar with the talks between the two teams report that the Dodgers believe the deal is unlikely, giving the Red Sox' demands. Boston is known to be looking for reliever Jonathan Broxton and two other top Los Angeles prospects, while the Dodgers are unwilling to part with more than one additional player beyond Broxton.

We'll have more as it becomes available.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Art  at 4:01 PM | Permalink

Francona: Lester's cancer treatments about to end

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- In a just-concluded meeting with reporters, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said pitcher Jon Lester's treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma will end after one more chemotherapy session.

Francona wouldn't go beyond that -- he wouldn't confirm that Lester plans to attend spring training, which begins in Fort Myers, Fla., in about nine weeks -- but said a further update would come in an as-yet-unscheduled conference call Lester plans to hold with the media.

''From where I sit, this means [this week's winter meetings] are already a success,'' said Francona. ''That's great news.''

Lester was diagnosed with the disease late last August, and has been undergoing treatments in his native Washington state.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Art  at 2:25 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Day Two of the Winter Meetings: All's quiet

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- One o'clock at baseball's winter meetings, and all's calm.

There's nothing new churning in the rumor mill as the Red Sox -- and all the other franchises -- huddle with each other in search of a deal. It continues to look as if the two Los Angeles teams are the best match if a Manny Ramirez trade is to be completed, but there's no indication at the moment that anything is imminent, or even close.

General manager Theo Epstein said yesterday that if the Red Sox don't complete a trade for Ramirez by midnight Wednesday, they would stop actively seeking to trade him.

We'll be back with an update later today.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Art  at 1:25 PM | Permalink