Questions Come With Canseco to Red Sox

Other than bolstering the middle of their batting order and offering Mo Vaughn the best protection money can buy, how will Jose Canseco fit in with the Red Sox?

Will he be a veteran leader or will there be more of the off-field incidents that helped make his a household name during his time with the Oakland Athletics?

Will there be more late-night speeding tickets? Will there be more firearms charges? How about Madonna at Fenway Park?

And, will the Red Sox be able to sign him beyond this season?

Those were some of the questions after the Red Sox acquired Canseco, 30, Friday night from the Texas Rangers for center fielder Otis Nixon and minor league third baseman Luis Ortiz.

General Manager Dan Duquette conceded the trade is a bit of a risk because Canseco has only one year remaining on his contract and will be eligible for free agency.

And Canseco, who will make $5.1 million in 1995, told the Red Sox that it will take a contract commensurate with that of the Astros’ Jeff Bagwell (four years, $27.5 million) to keep him more than a year.

“We want him to stay with the Red Sox,” Duquette said. “We’re happy to have him on a one-year deal and we’ll address that (extension) later.”

Canseco and Duquette said they would not start negotiations on an extension until the strike is resolved. Duquette also said he doesn’t envision negotiating after the 1995 season begins. If the 1995 season begins.

“We don’t like to negotiate during the season,” he said. “That’s the time to play.”

Canseco, who will DH and possibly play the outfield, gives the Red Sox the right-handed power they need to balance their lineup and make sure Vaughn won’t be pitched around, as he was last season when Andre Dawson was out of the lineup or playing hurt.

Canseco, who hit .282 with 31 home runs and 90 RBI in 111 games last season, now is with his third team. He has 276 home runs in 10 seasons, and again is linked with at least one other outstanding hitter.

In Oakland, Canseco and Mark McGwire combined to form the Bash Brothers. In Texas, it was Canseco and Juan Gonzalez for one year and they were joined last season by Will Clark.

Now it’s the Jose and Mo Show.

“I’ve always thought that Boston lacked a right-handed power hitter, especially the type of fly ball hitter I am,” Canseco said from his home in Miami. “I know Mo is an up-and-coming superstar and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. That ballpark is very conducive to right-handed power. You have to take advantage of that.”

Canseco’s career average at Fenway Park is .286 (50-for-175), with 14 home runs and 37 RBI.