Red Sox Will Stay At Spring Home

By The Associated Press
Published: November 02, 2008

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BOSTON --

The Boston Red Sox will keep their spring training home in the Fort Myers area for 30 more years after signing an agreement Saturday with Lee County.

The Red Sox have played in the 7,290-seat City of Palms Park since moving from Winter Haven in 1993, selling out 73 straight spring training games there. The team had a buyout that would have allowed it to leave in 2010.

FREE AGENTS: Rays outfielder/designated hitter Rocco Baldelli filed for free agency late Friday.

Saturday, CC Sabathia, the prize pitcher on this year's market, filed for free agency.

Sabathia was acquired by Milwaukee from Cleveland on July 7, then went 11-2 with seven complete games, three shutouts and a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts to help the Brewers make the playoffs for the first time since 1982.

Reliever Tom Gordon became the first member of the World Series champion Phillies to file after Philadelphia declined a $4.5 million option and chose to pay a $1 million buyout.