Sources: Red Sox have 4-year offer for Beckett

[JonLP24]

Contract negotiations between the Boston Red Sox and right-hander Josh Beckett have progressed to the point that there is optimism a deal will be completed in the next week or two, sources close to Beckett told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

Beckett, the sources said, has a four-year, guaranteed offer from Boston on the table. His deal could be along the lines of the free-agent contract John Lackey signed with the Red Sox this winter -- $16.5 million a year for five years -- in terms of annual salary. It could be worth a total package in the range of $65 million to $70 million, sources said.

A source with knowledge of the negotiations told ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes that the Red Sox would not go to a fifth year in their talks with Beckett.

The three-year, $30 million extension Beckett signed in 2006 expires at the end of the season. He is coming off a 17-win season and has won 65 games in his four seasons in Boston.

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=5040442

[Auggie]

1. Beckett could also wait for the Yankees to call

Pettitte turns 38 this year

[Yavin4]

4. Yankees Don't Want Beckett

Think Cliff Lee for 2011.

[Auggie]

5. Why?

[joeybee12]

6. He refuses to take HGH...n/t

[madinmaryland]

7. What did you have to drag Barry Bonds into this thread??

[joeybee12]

8. Are A-Hole and Barroid the same person? n/t

[Yavin4]

9. Oh, You Mean Like Manny and Big Papi Did?

Back on topic, Yankees need another leftie starter because Pettitte will retire this year. Cliff Lee fits the bill once he's a FA next year.

[flvegan]

2. Good.

I like having Beckett on the Chosen Team.

[madinmaryland]

3. Uhh. Never mind.

[flvegan]

10. Deal is done!

$68 million, 4 years.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100405&content_id=9079556&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[bluedigger]

11. Beckett, Lester, Lackey, and Bucholtz.

The first three are signed through 2014, and Wakefield (43) appears able to continue indefinitely. Matsuzaka is in the minors basically to get some work... Looks like we are set up for a while, Sox fans!