It's a dream come true for the outfielder with a family steeped in Red Sox Nation and a potentially perfect fit for a team that needed a fourth outfielder capable of providing energy and offense.

"I've said that as much as much as anyone, I know what it's like to be a Red Sox fan around the game," Baldelli said. "My family and friends are as crazy as any other Red Sox fans out there, so I know as well as anybody the loyalty that fans have for this team.

"This is really all I could ask for at this point."

The 27-year-old is capable of playing all three outfield positions and was an athletic superstar-in-the-making for the Tampa Bay Rays before injury and then a mysterious illness eroded his game.

Baldelli finally returned to a reserve role with the Rays last season while battling through a somewhat nebulous mitochondrial condition and hit .263 with four home runs and 13 RBI in only 80 at-bats.

A new diagnosis of channelopathy this winter has Baldelli believing that things like back-to-back games and semi-regular playing duty are realistic goals while coming off the bench for the Olde Towne Team.

The Red Sox are hoping their "partnership" with Baldelli fills a need for a right-handed bat to sometimes split time with lefty swingers Jacoby Ellsbury and J.D. Drew.

"There was a definite fit on this club for Rocco," general manager Theo Epstein said. "It seems like nearly every year we're looking for a talented right-handed hitting outfielder to complement our corps of outfielders. He can help us out as an extra outfielder and be a pretty dynamic one."