Adrian Beltre Signed By AL Champion Texas...Billy Buckner Back In Massachusetts

This interesting piece of news just came over the AP wires. I'll give it to you in full...

"All-Star third baseman Adrian Beltre and the AL champion Texas Rangers reached a preliminary agreement on a $96 million, six-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity late Tuesday night because the agreement was pending a physical. A news conference was planned for Wednesday. Texas will have the ability to void the final season of the contract and $16 million if Beltre fails to reach plate appearance levels specified for 2014 and 2014-15. Beltre became a free agent after turning down a $10 million player option to stay with Boston. A two-time Gold Glove winner, Beltre hit .321 with 28 homers, 102 RBIs and 49 doubles in 154 games during his only season with Red Sox. He was an All-Star for the first time in his 13-season career."

Good for him! Boy, did he work his tail off last season for Boston and some of his "one knee on the ground" line drive home runs were majestic in their beauty and flight plan. He will be a tremendous edition to an already strong Rangers team. Yo Adrian. Good luck to you and I'm sure the welcome you'll receive when Texas invades Fenway will be memorable indeed. I'll be watching. Many of us will. Guaranteed.

Old friend forever Billy Buckner will spend much of the summer here in New England as the manager of the Brockton Rox. We miss you, Billy. Here he is with a quote from last night...

“I’m excited to spend the summer back in Massachusetts with the Rox. I’ve been looking forward to getting back into baseball, and it should be a good season.”

Let's hope it is, Billy. Lets hope it is for the Boston Red Sox and for you and for the Rox. Constant Readers, I thank you for popping in on this cold and dark Wednesday morning. Click on this post's title for more on the Red Sox and as always, BE WELL. Thanks.