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It appears the Boston Red Sox have narrowed their search for a new manager to two candidates, Bobby Valentine and Gene Lamont. 

Valentine, 61, has not managed in the Major Leagues since 2002, when he managed the New York Mets. He has worked as an analyst for ESPN the previous two years.

Lamont, 64, has not managed in the Major Leagues since 2000, when he managed the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lamont is a former AL Manager of the Year, winning the award in 1993.

According to Pete Abraham of the Globe, an official announcement will not be made until next week at the earliest. 

Nothing will be settled today according to team sources and the earliest an announcement will be made is next week. Gene Lamont did indeed meet with ownership earlier this week, so he joins Bobby Valentine in that regard.

– For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page, or our blog Over the Monster.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed catcher
Jake Fox to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Fox appeared in 27 games with Baltimore last season, batting .246 with a pair
of homers and six runs batted in. He spent most of the campaign at Triple-A
Norfolk.

The 29-year-old journeyman began his big league career with the Cubs in 2007
and has also played for Oakland. He belted 11 homers and drove in 44 runs in
82 games for Chicago in 2009, and is a career .237 hitter in 193 major league
games.

Pittsburgh also signed outfielder Brandon Boggs and pitcher Shairon Martis to
minor league deals with spring training invites. Boggs had two homers in 16
games for Milwaukee last season and has hit .209 in 130 games for the Rangers
and Brewers over parts of four seasons. Martis hasn’t pitched in the majors
since 2009 with Washington and has a record of 6-6 with a 5.33 earned run
average in 20 games, including 19 starts over parts of two seasons.

The Pirates also signed infielder Stefan Welch and pitchers Kyle Cofield and
Jose Diaz to minor league contracts.

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Published: Nov. 21, 2011 at 7:22 PM

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 21 (UPI) — Free-agent shortstop Clint Barmes has agreed to a 2-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team announced Monday.

Barmes, who comes to the Pirates from Houston, hit 12 homers and drove in 39 runs while batting .244 in 123 games last season with the Astros. He posted a .978 fielding percentage while committing only 12 errors in 539 chances.

“With the signing of Clint Barmes, we have added an above-average defensive shortstop who will bring quality experience and reliability to the club on the playing field as well as a positive veteran presence in the clubhouse,” Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington said.

Barmes, who has spent most of his career with Colorado, has totaled 61 homers, 131 doubles and 285 RBI with a .254 average for his career.

PITTSBURGH, PA. The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to terms with shortstop Clint Barmes.

The two-year deal, worth about $10.5 million US, reunites Barmes with Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle. The two worked together in Colorado from 2003-09.

The 33-year-old Barmes is a .252 lifetime hitter, with 73 home runs and 324 RBI. He spent the first eight seasons of his career with Colorado before moving to Houston last season. Barmes hit .244 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 123 games last season for Houston.

He’ll immediately step in as Pittsburgh’s starting shortstop. The Pirates let go veteran Ronny Cedeno after the season and Chase d’Arnaud hit just .217 in 48 games.

To make room for Barmes on the roster, the Pirates designated catcher Brian Jeroloman for assignment.

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to terms with shortstop Clint Barmes.

The two-year deal, worth about $10.5 million, reunites Barmes with Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle. The two worked together in Colorado from 2003-09.

The 33-year-old Barmes is a .252 lifetime hitter, with 73 home runs and 324 RBI. He spent the first eight seasons of his career with Colorado before moving to Houston last season. Barmes hit .244 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 123 games last season for Houston.

He’ll immediately step in as Pittsburgh’s starting shortstop. The Pirates let go veteran Ronny Cedeno after the season and Chase d’Arnaud hit just .217 in 48 games.

To make room for Barmes on the roster, the Pirates designated catcher Brian Jeroloman for assignment.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to terms with shortstop Clint Barmes.

The two-year deal, worth about $10.5 million, reunites Barmes with Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle. The two worked together in Colorado from 2003-09.

The 33-year-old Barmes is a .252 lifetime hitter, with 73 home runs and 324 RBI. He spent the first eight seasons of his career with Colorado before moving to Houston last season. Barmes hit .244 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 123 games last season for Houston.

He’ll immediately step in as Pittsburgh’s starting shortstop. The Pirates let go veteran Ronny Cedeno after the season and Chase d’Arnaud hit just .217 in 48 games.

To make room for Barmes on the roster, the Pirates designated catcher Brian Jeroloman for assignment.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.