<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top rowSpan=5 width=100 align=middle>
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Report: Red Sox won't give Beckett five years </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Josh Beckett - S - BOS </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>A source told ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes Saturday that the Red Sox will not go beyond four years in an extension with Josh Beckett.
It's not a surprise, but the news is sure to upset Beckett, who's a free agent at the conclusion of this season. The Red Sox signed John Lackey to a five-year, $82.5 million contract this winter but probably don't want to get locked into monster deals with too many over-30 pitchers. Beckett, 30 in May, turned in a 17-6 record, 3.86 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 199 strikeouts last year.
Source: ESPN Boston
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It's not a surprise, but the news is sure to upset Beckett, who's a free agent at the conclusion of this season. The Red Sox signed John Lackey to a five-year, $82.5 million contract this winter but probably don't want to get locked into monster deals with too many over-30 pitchers. Beckett, 30 in May, turned in a 17-6 record, 3.86 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 199 strikeouts last year.
Source: ESPN Boston
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