'09 spring training schedule is announced

Grapefruit tickets to go on sale Dec. 6

There won't be a trip from Fort Myers, Fla., to Tokyo next spring. No preparations for early games that count or adjustments for beginning the season in a foreign country.

The Red Sox will be spending more time jetting (and busing) around the Sunshine State in 2009. Yesterday, they announced their spring training schedule for February and March, beginning with their first game Feb. 25.

After playing just 22 games in Florida in 2008, the Red Sox will play a 37-game schedule in 2009, including home and road games against the Yankees - both at night, on March 13 and 24 - and four games with the American League champion Rays. Two of the games against the Rays will be in City of Palms Park and two in Port Charlotte, Fla., where Tampa Bay opens a new spring training complex (Charlotte Sports Park).

The schedule also includes five games against the Twins as the teams contend for the Mayor's Cup, two at City of Palms Park, including a St. Patrick's Day matinee. The Cup competition kicks off Feb. 25, with the Sox playing split-squad games against Boston College and the Twins to kick off their spring season. (Complete schedule below).

Even with the World Baseball Classic returning this spring, the Red Sox do not plan to arrive in Florida much earlier than they did last season. Pitchers and catchers will report Thursday, Feb. 12, with workouts starting Feb. 14. The rest of the team will report by Feb. 16, and the first full-squad workout will be Feb. 18 at the Player Development Complex.

A touch of the WBC will come to Fort Myers, with the Sox playing Puerto Rico in an exhibition game March 5.

Tickets for the 18 spring games at City of Palms Park go on sale Saturday, Dec. 6. For the third time in four years, the ticket prices will remain unchanged. The Sox also did not increase ticket prices at Fenway Park for the 2009 season.

Prices range from $10 for standing room tickets to $46 for home plate box seats, with games against BC and Northeastern at half price. Tickets can be purchased beginning at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 at the box office at City of Palms Park, on redsox.com, or by calling 877-REDSOX9, where handicapped accessible seating is available.

Baldelli honored

Following a trip to the World Series in a season that brought him back to baseball, Rocco Baldelli was voted this year's recipient of the Tony Conigliaro Award for overcoming adversity through spirit, determination, and courage. After missing 15 months of baseball while battling a mitochondrial disorder that leaves him too fatigued to play every day, Baldelli returned to the majors and helped the Rays as they beat the Sox for the American League pennant. Baldelli came in first among voting by a 12-person panel, followed by the Diamondbacks' Doug Davis and the A's Brad Zeigler. Cliff Lee (Cleveland), Mike Lincoln (Cincinnati), and Alexei Ramirez (White Sox) also got votes. The award, which was first given out in 1990 when the Sox wanted to honor the memory of Conigliaro, will be presented at the 70th Boston Baseball Writers dinner Jan. 8 at the Westin Waterfront Hotel. Tickets ($150) can be purchased with a check mailed to Boston Chapter BBWAA, P.O. Box 7346, Nashua, N.H., 03060.

Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com