As a ``by the way" moment, it will be hard to trump this one from Terry Francona during his usual postmortem in the Red Sox' interview room at Fenway Park.
Winding up an answer about Josh Beckett's performance in yesterday's 1-0 win over the Kansas City Royals, the Sox manager said, ``He threw the ball so well that I think Theo [Epstein] just gave him a three-year deal."
There was laughter in the room.
``No, I'm serious," Francona said. ``If he pitches good next time, he might get six years."
The delivery was so deadpan that a reporter started to ask Francona a question on another subject, before it occurred to somebody else that the manager wasn't joking. ``Wait a minute, are you serious?" Francona was asked.
Yes, he said, he was.
The offbeat way in which it was delivered should in no way detract from the significance of the message. By coming to terms on a three-year contract extension for a guaranteed $30 million, with a $12 million club option for a fourth season in 2010 that automatically vests if Beckett makes a certain number of starts, the Red Sox have identified the pitcher they expect to lead their staff in the future, especially with Curt Schilling intending to retire when his contract expires after the 2007 season.
``We think his best days are ahead of him," Epstein said of the 26-year-old righthander, who would have been eligible for free agency after the 2007 season, ``and his best days are really, really good.
``I think he really enjoys the experience here. He's going to get another contract when he's 30 years old. This works for both sides. He gets security up front; we get a contract that we can work with."
Beckett, meanwhile, elected to forgo testing a free agent market for pitchers that last winter rewarded lesser achievers such as A.J. Burnett, Beckett's former teammate with the Marlins now with the Blue Jays, and Kevin Millwood of the Rangers with five-year, $55 million contracts.
``I want to play here," Beckett said. ``I don't need to break the bank. I'll be 30 years old if this deal draws all the way out to the option. It was a no-brainer. It made them happy and made me happy."
The deal, the final details of which were concluded between Epstein and Beckett's agent, Michael Moye, Tuesday night, breaks down as follows:
A $2 million signing bonus.
Salaries of $6 million in 2007, $9.5 million in 2008, $10.5 million in 2009.
A club option of $12 million in 2010, which vests if Beckett makes 28 starts in 2009 or a total of 56 starts in 2008 and '09. There is a $2 million buyout if the option is not vested, or exercised.
A standard awards package, one in which Beckett will receive additional compensation if he finishes first to fifth in the voting for the Cy Young Award, and bonuses for other awards.
