Snow in forecast for Sox?

Free agent first baseman J.T. Snow, who has been on the precipice of deciding on a team for about a week now, is close to signing with the Red Sox, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.

The addition of Snow would give the Sox a promising platoon at first base, as the lefthanded-hitting Snow, who won six consecutive Gold Gloves (1995-2000), could share at-bats with Kevin Youkilis and potentially Mike Lowell.

Snow's decision probably has been held up by the health of his father. Jack Snow, the 62-year-old Rams radio analyst and former player, was in critical condition in a St. Louis hospital with a staph infection as of Friday.

J.T. Snow, who turns 38 in February, has played his last nine seasons with the San Francisco Giants.

He's played 13 of his 14 seasons on the West Coast after breaking in with the Yankees in 1992 at age 24. He played only seven games with New York before being traded to the Angels.

A .268 career hitter, Snow hit .275 with 4 homers, 40 RBIs, and a .343 on-base percentage in 117 games last season.

CHRIS SNOW