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Red sox sign Drew for $70 million

The Boston Red Sox and outfielder J.D. Drew signed a five-year contract that will pay the player $70 million. The contract becomes official the moment the injury-prone Drew, who just turned 31, passes a physical exam. Drew`s agent, Scott Boras, also represents the Japanese pitcher Matsuzaka.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said Drew will help the team as the number five hitter and with outfield defense. He is a powerful addition to the strong middle of the Boston lineup which already includes the powerful duo of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. In his ninth season in the Major League, playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Drew batted .283 with 20 home runs and a career-high 100 RBIs. He is a career .286 hitter.

Elsewhere around the league, four-time Cy Young award winner Greg Maddux and the San Diego Padres are close to agreement on a one-year contract worth $10 million. Maddux, 41, played last season for the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. He`s 333-203 in his career, with a 3.07 ERA. The contract includes an option for another year worth anywhere between $6 and $10 million, depending on the number of innings the pitcher will throw this coming year.