BOSTON GLOBE BREAKING NEWS:
RENTERIA AGREES TO DEAL WITH RED SOX

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BARRANQUILLA, Colombia -- The Boston Globe is Breaking News that Edgar Renteria agreed to a four-year $40 million contract with the Red Sox today, giving Boston an All-Star shortstop. "The biggest reason was that Boston is a traditional team," Renteria said from his home in Colombia. "They won the Series this year and I like to play on a winning team like Boston, St. Louis or any team that has the opportunity to win." Renteria, who played for St. Louis last season, is a 4-time All-Star, 2-time Gold Glove winner. He has a career average of .289. St. Louis lost to Boston in four games in the World Series, and Renteria made the last out, grounding out to Keith Foulke. "I played with them for six years but finally we didn't come t an accord." A nine-year veteran, Renteria was one of the prime free agents on the market. His decision came down to Boston and St. Louis. "It (Boston's offer) was more generous.They were more interested in my playing for them." The Red Sox offer also includes an option for a fifth year.

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A.J. Burnett is Front and Center

ESPN.com Insider Report (Based on The Birdhouse Report, who is Offering a $100 Money-Back Wrong Info Raffle):
Renteria Returning to St. Louis Today

ESPN Insider: "Dec. 15 - According to a source close to the situation, shortstop Edgar Renteria will be returning to the Cardinals in 2005 – and the deciding issue was not money. Even though the Red Sox offer (about $36 million over four years) trumped St. Louis's reported final offer ($32 million over four years), Renteria chose familiarity and comfort with his surroundings – teammates, coaches, medical staff – over a few million dollars. His agents are currently in the process of informing other interested teams of Renteria's decision that he will not entertain their offers, but instead will be re-signing with St. Louis."

"No doubt about it, book it, a sure thing."

Report from StLouisCardinalsFans.com: "From a source very familiar with the discussions between the Renteria camp and the Cardinals, I was told today that Edgar will be returning to the Cardinals in 2005. No doubt about it, book it, a sure thing. As I had suspected all along, the deciding issue was not money. Even though the Red Sox “offer” last weekend proved to be false, or at best inflated and premature, there was no doubt that Detroit and perhaps other teams were prepared to pay more than the Cardinals. For Edgar, the most important issue always was comfort with his surroundings – his teammates, coaches, medical staff and the like. He turned the negotiations over to his agents, but all along, in his heart, he knew he would remain a Cardinal. Renteria’s final decision bears that out. His agents are currently in the process of informing other interested teams of Edgar’s decision that he will not entertain their offers, but instead will be re-signing with St. Louis. Edgar will continue to have for many years an income the size of which he could never have dreamed as a child growing up in Barranquilla, Colombia. The Cardinals will have the continued services of a cornerstone player that Manager Tony La Russa calls “The Captain” of his squad at an amount that they can live with. Walt Jocketty and La Russa remain the “good” cops, while Chairman Bill DeWitt can be the “bad” cop who ultimately closed the pocketbook. But, there are really no losers here. Sometimes, stories can end happily. Now, let’s get on with the rest of the off-season!" -- Brian Walton, The Birdhouse