Theo Epstein is one signing away from keeping a perfect record intact.
The Red Sox are down to their last unsigned player eligible for salary arbitration after righthander Kyle Snyder agreed to a one-year, nonguaranteed contract worth $835,000 yesterday. He will get an additional $5,000 if he makes 50 appearances and $10,000 more for 60 games. He had been seeking $1.025 million, while the Sox offered $725,000.
First baseman Kevin Youkilis is the remaining unsigned player eligible for arbitration. Lefthanded reliever Javier Lopez, the other player who had been eligible, came to terms on a one-year deal for $840,000 last week.
The 30-year-old Snyder, acquired on waivers from Kansas City in June 2006, was 2-3 with a 3.81 ERA in 46 relief appearances with the Red Sox last year, his first full season in the majors.
Youkilis, renewed at $424,500 by the Red Sox in 2007, has requested a salary of $3.7 million, with the Sox offering $2.525 million.
The Sox have not gone to an arbitration hearing since Epstein became general manager prior to the 2003 season. If necessary, a hearing on Youkilis would take place next month.
Single-game tickets for most 2008 home games will go on sale today at 10 a.m. at redsox.com or by touchtone phone at 617-482-4769. A maximum of eight tickets per person will be sold. Fans with disabilities should call 877-REDSOX9. The Sox' TTY number for hearing-impaired fans is 617-226-6644.
