Casey eager to give Boston a try
| BOSTON (AP) -- Free agent first baseman Sean Casey finalized a contract with the Boston Red Sox and got a trip to Japan thrown in for free. Casey said Tuesday he was excited about joining the Red Sox on their season-opening trip to Asia next month, even though the travel will make a long season even longer. "You've just got to get your rest," Casey said after a news conference at Fenway Park. "Guys should embrace the fact that we're getting the opportunity of a lifetime to go to Japan." Casey agreed to an $800,000, one-year contract with the Red Sox to be their backup first baseman. The Red Sox had been seeking a left-handed bat to come off the bench after letting Eric Hinske become a free agent after last season. A three-time All-Star and .301 hitter who spent eight of 11 major league seasons with Cincinnati, Casey hit .296 with four homers, 30 doubles and 54 RBIs in 143 games for Detroit last season. The Red Sox will cut short their spring training to play a two-game series against the Athletics in Tokyo, then resume the exhibition season with a series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers before getting back into the regular season at Oakland and Toronto. |
