4-Year Offer to Beckett on Table

[CoachC.]

Sources: Optimism in air in Beckett talks

 

Contract negotiations between the Boston Red Sox and right-hander Josh Beckett have progressed to the point that there is optimism a deal will be completed in the next week or two, sources close to Beckett told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

Beckett, the sources said, has a four-year, guaranteed offer from Boston on the table. His deal could be along the lines of the free-agent contract John Lackey signed with the Red Sox this winter -- $16.5 million a year for five years -- in terms of annual salary. It could be worth a total package in the range of $65 million to $70 million, sources said.

 

A source with knowledge of the negotiations told ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes that the Red Sox would not go to a fifth year in their talks with Beckett.

 

The three-year, $30 million extension Beckett signed in 2006 expires at the end of the season. He is coming off a 17-win season and has won 65 games in his four seasons in Boston.

 

The 30-year-old Beckett is scheduled to pitch Major League Baseball's regular-season opener Sunday night at Fenway Park against the New York Yankees.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=5040442&campaign=rss&source=twitter&ex_cid=Twitter_espn_5040442

[riverside sluggers]

If the Sox lock up Beckett for 4 years/$65-70 million, that will be quite a steal. As a free agent, he could get close to $100 million. Teams such as the Rangers and Mets could get desperate

[Palodios]

I don't see Beckett agreeing to this without the fifth year. Lackey got five, why can't he?

[italstallianion]

I also don't see Beckett agreeing to an injury clause like Lackey or JD Drizzle.

[jacksonianmarch]

Its a lot of money, but the years should be the issue. I highly doubt Beckett signs this

[Dojji]

Of course you do.

[jacksonianmarch]

Unless Beckett is true to his word (and most athletes arent) then how can your agent justify a contract like this? If I was his agent, I'd start at 6yrs 120 mil and be willing to accept a buffed up Lackey offer (5yrs 90 mil with a vesting option as a 6th yr).

[a700hitter]

Maybe as part of the extension they will increase 2010 so that it will be a 5 year contract on par with Lackey's deal.

[BoSox21]

Unless Beckett is true to his word (and most athletes arent) then how can your agent justify a contract like this?

 

We were all shocked in 2005 when Beckett signed that initial extension for a relatively modest amount of money. These reports say there is optimism that a deal will be done in the next week or two so for now, I'll take the word of the people familiar with what's going on.

[Palodios]

We were all shocked in 2005 when Beckett signed that initial extension for a relatively modest amount of money. These reports say there is optimism that a deal will be done in the next week or two so for now' date=' I'll take the word of the people familiar with what's going on.[/quote']

 

 

Beckett will not take this deal. That doesn't mean a deal won't be reached, but this is the deal the Sox put on the table, which will likely get a counter offer. Considering how similar he is to Lackey, there is zero sense in taking this contract.

[BoSox21]

Beckett will not take this deal. That doesn't mean a deal won't be reached' date=' but this is the deal the Sox put on the table, which will likely get a counter offer. Considering how similar he is to Lackey, there is zero sense in taking this contract.[/quote']

 

Obviously, otherwise the Internet would be buzzing with reports that an agreement has been reached. When you hear the words "progress" and "optimism" when it relates to contract negotiations, it means the sides aren't deadlocked on a certain issue and that both sides appear to be willing to find a middle ground. Now it all depends where that middle ground is.

[BoSox21]

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

SI_JonHeyman

#redsox are closing in a 4-year extension for close to $70 million with beckett. announcement should come early next week

 

@SI_JonHeyman

#redsox may be waiting to finalize beckett extension so as not not to affect their tax situation. story up soon on si.com.

[Dojji]

:D :D

 

Not only do we have an awesome rotation we have an awesome rotation for the forseeable future.

[yeszir]

I have 4 chickens but they haven't hatched yet

[Spudboy]

I have 4 chickens but they haven't hatched yet

 

Lol.

[Lester82]

Betty White is his agent. And she is a shrewd woman, Theo will cave before her.

[Lester82]

Oh, and happy Birthday, TalkSox

[1903]

According to Jon Heyman, the Red Sox are "closing in a 4-year extension for close to $70 million with beckett. announcement should come early next week". Not to count any chickens before they hatch, but it sounds like Beckett is very likely to get extended to a team friendly contract.

[Spudboy]

According to Jon Heyman' date=' the Red Sox are "closing in a 4-year extension for close to $70 million with beckett. announcement should come early next week". Not to count any chickens before they hatch, but it sounds like Beckett is very likely to get extended to a team friendly contract.[/quote']

 

10...

[italstallianion]

9....

[Spudboy]

9....

 

:lol:

 

Hey! Don't f***-up my gig!

[1903]

See you guys next week when I move out of state. Enjoy the season everyone!

 

[italstallianion]

:lol:

 

Hey! Don't f***-up my gig!

 

 

 

 

8...

[yeszir]

8...

 

BLASTOFF!!!!!!

[Spudboy]

BLASTOFF!!!!!!

 

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

 

So much for the dancin fool.

[a700hitter]

BLASTOFF!!!!!!

:lol:

[Dipre]

Goddamn it, i just had to go for the "i like you" post.

[Dipre]

It's being reported on MLB.com now, so it appears to be picking up steam: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100331&content_id=9035746&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

 

I'm extremely surprised, in fact, flabbergasted, that Beckett didn't close negotiations right away instead opting for a "6-year, 120 million deal" from an organization with "No economical strings attached" like the Dodgers./sarcasm

[Lester82]

Wow... Beckett must really like Boston, I mean he could have tried breaking the bank in free agency. Curt Schilling said once on WEEI that he talked about this w/ Beckett after Josh signed his last deal with Boston at age 25-26. You take security at that point, but look to go gangbusters in your next deal.

 

I guess I should appreciate that Beckett is basically saying "I'm still getting paid. So, a man can live... even if only on 68-70+ million."

 

Sweet deal for him, sweet deal for the Red Sox organization.

[riverside sluggers]

The Boston Herald's Michael Silverman hears that Josh Beckett's contract extension with the Red Sox will be worth $68 million over four years.

In other words, $2 million less than SI.com's Jon Heyman reported earlier this evening. The Red Sox have concerns about the durability of his right shoulder, but Beckett has been as good as anyone in the AL East over the last several years. He will start on Opening Night this season against the Yankees. The deal is expected to be finalized in about a week.

 

Hell yes!! He definitely gave the Sox a hometown discount here. Next 5 years we will have Beckett, Lester and Lackey. Thats not including Buchholz and Casey Kelly