Against advice, Arroyo set to re-sign for three years

January 19, 2006|Chris Snow, Globe Staff

Bronson Arroyo, in an apparent show of allegiance to the Red Sox, is extremely close to overriding the advice of his agent, Gregg Clifton, and agreeing to a three-year contract that will pay him between $11.5 million and $12.5 million, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the negotiations.

The upside for the 28-year-old righthander is financial security and the chance to remain with the Sox for at least the next three seasons, two tremendous opportunities for a pitcher who just three years ago was placed on waivers. But, that upside -- being signed at a fixed cost for a duration of some length -- also would appear to make Arroyo more vulnerable to being dealt to a team such as Tampa Bay, which is seeking affordable starting pitching and has a player the Sox covet in shortstop/leadoff hitter Julio Lugo.

At last check, the Devil Rays were requesting top prospect Andy Marte for Lugo, an offer the Sox have declined.

''We continue to move closer toward a discounted deal that Bronson is providing to the Boston Red Sox because he wants to do anything he can do to remain a Red Sox for not only these three years but the remainder of his career," Clifton said last night. ''He's saying, 'I know this is a discounted deal, but I want to remain here. How do I get a chance to do this forever?'

''While we do not support him in his decision to provide a discount, we hope the Boston Red Sox will not take advantage of Bronson's loyalty and use a potential discounted deal to trade him."

Sox co-general manager Jed Hoyer, when reached by phone, declined to comment last night.

If Arroyo, who turns 29 next month, had opted instead for a one-year deal, he would still have been under the Sox' contractual control for this season and two more, given his major league service time. By agreeing to this deal -- which is not expected to include any no-trade provisions -- he would forfeit a shot at arbitration this year and after the next two seasons. He would then become a free agent at the end of the three-year agreement.

The native Floridian, who began his career with Pittsburgh, led the Sox in quality starts (appearances of at least six innings with three or fewer earned runs allowed) last season with 20. He established personal bests in starts (32), wins (14), innings (205 1/3), and strikeouts (100). Arroyo, in his two full seasons with the Sox, is 24-19 with a 4.29 ERA in 67 appearances, 61 of them starts.