Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona has received a three year contract extenion from upper management.  That new contract will keep Francona in Boston through the 2011 season.  The deal is called to pay Francona between $3.5 and $4 million dollars a year.  There is also two extra years included in the deal as options.  If the Red Sox keep on winning, you can expect those options to be exercised!

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The Boston Red Sox have signed Bartolo Colon to a minor league contract.  If Colon makes the big league roster the Red Sox will pay him around $1 million dollars.  Colon is a longshot to make the big league roster out of Spring Training, but he would more then likely be the first guy called up if they Red Sox need a spot starter, or someone to pitch because of injuries.

It is a pretty low gamble that the Red Sox were willing to take. I like the deal for them as Colon could help them out at some point during the season.

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Kevin Youkilis and the Boston Red Sox have agreed on a one year contract that will pay Youkilis $3 million dollars for the 2008 season.  Youkilis will be under the Red Sox control through the 2010 season, he can just expect pay raises the next few seasons through salary arbitration.

Now the Red Sox just need to figure out what is going on with Curt Shilling and / or trade for Joe Blanton and lets get to Spring Training!

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Sean Casey and the Boston Red Sox have signed a one year contract for the 2008 season.  The deal is believed to be worth $700,000.  Casey will pretty much sit on the bench and do a little pitch hitting here and there.  I don’t think he will really have much value for this team unless the Red Sox have a couple of injuries happen at the first base position.

Casey will be there to come off the bench, and as long as he knows that he will pretty much just be a pitch hitter I’m ok with this deal.  He is a veteran so I’m sure he is ok with this role, he just wants to get the post season and contend for a World Series.

The Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox have completed a trade that will send David Aardsma to the Red Sox.  In exchange, the White Sox will receive Willy Mota and Miguel Socolovich.

To be honest, I think the Red Sox got a great deal here.  Aardsma can come in and provide some help in the Red Sox bullpen.  He can throw some nasty gas reaching near 100 miles per hour.  He usually strikes out atleast one batter an inning, but needs to solve some control problems if he wants to be a really good relief pitcher.

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Hello to a brand new Red Sox Blog called RedSoxHomePlate!  The first question everyone is asking is “Can the Red Sox repeat as World Series Champions?”.  Well I don’t see why not!  Look at all the players the Red Sox have coming back.  The pitching rotation is awesome, Manny and Big Papi are back and ready to get Red Sox nation back to the World Series!

There is one really big question heading into Spring Training for the Red Sox however.  Will they be able to work a trade out for Johan Santana?  If the Red Sox can pull off that trade, wow!  That is pretty much all I can say!

It’s going to be another exciting year for the Red Sox, and we hope you will continue coming back to Redsoxhomeplate every day!  We hope you will take part in our discussions by leaving comments and letting us know your opinions.  We wish everyone in Red Sox nation Happy Holidays and GO RED SOX!