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Francona signs

The Red Sox announced today that they have come to an agreement with manager Terry Francona on a two-year contract extension through the 2008 season.

The team did not disclose what Francona will be paid over the course of the deal, but it most assuredly is a bump from the $660,000 he was slated to make in 2006, the final year of the three-year deal he signed with the club in 2003. Last season, Francona made $550,000, among the lowest managerial salaries in the major leagues.

After leading Boston to its first World Series title in 86 years, Francona managed the Red Sox to a 95-67 mark last season.

With a 193-131 (.596) record in 324 games with the Red Sox, Francona should become the second-fastest manager in club history to reach 200 wins, as early as next month. Joe McCarthy needed 323 games to win 2000 between 1948 and 1950.