--1B Kevin Youkilis and the Red Sox have agreed on a four-year deal worth at least $41 million, according to multiple media reports. Youkilis, who had been eligible for arbitration, finished third in AL MVP voting last year, trailing teammate Dustin Pedroia and Minnesota 1B Justin Morneau.
--RHP David Aardsma, who played a large role in the Red Sox bullpen last season, was designated for assignment. The team needed a spot on the 40-man roster for OF/1B Mark Kotsay, who recently re-signed as a free agent. --RHP Takashi Saito agreed to a one-year deal with the Red Sox, giving the team a pitcher with ninth-inning experience to serve as a setup man to RHP Jonathan Papelbon. Saito was the Dodgers' closer for most of the past three years, racking up 81 saves and posting a 1.95 ERA. He was non-tendered by Los Angeles last month as the team didn't want to go to arbitration with him. According to multiple media reports, Saito will make at least $1.5 million with the Red Sox, and incentives could push his pay to $7 million.
--RHP Charlie Zink, designated for assignment when the Red Sox needed a roster spot for OF Rocco Baldelli, was outrighted to Class AAA Pawtucket.
--OF Mark Kotsay will return to the Red Sox after testing the market in free agency, agreeing to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. He could earn another $1 million based on the number of plate appearances he gets. The left-handed hitter will fill out Boston's bench as a reserve outfielder/first baseman capable of playing for extended lengths of time if injuries hit the Red Sox at those positions. Kotsay arrived in Boston last season in a post-deadline waiver deal with the Atlanta Braves and batted .226 with 12 RBIs in 22 games. Kotsay had hoped to find a starting job with another team but always voiced interest in potentially returning to Boston.
--OF Rocco Baldelli expects to play a reserve role for the Red Sox this year and says it took him some time to come to grips with not being an everyday player at the tender age of 27. While Baldelli still hopes to someday be healthy enough to again be a starter in the big leagues, he has accepted his role with the Red Sox this season. "I came to the conclusion that the best thing for me -- and my career and also for the team that I am on -- (is to) take a step back and not be an everyday player and try to accept what my body will give me," Baldelli said. "I was able to do that, and I got some good results when I did that. It's not the easiest adjustment to make, but it's something that I think helped my career."
--2B Dustin Pedroia has one more honor to add to his Rookie of the Year Award, Gold Glove Award and American League MVP trophy: He will be the cover boy for Playstation 3's "MLB 09 The Show." According to a press release from Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Pedroia took part in the game's motion-capture process, A.I. consultation and integration into all facets of the marketing campaign, and he'll be spokesperson for the franchise. The latest installment from the PS3 MLB franchise game is due to hit stores in spring 2009.
--RHP John Smoltz signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract with the Red Sox and could join Boston's starting rotation by the beginning of June. Smoltz is recovering from right shoulder surgery and could be a steal for the Red Sox if he's healthy enough to contribute innings later in the year. The right-hander spent the first 20 years of his big-league career with the Atlanta Braves and will make a base $5.5 million salary with the Red Sox that could jump to $10 million if he hits his incentives. Smoltz gives the Red Sox additional rotation depth if they opt to deal one of their pitchers for a young catcher in the coming months.
--RHP Jonathan Papelbon and LHP Jon Lester have turned down invitations to pitch for the U.S. team in the World Baseball Classic this spring, according to WEEI.com. The Red Sox pitchers joined RHP Josh Beckett, who earlier this winter declined the invitation to take part in the WBC in order to concentrate on getting ready for the season. Former Red Sox RHP Mike Timlin took part in the inaugural WBC and complained about arm fatigue during the season that followed the preseason tournament.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- The number of stints that RHP Brad Penny spent on the disabled list last season with right shoulder troubles while pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "There's still some unfinished business. Jason (Varitek) is still out there. As I said at the beginning of the offseason, he has been a really important guy here, to this organization. By no means have we shut the door on him. There's still unfinished business there and also in the pursuit of a younger catcher." -- Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, discussing Boston's catching situation.
