Epstein's signature finally seals deal

Theo Epstein said it and Larry Lucchino seconded it -- Epstein finally has a signed contract.

"We have an understanding that I guess was memorialized with a signature," said Epstein yesterday at a gathering at Fenway Park between print media and team officials to discuss media issues for the '07 season.

Epstein had agreed to a three-year, $4.5 million deal when he left the organization over philosophical issues last October, though he returned in January after working out those issues with the powers. Still, as of this summer, the general manager had not signed the deal.

That apparently changed in recent weeks.

"We have an agreement and we have a signature. Do we have an agreement that memorializes an agreement? Yes," said Lucchino, who sat alongside Epstein, principal owner John Henry, and chairman Tom Werner.

The Red Sox front office declined to answer questions yesterday concerning a number of topics, including payroll, their interest in Japanese righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka, whether they were going to deal Manny Ramírez, their free agents, and pitcher Jon Lester, who was stricken with cancer during the season.

Lucchino and Henry both declined to speak about threshold tax and the team's payroll because both of them indicated there are currently ``sensitive" basic agreement issues being discussed in New York. The basic labor agreement expires at the end of this year.

``Talking about payroll in any way is a competitive disadvantage," Lucchino said. ``We spend a lot of time keeping track of the loose comments regarding payroll and it's been a point of pride that we don't discuss that. It's very helpful for us to know that Team X has made a major announcement that they're going to take their payroll from 72 to 92 [million]. Well thank you for telling us that, now we know who might be in the free agent competition for X or Y or Z."

Epstein spoke about the organization needing to ``pursue every avenue to get better . . . I think we'll run the gamut this winter."

With regard to the team's free agents -- including shortstop Alex Gonzalez, second baseman Mark Loretta, and outfielder Trot Nixon -- Epstein said ``there's been in some instances multiple conversations and in other instances we'll check back with you in free agency."

According to major league sources, the Red Sox are among teams after Matsuzaka, having scouted him extensively the past two years. The Seibu Lions have said they will post Matsuzaka, which means interested teams submit a blind bid to the Lions for his services. The highest bidder then has exclusive negotiation rights to the pitcher, who is represented by Scott Boras.

``Our policy is not to comment on players under contract in other organizations," Epstein said. ``We scouted Japan and the Japan Leagues but we won't have any comment on any individual player."

Watching the success of the World Series-bound Tigers struck a chord with Epstein. ``The primary goal of ours is to be able to develop home-grown talent and integrate it on the major league roster," said Epstein, who will turn 33 Dec. 29. ``There's an additional challenge in certain markets, including here, where there's a strong desire to have a competitive team every single year. It's a little more difficult to be patient. It doesn't make it any less important. For us to be the organization we want to be, we have to be good at being patient.

``It doesn't mean ever giving up on any one season. It doesn't mean lowering your goals because we're trying to get to the playoffs every single year. It means being good at being patient. We've had a good track record at being patient in some respects, but we've also had some missteps. It's clear going forward what we need to do to being better at it and we're all committed to it."

Lucchino, asked whether the team would consider lowering prices if they knew they were in a rebuilding mode, said, ``We're pretty mindful of the escalation of ticket prices. If you've seen what happened since we've been here, you see a declining trend in levels of increases.

``We are well aware our fans are paying high prices. But I doubt you'll see a correlation between prices and baseball planning. No, I don't think that's going to happen. Our goal is to play October baseball every year."

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com