As the Red Sox gear up to play the Phillies this weekend, Modell’s Sporting Goods is happy to announce that New Era, the official on-field cap of Major League Baseball, has introduced a new test line of Authentic Collection Low Crown 59FIFTY® Major League Baseball® caps that are now available in Modell’s stores throughout Massachusetts. The new “Low Crown” 59FIFTY caps are available for purchase for the Boston Red Sox for $34.99 SRP.

These caps are made with performance CoolBase technology and are custom designed with a low crown featuring an embroidered (raised) team logo on front and stitched Major League Baseball logo on the rear.  The caps are designed for an everyday fit that allows for optimal comfort.  Players and fans now have two options when it comes to which fitted caps they wear on the field and at the game.

One lucky reader of the site will receive one of the new low crown caps courtesy of Modells. We will be running a contest in the near future to determine a winner. If you want one right away, head on down to your local Modells and pick one up!

After a very long negotiating period, Jason Varitek has chosen to remain a Boston Red Sox. On Thursday afternoon, Varitek and the Red Sox agreedd on a one year contract that includs an option for the 2010 season. Varitek is expected to make $5 million in 2009. The option would also be for $5 million but if the team chooses not to pick it up then Varitek can choose to remain with the team for $3 million. In 2010, he can earn another $2MM in incentives based on playing time, beginning at 80 games started.  The incentives apply to the player option only.

What’s your opinion on the signing?

Jonathan Papelbon and the Boston Red Sox agreed on a $6.25 million dollar contract for the 2009 season. It was the first time that Papelbon was arbitration eligible and the Red Sox management did not want to go to a hearing so they got a deal on Tuesday. Papelbon will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2011 season with the new deal.

Overall I think it is a good deal when you compare it to other closers and relievers out there. Great job by Theo and the upper management!

Great news Red Sox fans! Kevin Youkilis and the Boston Red Sox are expected to complete a new four-year contract that will keep Youkilis in a Red Sox uniform long term! With the new deal, Youkilis and the Red Sox will not go to salary arbitration which is a great thing.

The four-year deal is expected to be worth $10 million per year so $40 million total. The deal is pretty similar to the same one that second basemen Dustin Pedroia signed earlier in the off season. Youkilis hit .312 with 29 homers, 115 RBIs and a .569 slugging percentage in 2008 and finished third in MVP voting which Pedroia won.

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Wow, it sure has been a busy week for the Boston Red Sox as they have signed four players to contracts or are in the process of waiting for physicals to come before the contracts are signed. The team will be bringing in veteran pitchers John Smoltz and Brady Penny while Rocco Baldelli is coming home to play in the outfield along with Mark Kotsay who will also back up first base.

Smoltz’s contract offer is for $5.5 million but could reach $10 million with incentives. It will be interesting to see if Smoltz holds during year as he is getting up there in age (41). He isn’t expected to pitch until June 1st as he recovers from shoulder surgery as it is.

Kotsay will earn $1.5 million in 2009. I feel he is more valuable then that kind of money so for him to sign that kind of deal I think the Red Sox got a great bargain.

Baldelli will make $500,000 and probably serve as the teams fourth outfielder. Another cheap deal for the Sox that I like. Baldelli has been injured and only played in 28 games in 2008 but has received good news about his injury where there is treatment that will make it better.

The Brad Penny deal should finally be signed in the next couple of days. We blogged about that deal shortly after Christmas.

Good moves for the Sox!

The Boston Red Sox were busy on Sunday as they signed free agents Brad Penny and Josh Bard. Penny played for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year and went 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA in 17 starts and two relief appearance. Bard played for the San Diego Padres in 2008 and hit .202 in 57 games.

Penny will be signing a one year deal that is being rumored to be worth $5 million. He will probably be a back of the rotation guy and a pitcher that the team will have to be careful with due to past injuries.

The Bard agreement is a nonguaranteed major-league deal worth $1.6MM.

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The Boston Red Sox have gave American League MVP Dustin Pedroia an extension and a hefty raise as well we have learned. The second basemen has a signed a six-year extension worth $40.5 million that will keep him in a Red Sox uniform through the 2014 season. There is an option for the 2015 as well in the contract.

Pedroia led the AL in hits, runs and doubles in helping the Red Sox win the wild-card berth. He batted .326 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs and also stole 20 bases.

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Good news Red Sox fans, it looks like Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa has agreed to sign a three year contract with the Boston Red Sox. Tazawa is a 22 year old right handed pitcher who asked not to be drafted in Japan’s draft because he wanted to come to the United States to play baseball.

Tazawa will be in Boston this week to take a physical and if that passes he is expected to sign a three year contract and begin in the minor leagues. Even though he is expected to begin in the minors after signing the three year deal, Tazawa will be the property of the Red Sox for six years before he can actually become a free agent.

He turned down contract offers from the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and Atlanta Braves in favor of the Sox.

Red Sox Baseball

Sanspo.com is reporting that the Boston Red Sox have offered a contract to 22 year old Japanese player Junichi Tazawa. Tazawa is a right handed pitcher that decided not to enter the Japense baseball draft so any major league team that signs him will not have to pay a posting fee.

The Seattle Mariners and Atlanta Braves have also been rumored to have offered contract offers for Tazawa.

We will keep you posted if anything happens.

The Boston Red Sox shipped outfielder Coco Crisp to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday morning. In return for Crisp, the Red Sox will be getting reliever Ramon Ramirez from the Royals.

Ramirez, went 3-2 with a 2.64 ERA in 71 games in 2008. He registered 70 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings. He said he first learned of the trade shortly after 8 A.M. on Wednesday morning when management from the Royals called him while he was at home in the Dominican Republic.

Crisp never got into a good rythum with the Red Sox after coming over to the team from the Cleveland Indians. With Jacoby Ellsbury slated to be the everyday centerfielder, the Red Sox had room to move Crisp and thought that Ramirez was a good enough player to make the trade.

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