Dec 18, 2004 3 min read

BOSTON (AP) – Edgar Renteria passed a physical and signed a four-year contract with the Boston Red Sox on Friday, bringing the All-Star shortstop to the World Series champions one day after they officially lost ace pitcher Pedro Martinez. The Red Sox announced Renteria’s reported $40 million deal at a news conference at Fenway Park barely 24 hours after their former ace right-hander was introduced by the New York Mets, who signed Martinez to a four-year, $53 million contract.

Renteria looms as the long-term replacement for Nomar Garciaparra, another Red Sox star who was traded July 31 to the Chicago Cubs. Boston received shortstop Orlando Cabrera in that deal, and he helped the team win the World Series. But even he said Renteria, a fellow Colombian, is a better player.

Renteria’s agreement includes a team option for 2009, when he will be 34.

“Edgar Renteria has proven himself to be not only one of the best shortstops in baseball, but one of the most complete all-around players in the game,” Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said. “His blend of speed, power, defense, durability and leadership makes him a terrific addition to the ballclub.”

In nine seasons – three with Florida and six with St. Louis – Renteria has won two Gold Gloves and been on four All-Star teams. His career batting average is .289 and he’s stolen 237 bases. Last season, he hit .287 with 10 homers and 72 RBIs. His best season was 2003, when he hit .330 with 13 homers and 100 RBIs and finished with 34 stolen bases.

The Red Sox still were trying to improve their pitching rotation after losing Martinez and showing little interest in retaining free agent Derek Lowe. On Wednesday, they signed left-hander David Wells to a two-year, $8 million contract that would be worth $18 million if he reaches all his incentives.

Epstein said at the winter meetings in Anaheim this month that Martinez would not necessarily be replaced by a pitcher who would cost as much as he would. Boston offered Martinez a three-year, $40.5 million deal.

“We will redeploy the money that would’ve been spent,” Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said Tuesday after Martinez chose the Mets. “That’s a considerable amount of resources to redeploy.”

In Game 4 of the World Series, Renteria made the last out of Boston’s sweep on a grounder to pitcher Keith Foulke that gave the Red Sox their first title since 1918. But in 1997, he got the game-winning single in the 11th inning of Game 7 against Cleveland that gave Florida its first World Series title.

Renteria will take the position that nearly went to Alex Rodriguez before a deal for him fell through last winter and he joined the New York Yankees. Garciaparra, a five-time All-Star, would have been traded if the deal went through. That bothered him before he went to the Cubs, where he finished an injury-plagued season and later signed a one-year deal for 2005.