Foulke Decides to Join Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox, desperate for the kind of dependable closer who might have gotten them to the World Series last season, signed free agent Keith Foulke, the American League’s reigning fireman of the year, on Saturday. Foulke, who saved 43 games and had a 9-1 record with the Oakland A’s, received a four-year, $24-million contract.

Boston General Manager Theo Epstein also said he has resumed negotiations with shortstop Nomar Garciaparra on a possible contract extension, a clear indication that the pursuit of Texas Ranger shortstop Alex Rodriguez is temporarily on hold.

In a day of increased activity at the winter baseball meetings:

* The Atlanta Braves, seeking to bolster their attack after losing free-agent sluggers Gary Sheffield and Javy Lopez, obtained outfielder J.D. Drew and versatile Eli Marrero from the St. Louis Cardinals for starting pitcher Jason Marquis, southpaw reliever Ray King and right-hander Adam Wainwright, who was Atlanta’s No. 1 pitching prospect.

* The New York Mets reached agreement on a three-year, $19.5-million contract with free-agent center fielder Mike Cameron, pending the result of a physical Monday. Cameron, 30, hit .253 with 18 homers and 76 runs batted in with the Seattle Mariners last year.

* The Detroit Tigers kept up their free-agent spending, agreeing to a two-year, $6 million contract with outfielder Rondell White.

On the signing of Foulke in the wake of a season in which the Red Sox employed an array of inconsistent closers, Epstein made note of the recent acquisition of starter Curt Schilling and said, “We’ve added two of the best pitchers in baseball. We couldn’t be happier.”

Whether he can bring happiness to Garciaparra, wounded by his club’s pursuit of Rodriguez, is another matter.

The Red Sox believe the market has changed since the spring, when Garciaparra rejected a four-year, $60-million proposition.

They offered him a four-year contract believed to be in the area of $48 million at an undefined date after the season ended.

The Red Sox’ involvement with Rodriguez recently prompted Garciaparra’s agent, Arn Tellem, to characterize it as a slap in the face to his client. John Henry, the club’s principal owner, accused the agent of being disingenuous given that the Red Sox, he said, agreed to discuss a Rodriguez trade with the Rangers only after concluding they couldn’t reach an agreement with Garciaparra, who can become a free agent after the 2004 season, when he makes $11.5 million.

“We’ve said all along as far as our shortstop is concerned that we want to sign Nomar to a long-term deal that makes sense for both sides,” Epstein said Saturday. “We hope it can work out. There have been bumps on the road, but our goal is to try and get it done.”

Presumably, a contract extension would keep Garciaparra in Boston, rule out the financially complicated pursuit of Rodriguez and kill the Dodgers’ interest in acquiring Garciaparra.

Epstein wouldn’t specifically address the Rodriguez situation, but he referred to the Foulke and Schilling acquisitions and said, “There won’t be any more significant investments in our near future. We’ll find some inexpensive solution at second base [Todd Walker has become a free agent] and on the bench.”

The loss of Foulke may increase the probability for Oakland that shortstop Miguel Tejada will also leave. General Manager Billy Beane, who offered Foulke a four year, $20 million contract, referred to the annual small-market turnover and said, “We’re used to being bridesmaids at this time of the year, but I’m fully confident we’ll have another competitive team.”

The deal between the Braves and Cardinals allowed Atlanta to recoup a measure of the considerable Sheffield and Lopez contributions through the addition of Drew, whose career has been handicapped by injuries, and allowed St. Louis to gain much-needed pitching depth with Marquis, King and the touted Wainwright, who will open the season at triple A.