Red Sox pitchers eligible for arbitration

Three Red Sox players -- Bronson Arroyo and newcomers Josh Beckett and Guillermo Mota -- are eligible to opt for salary arbitration during the filing period that begins today and ends Jan. 13.

A total of 115 major league players are eligible for salary arbitration, a procedure available for players with between three and six years major league service time. If a player and team cannot come to an agreement on a contract, each side may submit a figure to an arbitrator, who chooses one or the other in a hearing held next month. All three players avoided arbitration last season, Arroyo agreeing to a one-year, $1.85 million deal with the Sox, Beckett a $2.4 million deal with Florida, and Mota a $2.6 million deal, also from the Marlins. Arroyo and Beckett would appear certain to at least double their deals in arbitration, while Mota can also expect a hefty raise.

The Sox and Orioles continued talking about a proposed Manny Ramírez-Miguel Tejada deal yesterday, but nothing appeared imminent. The talks have not progressed to the point where the Sox have discussed with the Orioles what cash, if any, would change hands; that is not expected to happen unless the teams agree on the players involved in the deal.

The Orioles have told the Red Sox they would not accept Ramírez and pitcher Matt Clement for Tejada; they clearly would prefer one of the Sox' pitching prospects (Jonathan Papelbon, Jon Lester) in the deal, but the Red Sox are not inclined to give up either. The Sox are believed to be seeking an outfielder along with Tejada. The Cubs, who have offered pitcher Mark Prior to the Orioles, have told the Orioles they want an answer shortly or will move on, according to an industry source; the Sox also have made it clear to Baltimore that they want a resolution soon. Tejada is playing for Aguilas in the Dominican playoffs; Aguilas's game against Escogido, starring Sox designated hitter and Tejada buddy David Ortiz, was televised on ESPN Deportes last night.

The market for David Wells appeared to have shrunk yesterday when the Padres signed lefthander Shawn Estes and the Dodgers traded reliever Duaner Sanchez to the Mets for righthander Jae Seo, but the Sox believe both clubs retain interest in the 15-game winner. The Sox have talked to the Dodgers and A's about a three-way deal for Wells, one in which the Athletics would get prospects, the Dodgers would get Wells, and the Sox would get a corner outfielder from the Dodgers plus a player from Oakland.

LA add depth

The Dodgers acquired Seo and lefthanded reliever Tim Hamulack from the New York Mets yesterday for righthanded relievers Duaner Sanchez and Steve Schmoll.

Seo, 28, from South Korea, made 14 starts for the Mets last season, going 8-2 with a 2.59 ERA and 16 walks and 59 strikeouts in 90 1/3 innings. He also was 7-4 with a 4.29 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A Norfolk. ''This gives us a little more depth in the starting rotation," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. ''I don't think this will prohibit us from getting another starter in either free agency or in a trade."

The Mets also agreed to a minor league contract with Bret Boone, 36, a move that shows how tenuous Kaz Matsui's hold on second base is.

Mets general manager Omar Minaya also said Pedro Martinez's right toe still is bothering him but it hasn't prevented him from working out in preparation for spring training next month. ''My understanding is that Pedro has started to throw," he said.

Burnitz snubs Orioles

Jeromy Burnitz finalized his $6.7 million, one-year contract with the Pirates after taking a physical yesterday, but only after the unhappy Orioles said the outfielder's agent backed out of a two-year, $12 million deal. ''My feeling is we had an agreement," Orioles vice president of baseball operations Jim Duquette said.

NESN sews up Red Sox

Beginning with a March 4 spring training game against the Pirates, NESN will offer exclusive coverage of every locally televised Red Sox game for the 2006 season. ''It really does create a very consistent home for all Red Sox telecasts," NESN president Sean McGrail said. ''It's one-stop shopping." Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy will return to provide play-by-play coverage.