Keith

Foulke

Foulke was limited to long-tossing for a few days by a finger blister.

The Red Sox, Mets and A’s all appear to have made signing Foulke a priority. Boston might be the favorite to land him at this point, but GM Theo Epstein may first want to see just how much Cuban defector Maels Rodriguez is going to cost.

It appears that the chances of Foulke re-signing with the A’s are pretty good, but if Foulke does leave Oakland, he could follow pitching coach Rick Peterson to New York. With Philadelphia out of the picture, the Mets may be the only team really looking to spend big money on a closer right now.

“I felt real good,” Foulke said. “For my third time off a mound, I was real happy with where I am right now.” Foulke is experimenting with a split-fingered fastball, a pitch he hasn’t thrown since his first year in pro ball. “I’ve got about three weeks to figure it out,” he said. “If I do, I’ll use it.”

It’s believed the Sox made the closer a three-year offer worth somewhere between $20 million-$24 million, and they might be willing to go to a fourth year to secure him. Foulke will probably talk to the A’s, Mets and Cubs before making a decision.

Eddie Guardado isn’t going to be available much longer, so both the Red Sox and the A’s want to see Foulke make up his mind today. It believed that the A’s are offering about $6 million per season for four years. The Red Sox are willing to give him more money, but they would prefer to keep the length at three years.

The terms of the new offer weren’t revealed. It’s believed their previous offer was worth $26 million over four years, with the final year a team option that would kick in automatically if he pitched a certain number of innings in 2006. Foulke could decide between the A’s and Red Sox today.

It looks like it’s going to come down to Boston and Oakland for Foulke, although there’s still a chance that the Mets or Cubs could come in with a late offer. If the Red Sox miss out of Foulke, they’re expected to pursue Eddie Guardado. Tom Gordon figures to be gone by then.

All things being equal, it’s believed that Foulke would prefer to stay with the A’s. The Red Sox may be willing to give him a higher annual salary as part of a three year deal, but this offer by the A’s might be enough to get a deal done.

Foulke said he planned on staying a few days, but with the focus about to shift to Curt Schilling, he might cut his visit short. It’s uncertain whether the Red Sox will have the money left to pursue Foulke if they do get Schilling, but since a portion of Schilling’s salary is deferred and Scott Williamson could be traded, they may try to pull it off.