But with the talks at a delicate stage, the Mets had a chance to sway Martinez by further sweetening their proposal. The Mets initially offered three years at $37.5 million plus a $12.5 million option for 2008 and could make Martinez's decision more difficult if they guaranteed the fourth year.
Sox general manager Theo Epstein, who was exploring numerous deals and free agent signings on the third day of the annual winter baseball meetings, said he expected to work through the night before he returned home today. But Epstein said he did not expect to complete a transaction during the night and said there was a chance he would leave town without making additional news. He so far has signed lefthanders David Wells and John Halama, pending physicals.
Keeping alive the prospect of another major acquisition, Epstein met for a second straight day with Carlos Delgado's agent, David Sloane, indicating the talks may have grown more serious. The Yankees and several other teams are interested in Delgado, a career .282 hitter with a .392 on-base percentage who has averaged 36 homers and more than 114 RBIs over the last nine seasons with the Blue Jays.
The Sox also continued shopping for a shortstop, as they renewed talks with representatives for free agents Edgar Renteria and Orlando Cabrera, and kept alive the possibility of trading for Julio Lugo of the Devil Rays or Kaz Matsui of the Mets, among others. The Cardinals remain Renteria's other chief suitor, while Cabrera also is talking to the Cardinals and several other teams.
"We're still not sure who our shortstop is going to be," Epstein said.
Their starting catcher also remains in question. Despite making progress in trying to re-sign Jason Varitek, the Sox face a significant hurdle as Varitek's agent, Scott Boras, said the catcher "most definitely" continues to expect the Sox to include a no-trade clause in a four- or five-year deal. The Sox have a policy against granting full no-trade policies, which means they may need to compensate Varitek financially to persuade him to forgo the provision.
