After years with the Tampa Bay Rays, Rocco Baldelli will wear a Red Sox cap this season.

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The Providence Journal / Gretchen Ertl

BOSTON –– Rocco Baldelli loves home cooking.

He will now have plenty of it.

The 27-year-old Rhode Island native officially became a member of the Boston Red Sox yesterday when he was introduced at a news conference at the Westin Waterfront Hotel in South Boston.

The free-agent outfielder, and former Tampa Bay Ray, inked a one-year deal worth a base salary of $500,000 with a roster bonus of $1.75 million if he’s able to stay off the disabled list. Along with other incentives and bonuses, in the contract it’s possible he could earn $5.25 million.

This isn’t a story about the money, or contracts, or bonuses, or health. This is about a kid from Cumberland, a former standout student-athlete from Bishop Hendricken High School, who grew up watching and rooting for the Red Sox.

Now, he’s one of them.

“I’ve always said, as much as anyone, I know what it means to be a Red Sox fan,” he said. “My family and friends are as crazy as any other Red Sox fan out there, so I know the loyalty these people here have for this team. It’s really an honor to finally be a part of it. … My family now gets to come and see me play all the time. That is very important to me. And what makes them happy, makes me happy.”

He was originally drafted by the Rays in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2000 draft and has spent his entire career in the organization. Once Tampa’s 2008 season ended with a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series, Baldelli officially became a free agent. Only a couple of weeks removed from the Fall Classic, he met with Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein at Fenway Park.

“This is a very exciting day for the organization,” said Epstein yeseterday. “We’ve admired Rocco from afar for a long time now as a player and a person. He’s a great fit for this organization going forward. We couldn’t be happier to announce this signing.”

The Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies and Reds were a few of the clubs trying to sign Baldelli this winter. The Red Sox were very interested at first, and it was only until the last few days that it finally came together for the two sides.

There were some obstacles, not only for the Red Sox, but other clubs, too. Baldelli is successfully controlling a mitochondrial disorder that could have ended his playing career. Once he proved to the Red Sox through a battery of tests and interviews he could perform, Epstein said he was impressed with Baldelli’s honesty.

“He wasn’t hiding anything,” Epstein said. “He was looking for a partner in this process and we feel like as a person and a player, he’s someone we want to invest our time and energy in. There’s a real high up side and high return. He’s a great fit for the organization in a lot of different ways — on the field and off.”

Baldelli has been battling health issues his entire career.

During his much-anticipated rookie season in 2003, Baldelli started in 156 games and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. In 2004, he played 136 games. But over the next four seasons he would only play a total of 155 games due to injury.

He tore the ACL in his left knee while playing baseball with his younger brother at the family’s home in Cumberland after the 2004 season. He had surgery that November and missed the 2005 season. During his rehab at the Rays’ minor-league complex in Tampa that June, he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm and needed “Tommy John surgery” to repair the damage.

After beginning the 2006 season on the DL due to a left hamstring injury he suffered during spring training that sidelined him for two months, he eventually returned and started 85 of Tampa’s remaining 103 games.

He seemed to be on his way back.

Unfortunately, it was business as usual for Baldelli during spring training in 2007. He suffered a right hamstring injury and was limited to 35 games. During spring training last year was when he was diagnosed with a mitochondrial disorder and decided to put his career on hold to concentrate on his health. He made a dramatic and inspirational return last August and helped the Rays reach the World Series.

This off-season, he was told some encouraging news.

He was a given a new diagnosis and is now dealing with a less severe and more treatable illness. He has modified his daily dietary supplements and is very optimistic about his health and playing career. That update on his condition not only gave Baldelli a new outlook, it also gave the Red Sox a better understanding of his health concerns moving forward in a positive manner.

“At this point, I couldn’t be happier with the way I feel,” he said. “I started working out this off-season earlier than any other off-season I’ve had. This is pretty much all I could ask for at this point.”

Baldelli continues meeting with specialists and getting all the information he can on his condition. He is at a point where he can concentrate on baseball and believes he’ll be able to help the Red Sox win a World Series.

“I’m willing to do anything I need to,” he said.

The Red Sox are not afraid to take a chance on Baldelli. The club did its research, too, and in the end, felt there is a lot of reason to be optimistic.

“He’s a dedicated and hard-working athlete,” Epstein said. “We wouldn’t have made this signing if we didn’t think he could make a significant contribution. We’ll remain partners, and if there are stumbling blocks along the way, as there can be for any athlete, we’ll remain partners to get to the bottom of it and put him in a position to succeed.”

Health issues aside, Baldelli is an outstanding hitter, an outfielder with speed and a strong arm. This is not about looking back for Baldelli; it’s about moving forward.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said he first saw Baldelli when he was playing in the minors. At the time, Baldelli was in the Carolina League and projected to be a superstar. Francona was working with the Indians’ organization and he knew Baldelli would someday be a special player.

“He was obviously very talented and on the quick route to the major leagues,” Francona said. “He’s a great kid and it’s a great fit. If there are some risks, it’s worth it from our side because he’s very accountable as a player and person. That makes us feel good.”

Baldelli is looking forward to a new beginning with the Red Sox. The best part is he gets to do it only 40 minutes from home.

“I couldn’t be happier,” he said.

jmcdonal@projo.com