Baseball Notebook | Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon agrees to deal

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox and closer Jonathan Papelbon agreed Thursday to a $775,000, one-year contract, nearly doubling his salary.

Papelbon was among 18 Red Sox players who agreed to one-year deals, putting Boston's entire 40-man major-league roster under contract.

Papelbon earned $425,550 last season, when he had 37 saves in 40 opportunities and a 1.85 earned-run average, then saved three of the four World Series games against Colorado. He hoped to get a multiyear deal but had no leverage. He said he wanted to set a salary standard for future outstanding closers.

"I feel a certain obligation not only to myself and my family to make the money that I deserve but for the game of baseball," he said Tuesday.

The 27-year-old will be eligible for arbitration after the season.

Among the other players who agreed to contracts were AL Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia, center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and pitcher Jon Lester, a native of Tacoma.

Guardado wants to be

every day on the mound

SURPRISE, Ariz. — When Eddie Guardado was unable to pitch, every day took on a different and painful meaning for the Texas Rangers reliever.

"Every day, it was a struggle, no doubt. It was a grind," the former Mariner said of the nearly yearlong recovery from ligament replacement surgery. "It just makes you stronger mentally. That's what I got out of it, but I don't wish that on nobody. It's not fun."

After two shortened seasons because of elbow problems, the two-time All-Star closer is back with his gregarious personality — with a new team. Nicknamed "Everyday Eddie," Guardado also wants to make sure fans associate the moniker with how often he pitches, not time spent in rehab.

"I feel old right now, but I feel good," the 37-year-old Guardado said with a smile Thursday, a day after his second scoreless outing of the spring. "No problem. I have natural soreness, which is good."

Guardado retired all three batters he faced in his spring debut for the Rangers. He then loaded the bases Wednesday, loudly grunting in frustration after a three-ball count to one Milwaukee batter, before getting out of the jam with a foul pop.

"I think I kind of needed that, to extend my pitch count, be out there in that situation, get the blood going," Guardado said. "That's where you bear down. It's kicking in."

Notes

• San Francisco LHP Noah Lowry needs surgery after a recent bout of wildness and is probably out until the end of April.

The Giants said Lowry had been diagnosed with exertional compartment syndrome. According to MayoClinic.com, it is "an exercise-induced neuromuscular condition that causes pain, swelling and sometimes even disability in affected muscles of the legs or arms" and seems to affect primarily athletes in their 20s.

In other Giants news, INF Kevin Frandsen is out at shortstop, replaced in the lineup by nonroster invitee Brian Bocock while the Giants continue to search for a temporary replacement for Omar Vizquel (knee). Frandsen had committed a team-leading three errors and was struggling at the plate.

• Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Jeff Kent said his pulled hamstring did not require any tests, and he will be back hitting today — his 40th birthday.

"If it was a game situation I would probably play," he said, "but it's not. It's spring training."

• Barry Bonds' record-breaking 756th home-run ball featuring an asterisk may arrive at the Baseball Hall of Fame by the end of this month, a spokesman for the shrine said.

Fashion designer Marc Ecko, who bought the ball for $752,467.20 at auction in September and asked fans whether he should mark it with an asterisk, told the Hall he plans to have it delivered before April 1, a spokesman said. It will be put on display in a yet-to-be determined location.