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Baldelli Agrees To 1-Year Deal With Red Sox

Tribune file photo by CHRIS URSO

The Rays maintained an interest in bringing back Rocco Baldelli, their first-round pick in the 2000 draft, but their signing of Pat Burrell this week left the team too short on funds to compete with other suitors.

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 8, 2009

Updated: 01/08/2009 02:02 pm

ST. PETERSBURG - Rocco Baldelli is headed home to New England to continue his comeback.

Baldelli, the Tampa Bay Rays' first-round pick in 2000, has agreed to a one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox, the team announced.

Baldelli, a Rhode Island native, was already scheduled to be in Boston tonight at the annual Boston Baseball Writers Dinner, where he will be presented with the Tony Conigliaro Award.

That honor goes to a player who has overcome adversity, and Baldelli's battle through an energy-sapping disorder to return to the Rays on a limited basis late in 2008 certainly qualifies.

Questions over how often Baldelli will be able to play persist even after he recently received what he described a clarified, more positive diagnosis that suggests his ailment should be more treatable than previously thought.

The Rays maintained an interest in bringing back the 27-year-old, but their signing of Pat Burrell this week essentially left them too short on funds to compete with Baldelli's other suitors. The Pirates, Reds and Yankees also were believed to have varying degrees of interest in the Rhode Island native.

The Red Sox, however, seemed most intrigued by Baldelli all along, to the point that the outfielder had an in-person meeting with general manager Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona to discuss his situation.

To make room for Baldelli on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Charlie Zink was designated for assignment.

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