Red Sox sign Foulke to three-year deal

Keith Foulke led the AL with 43 saves this year. Jeff Gross/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Free-agent closer Keith Foulke reached agreement with the Boston Red Sox on a deal that guarantees him $24 million, choosing Saturday to join the escalating arms race in the AL East rather than re-sign with Oakland.

The Red Sox would not confirm the three-year agreement that includes a player option for a fourth season, but they didn't deny it at the winter meetings, either.

The All-Star reliever was scheduled to take a physical to complete his deal, a source close to the negotiations told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The contract could be worth up to nearly $27 million over four years.

Foulke, who led the AL with 43 saves this year, joins starter Curt Schilling as top pitchers acquired by the Red Sox since the season ended. Boston also is talking about getting AL MVP Alex Rodriguez from Texas in a trade for Manny Ramirez.

The Red Sox, without a World Series championship since 1918, blew a late lead and lost Game 7 of the AL championship series to the New York Yankees in 11 innings.

The Yankees went on to lose the World Series to Florida, and have since traded for pitcher Javier Vazquez and neared deals to get Kevin Brown, Gary Sheffield and Kenny Lofton.

As Foulke decided between the Red Sox and the Athletics, he was particularly interested in hearing about Boston's history and its ongoing quest to win a championship. Having played in two-team markets throughout his career, the chance to help bring a title to an area so wrapped in only one club was a major factor.

The 31-year-old righty was 9-1 with 43 saves and a 2.08 ERA for Oakland last season and was an AL All-Star.

Foulke made $6 million last season. The Red Sox were willing to pay big bucks a year after then-new general manager Theo Epstein tried to build his bullpen without a full-time closer.

"We're not pursuing Keith because he's a closer. We're pursuing him because he's one of the best pitchers in the game," Epstein said earlier this week.

Foulke has 143 saves in a career that started with San Francisco in 1997. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox later that season and went to Oakland for the 2003 season.