Team tries futures market

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- They are just 16 years old, raw as can be, but full of enough promise the Red Sox sank a combined $1.2 million into signing them. Dominican center fielder Engel Beltre (approximately $650,000 signing bonus) and Dominican shortstop Oscar Tejeda (approximately $550,000) were the two prized signings announced yesterday by the Sox, who unveiled the names of six international free agents signed since Major League Baseball's international signing period began Sunday.

``It's what we consider good bonuses for them and a good price for us," said Craig Shipley, the Sox' vice president for professional and international scouting.

A bit of background: International players are not eligible for the draft and must be signed as free agents. This signing period allows teams to ink international players who turn 17 before September.

The lefthanded-hitting Beltre, according to a list compiled by ESPN Deportes, was the second-hottest prospect available, behind Venezuelan catcher Jesus Montero, who the Sox liked until the Yankees escalated the bidding to $2 million. Tejeda, who also goes by the name Moises Tejeda, was ranked No. 4 on the list.

``We've been as active as any team in the game in the signings in the last week, which is the culmination of work in the last year that got us to the point where we were willing to invest," Shipley said. ``We think the consensus in the industry is that these are two talented kids with projectable upside. We're very happy to sign them."

Asked how hard the Sox pursued Montero, Shipley said, ``We were very interested. We scouted him for the last six months. We felt our history on Engel and Oscar was a lot better."

Shipley, on Beltre: ``He's a kid that plays with a ton of energy, which we like, which we think is necessary to play center field. He has an above-average arm, and he has what we consider projectable power."

And Tejeda?

``He's a kid with a lot of bat speed, he has gap power now, we're projecting he will develop some power in the future," Shipley said. ``Very good hands at shortstop. An intelligent player who knows how to play the game."

The other players the Sox signed: Venezuelan righthander Anthony Alvarado, Venezuelan third baseman Pedro Chourio, Dominican righthander Stormy Pimental, and Dominican lefthander Manuel Rivera. All of these players will join the Sox' Dominican Baseball Academy in Santo Domingo.

Matt Clement, who cut his rehab appearance Tuesday to just 17 pitches because of biceps soreness, is scheduled to throw an ``extended side" session Thursday in Boston and attempt to pitch again on rehab July 16, manager Terry Francona said. The Sea Dogs and PawSox are home for 1 p.m. games that day. However, before that happens, Clement has to come through that side session healthy and throwing with conviction. ``He said he showed up today and felt a lot better," Francona said. ``[He] feels it in that one spot, a dull ache. This is not a shocking development if you've had some laxity." . . . Mike Lowell's double Wednesday night was his 30th, making him just the fourth Red Sox hitter since 1960 to compile 30 two-base hits before the All-Star break. The others: David Ortiz (33 in 2004), Bill Mueller (30 in 2003), and Nomar Garciaparra (30 in 2002).

Still no official word out of MLB's offices on Manny Ramírez's anticipated withdrawal from Tuesday's All-Star Game. ``I think I said the next announcement will come from MLB," Francona said yesterday, reiterating the position he took Wednesday. ``That's what I was told to say. That's where I'm at. I actually wish I could tell you [more]." . . . Rudy Seanez, 2-0 with a 4.94 ERA, hasn't pitched in July . . . Jason Johnson, 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA in his two Sox starts, isn't scheduled to pitch again until July 16 or 17. The question is whether he'll make another start for the team. Since beginning the season 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA in Cleveland, he is 1-10 in his last 13 starts (11 with Cleveland, two with Boston) with a 7.71 ERA. Asked if Johnson remains in the Sox' plans coming out of the All-Star break, Francona said, ``The only thing I can say is until they're not, they are." . . . Ortiz's six RBIs tied a career high, set Aug. 12, 2005 . . . The grand slam was the sixth of Ortiz's career. The previous five, including one June 21 this season, were hit at Fenway. He homered twice in a game for the 23d time in his career, 21st time with the Sox, and third time this season . . . Mike Timlin worked a 1-2-3 eighth in six pitches . . . Coco Crisp went 0 for 4 with a walk and is 0 for 22 in seven games on the road trip. The Sox' former leadoff hitter, who was lowered to eighth in the order in mid-June, is down to .254 . . . The Sox are just 6-10 at Tropicana Field since the beginning of last season. They have been swept in four of five series here in that span . . . Ortiz and Ramírez homered in the same game for the 39th time. They pulled out of a tie with Bobby Doerr and Ted Williams, who homered in the same game 38 times. The team record is 56, held by Jim Rice and Dwight Evans . . . Ortiz's 29 homers before the All-Star break tied Carl Yastrzemski (1969) for most by a Sox player before the break dating to 1960 (that is as far back as the Sox' record book goes).