It appears Rocco Baldelli will be a Red Sox after all.

ESPN’s Peter Gammons reported on his blog late last night that the Red Sox were close to signing the free-agent outfielder. The 27-year-old gained some attention from a half-dozen teams, including the Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies and Reds, during this offseason after his remarkable and inspirational comeback in 2008 while battling what was diagnosed as a mitochondrial disorder.

The Red Sox, looking for a right-handed backup outfielder, met with the Rhode Island native at Fenway Park shortly after the World Series, where he was a member of the Tampa Bay Rays club that eventually lost to the Phillies in the Fall Classic.

At the time, Baldelli met with the Red Sox he was educating them on his disorder, which leaves him severely fatigued. According to Gammons, Baldelli has recently undergone a series of tests at Massachusetts General Hospital and the results were positive.

His original diagnosis has been updated and his condition is less severe and more treatable than originally believed.

The Red Sox will reportedly make the announcement at the Boston Baseball Writers’ Dinner tonight where Baldelli will be honored with the Tony Conigliaro Award. The honor is given annually to the major-league player who overcomes adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage.

Calls and text messages to Baldelli were not returned immediately last night. Terms of the deal were not known.

Not only did he make an inspirational and remarkable return to the lineup in 2008, but he produced in key situations for the Rays, especially in the postseason.

Baldelli helped Tampa beat the White Sox and Red Sox in the playoffs before the Rays eventually lost to the Phillies in the World Series. He played well in the three World Series games he appeared in.

He went 4-for-20 with 4 runs scored, 2 home runs, 6 RBI, 10 total bases, 3 walks and 5 strikeouts in eight playoff games.

There was a time earlier in his career where he thought itmight be difficult to play for the Red Sox, the team he grew up watching, in front of his hometown fans. Now that he’s a seasoned veteran, playing at Fenway Park is not an issue anymore.

“I would be just fine playing there,” he said told the Journal last November. “I don’t have strong feelings one way or another about playing there.”

During spring training last year, Baldelli didn’t know if he would ever be able to play again. He did and helped the Rays to the World Series.

“In a way, it was probably the worst year of my entire life, and it ended up being one of the best years,” he said last November.

jmcdonal@projo.com