BOSTON -- The 2004 Boston Red Sox are beginning to take shape.
In one whirlwind day, the Red Sox took steps toward adding a manager, a workhorse starter and a closer -- plugging the biggest holes from a team that was five outs from the World Series before its manager, its ace and its bullpen combined to cost it a chance at the A.L. pennant.
Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein spent yesterday schmoozing Keith Foulke, a day after taking the free agent reliever to a Boston Celtics game. Epstein was scheduled to go to Phoenix for a meeting today with Arizona right-hander Curt Schilling to try to persuade him to waive his no-trade clause and accept a deal to Boston.
Current ace Pedro Martinez salivated over the chance to add Schilling to the rotation, saying it would instantly make Boston a favorite to beat the New York Yankees in the American League East.
"With Schilling, Derek Lowe and me in the rotation, it would be tough on our rivals," Martinez told the Associated Press in the Dominican Republic.
Schilling has until 5 p.m. Friday to agree to the deal, which would send left-hander Casey Fossum and righty Brandon Lyon to Arizona along with minor league pitcher Jorge de la Rosa and outfielder Michael Goss. Schilling has a no-trade clause in the contract that will pay him $12 million next year, and he could command a two-year extension worth as much as $30 million before agreeing to the trade.
Money will not be the only factor in his decision, he said, and one selling point would be if the Red Sox made Terry Francona manager. Francona was Schilling's manager for four years in Philadelphia -- enough to earn the pitcher's endorsement for the Boston job.
"I only said that because it was my understanding that he was a slam-dunk for the job anyway," Schilling said, without divulging where he got the information. "I love the guy. He's a great manager."
Epstein declined to comment on all three negotiating fronts as the deals bubbled to the surface Monday. Francona was back in Boston yesterday for a third time, this time for a physical; Francona has also met with team owner John Henry in Florida.
Red Sox spokesman Kevin Shea said the managerial search is ongoing and no decision has been made. But all indications are that the team has settled on Francona, and it is working diligently to provide him with a new closer and a front-line starter that would give the Red Sox a pitching staff worthy of the record-setting offense they fielded last season.
Schilling, who was sidelined much of 2003 with injuries and finished the season 8-9 with a 2.95 ERA, won 22 games in 2001 and 23 games in 2002, finishing second in the N.L. Cy Young balloting both seasons to Diamondback teammate Randy Johnson.
"From one Hall of Famer to a potential Hall of Famer," Schilling said of the prospect of leaving Johnson and joining Martinez in the Red Sox rotation.
Martinez, 32, is a three-time Cy Young winner who went 14-4 this year with a 2.22 E.R.A. that was best in baseball. Lowe, 30, went 21-8 with a 2.58 E.R.A. in 2002 and followed that with a 17-7 record and 4.47 E.R.A. this year.
Together, they would provide Boston with a big three that rivals any in baseball. And, if Epstein can sign Foulke, they would have someone to close games, too -- a problem that haunted them through the year and into the postseason.
Foulke led the A.L. with 43 saves last year, going 9-1 with a 2.08 E.R.A. for Oakland. He is expected to seek a three-year deal worth around $25 million.
Of course, none of the deals is sealed yet.
Glenn Hoffman, Joe Maddon and DeMarlo Hale have also interviewed for the managerial job. Red Sox president Larry Lucchino was expected to contact Maddon for a follow-up interview yesterday.
Foulke reportedly is also being courted by the A's, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets.
And Schilling can simply veto the deal, pitch another season in Arizona and then become a free agent. Or he could try to force a trade to the Philadelphia Phillies or New York Yankees, his other preferred teams.
But as a student of baseball history, the prospect of leading the Red Sox to their first World Series victory since 1918 could be too much to pass up.
"All three of these clubs have some kind of challenge with them," Schilling said. "With Philadelphia, winning a championship -- one of two in the last century. With the Red Sox, it would be winning the first one in the last century -- and beating the Yankees. With the Yankees, it would be joining a long line in the tremendous heritage and prestige of being a Yankee."
