Crisp decides to sign up for three more years

Just two days ago, Coco Crisp was asking a local whether there's an alternate route to Fenway Park, so he could avoid paying the $3 toll on the Tobin Bridge. Yesterday, he was still intent on bypassing the bridge (''That's expensive, isn't it?" he asked), but he was undeniably better positioned to afford that toll and just about anything else he wants.

That's because, for the second time in three days, the Red Sox signed a core player to a long-term deal, inking Crisp to a three-year extension covering 2007, 2008, and 2009, with a team option for 2010, guaranteeing Crisp at least $15.5 million.

Crisp, who is making $2.75 million this season, received a $1 million signing bonus and will earn $3.5 million in 2007, $4.75 million in '08, and $5.75 million in '09. The option for 2010 -- which would have been Crisp's first year of free agency -- is for $8 million, with a $500,000 buyout.

There's also a clause allowing Crisp to increase that $8 million figure in 2010 by $250,000 each time he makes the All-Star team, meaning he could earn as much as $9 million that season. The buyout figure of $500,000 also would escalate $250,000 for each All-Star Game appearance.

The Sox, in guaranteeing David Ortiz $52 million Monday, and in signing Crisp, committed at least $67.5 million this week.

''We have more flexibility going forward than ever before," owner John Henry said. ''And we had two players who really wanted to be here for a long time. We put those two factors together."

Indeed, Ortiz and Crisp are the only Sox players signed beyond 2008, and joined Jason Varitek, Manny Ramírez, and Craig Hansen as the only players signed for 2008. Is a new nucleus forming?

''I think it's ever-evolving," general manager Theo Epstein said. ''I think we made a concerted effort recently to acquire players who were improving, on the upswing, in Coco's age bracket. We have a mix, and I think we're comfortable with that."

Epstein said the Sox and Crisp's agent talked this winter about signing him to a four-year deal but opted for a one-year contract, with the understanding that the sides would talk again during the spring. Epstein said negotiations picked up the last 7-10 days of March and were completed just after Opening Day.

''We just wanted to hold it a little bit until after David's announcement," Epstein said.

Why do the deal, rather than sign Crisp year to year, throughout the rest of his arbitration-eligible years?

''[Signing him for] the free agent year was a big part of it, getting the club option for 2010," Epstein said. ''And we think investing in Coco Crisp is a wise move. It provides us a little bit of cost certainty going forward and the flexibility to have him for five years."

Crisp, a Cleveland Indian his entire career until he was dealt to Boston during the offseason, said that once he met Sox players and management and saw ''how the organization was run, it made it real easy to be able to do [give up a year of free agency].

''That's definitely big, to have the security," he added. ''You want that in a place where you love to play, and there's no better place than here."

And so, while Johnny Damon will earn $52 million over four seasons in New York, Crisp will make $17.75 million over the same period.

''What happened," Henry wondered yesterday, ''to this lost offseason?"

David Riske, who hasn't pitched since going one inning April 4 at Texas (2 hits, 2 runs, 1 home run), went on the 15-day disabled list yesterday, retroactive to April 5, with a lower back strain. Epstein said the back bothered the righthanded middle reliever a ''little bit in spring training, in the last week, and most acutely, in the last 48 hours. He's had some back injuries in the past." This could help explain Riske's unsightly spring (0-2, 10.45 ERA). Riske's DL visit cleared a roster spot for David Wells (last night's starter), allowing Lenny DiNardo, who was expected to be sent to Pawtucket, to stick with the club. Riske is eligible to come off the DL April 20 . . . Epstein, when asked if the Sox were working on any other extensions for arbitration-eligible players, i.e. Josh Beckett, indicated the club is not. ''Never say never," Epstein said. ''These were the two contracts we were working on during spring training. We have a general rule to stay away from negotiating contracts during the year."

A follow-up to Ortiz's homer in Tuesday's home opener: Ortiz went deep on a 3-and-0 count, making him 9 for 12 with four doubles and three homers in his Sox career in 3-and-0 counts.

''Most times I have the green light," Ortiz said, ''unless I'm swinging bad. Then the manager might give me the sign [to take]."

Ortiz actually had a 3-and-0 count earlier in the game, and took two pitches for strikes. The second, he contended, ''was a breaking ball away for a ball that he [home plate umpire Jerry Layne] called a strike."

Ortiz said he turned to catcher Bengie Molina, the former Angel. It was Molina, Ortiz realized, who was behind the plate when he was ejected at Anaheim, July 16, 2004, and Aug. 19, 2005. Both times Ortiz had been upset with the umpiring.

''I told Molina, 'How come the two times I've gotten thrown out you're behind the plate?' " Ortiz recounted good-naturedly. ''He said, 'I was telling [teammate Alex] Rios, the only way I can get you out is to get the umpires to make bad calls.' "

Manager Terry Francona remained confident that Trot Nixon would not need to go on the DL. ''I don't think so," Francona said. ''I asked him that [Tuesday] night and then again [yesterday] morning. I got nos both times. I think it's more likely to be of the four-, five-, six-day variety. It's not killing him." . . . Dustin Pedroia, who remained in Florida with a sprained left shoulder, will join the PawSox by the weekend, Epstein said . . . Julian Tavarez, who's guaranteed $6.7 million over this season and next, could, at long last, throw a pitch tonight. Suspended 10 days for the right hook he landed on Tampa Bay's Joey Gathright last month, Tavarez is eligible to be activated today. He hasn't pitched since April 2 at Philadelphia in the Sox' exhibition finale. ''It will be good," Francona said. ''It hasn't cost us." Francona meant it. The Sox, entering last night, had relied almost exclusively on Mike Timlin, Keith Foulke, and Jonathan Papelbon. Riske, DiNardo, and Rudy Seanez, through seven games, had made just three combined appearances. Where does Tavarez fit in the bullpen? ''He's a nice bridge at times," Francona said, indicating that Tavarez could often be called upon in the sixth inning . . . Toronto's Nos. 1-5 hitters went a combined 12 for 21 (.571) with a double, three homers, and seven RBIs, improving the team's season average to .327 . . . Mike Lowell doubled to left in his first at-bat, giving him hits in five consecutive at-bats dating to Tuesday's home opener, four of them doubles. He walked in the fourth inning, reaching base for the sixth consecutive plate appearance, before flying out in the fifth.