By BRENDAN McGAIR 

BOSTON — Perhaps the only thing that could trump Rocco Baldelli receiving the Tony Conigliaro Award at the 70th chapter of the Boston Baseball Writers’ Dinner was the news that the Woonsocket-born Cumberland native had signed with the Red Sox.

The ink had barely dried on the contact when Baldelli strolled into a conference ballroom at the Westin Waterfront Hotel Dinner, the Woonsocket-born Cumberland native flanked by Theo Epstein and Terry Francona and awaiting to apply a crease to the brim of his new Boston hat.
A handshake from Epstein made official: Baldelli is a member of the Red Sox, fulfilling the aspirations of every young boy throughout New England. Baldelli will wear No. 5, a famous number in Red Sox history since previous tenants of the digit include Nomar Garciaparra and George Scott.
The specifics of the deal were not announced, but various Internet reports have Baldelli signing a one-year pact with a base salary of $500,000. Numerous incentive clauses could push the deal up to $2.25 million, a figure likely triggered should the 27-year-old remain on the active roster throughout the season.
Dressed in a blue button down shirt and jeans, Baldelli met with a substantial media crush for over 15 minutes. His smile was omnipresent throughout the gathering. For someone who endured a roller coaster 2008, the relief seemed to just to pour out.
“There were a lot of reasons why (this signing) works,” said Baldelli.
Perhaps why the pairing of the Red Sox and Baldelli fits is due to both parties getting want they want. The Red Sox were in the market for a backup outfielder (preferably a right-hander) to compliment the starting trio of Jason Bay, Jacoby Ellsbury and J.D. Drew. From Baldelli’s end, performing in a backup role is something that best fits his present baseball needs.
“Rocco is obviously talented enough to start for any club but due to circumstances over the last few years and the evolution of his career, this seemed the right time and right fit for him to help us as an extra outfielder,” said Epstein, Boston’s GM. “but also be a pretty dynamic one. We feel Rocco can impact out team on a number of fronts.”
Aside from the “local boy playing for the local team” storyline, the main issue Baldelli and Epstein were pressed to address was the outfielder’s health. Baldelli’s durability always seemed to be a reoccurring issue in his five-year career in Tampa Bay. Last year it took a more serious turn when he was diagnosed with mitochondrial disorder, which causes constant fatigue, during spring training. Baldelli was afforded all the time he needed to acquire information about his condition, some of the answers coming by the time the Rays activated him on August 10.
“I didn’t know what was expected of me last year while dealing with some of the issues I had,” said Baldelli. “I went in (to spring training) and probably did more than I should have done. At the time I was still trying to go out and play every single day.”
What was revealed was that it would not serve in Baldelli’s best interest to play on consecutive days. His final season with Tampa Bay, the club that selected him as the sixth overall pick in the 2000 Draft, saw Baldelli appear in 28 games. He made 16 starts (13 at DH, three in the outfield) and batted .263 with four home runs and 13 RBI. In the postseason Baldelli went 4-for-20, though two of those hits were home runs, one coming in the ALCS at Fenway Park.
“I’ve never been in a situation where I haven’t been an everyday player. That was an adjustment and it eventually wore me down,” said Baldelli. “I eventually came to the conclusion that the best thing in my career and for the team I’m on is to take a step back and better accept what my value would give me at the time.”
More tests followed after the Rays’ appearance in the World Series, yielding new information. Baldelli was deemed to have channelopathy, which is more treatable than what he was originally believed to have.
Health-wise Baldelli says he feels fine and believes issues that plagued him in the past shouldn’t be a major concern heading into spring training. “The Sox have been helping me by consulting some people to further help me feel better than I already am,” he said. “I anticipate being able to do more than what I was doing last year.”
Epstein says he came away mightily impressed with his first meeting with Baldelli and his agent, Casey Close, which took place in early November. After doing their homework, which included talking to specialists at Mass. General, the Red Sox received enough answers to green light the signing.
“They were open with the things Rocco has been through and didn’t hide anything,” said Epstein. “They were looking for a partner through this process. We feel as a person and a player he’s someone we want to invest our time and energy in. There’s a real high upside and real high return.”
Baldelli still harbors optimism that someday he can return to fulltime duty. “I don’t think anyone wants to reserve himself, at the age of 27, to not playing everyday,” he said. “I do have hopes of getting on the field as much as possible. I don’t know what the number is, but it’s something I do think about, which is probably is probably a healthy thing as opposed to being resigned to the fact ‘I’ll be playing once every x amount of days.’”
Warwick native and Tampa Bay relief pitcher Dan Wheeler was also present at the BBWAA’s annual January gathering. He sees Baldelli’s change of address as a win-win though admits he’s not relishing the first encounter with his Ocean State brethren.
“It’s a good fit. It’s unfortunate because I want him on our team; he was a big key for us at the end of the year. To watch him work everyday and see he still has the love, it would be easy to give up, but he really fought,” said Wheeler. “It should be a nice story when we go head-to-head for those Rhode Island bragging rights.”