01/07/09 10:46 PM EST
Baldelli will join 'hometown' Red Sox
Rhode Island-born outfielder close to deal with Boston

By Ian Browne / MLB.com

BOSTON -- All along, Rocco Baldelli had planned to be at the Boston Baseball Writers Dinner on Thursday night, where he will be honored as the winner of the Tony Conigliaro Award. As it turns out, Baldelli may now be receiving that as an official member of the Boston Red Sox, the team he grew up rooting for as a kid.

ESPN.com reported Wednesday night that the Red Sox are "close" to signing the Cumberland, R.I., native, and that the move is expected to be announced at the dinner, to be held at a hotel in downtown Boston.

The Tony Conigliaro Award -- named after the late, Red Sox star of the 1960s and '70s -- is given to a player who overcomes adversity through spirit, courage and determination.

Baldelli, assuming he is over the health maladies that have plagued him in recent years, is a perfect fit for the Red Sox, who have been seeking a fourth outfielder who is also a right-handed hitter.

Enter Baldelli, who was part of the Tampa Bay Rays' American League championship team that defeated the Red Sox in a seven-game ALCS last October.

The 27-year-old Baldelli was limited to just 28 regular-season games in 2008 after being diagnosed with mitochondrial disorder, which caused constant fatigue.

However, a few weeks ago, a report surfaced that new medical tests revealed that Baldelli in fact has channelopathy, a non-progressive, highly treatable disease.

It is believed that the Red Sox have done a lot of due diligence in recent weeks regarding Baldelli's medical situation. In fact, ESPN.com reported that Baldelli received encouraging results at Massachusetts General Hospital, which enthused the Red Sox.

Until becoming a free agent in November, Baldelli had spent his entire career with the Rays. He came up a potential star, finishing third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2003, when he hit .289 with 11 homers, 78 RBIs and 27 stolen bases.

After another solid season in 2004 (.280, 16 homers, 74 RBIs), injuries became a huge problem for Baldelli. He missed the entire 2005 season with a torn ACL in his left knee and a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

Baldelli looked poised to get back into form when he hit .302 with 16 homers in 92 games during the 2006 season. However, he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury on May 15, 2007.

After finishing the 2008 season healthy again -- not to mention as part of a team that made it to the World Series -- perhaps Baldelli's career is about to regain momentum at Fenway Park, where he once dreamed of playing his home games.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

wah HOO! My #2 guy Rocco found a home!