Red Sox finalize 10 million-dollar deal for Beltre

The Boston Red Sox finalized a one-year contract with Adrian Beltre that guarantees the third baseman 10 million dollars in 2010.

The deal was agreed to on Tuesday, but subject to Beltre's passing a medical exam.

Beltre became a free agent after five seasons with Seattle. He'll take over third base from Mike Lowell, the 2007 World Series Most Valuable Player who had thumb surgery last month.

The Red Sox had agreed to trade Lowell to the Texas Rangers for catcher Max Ramirez, but the deal was undone by his injury.

Lowell is now expected to be ready for spring training, but Boston may well still seek to trade him.

Beltre played just 111 games last season because of injuries. That was his fewest since he was a rookie with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1998.

In 1,681 career games, Beltre has hit .270 with 250 homers and 906 RBIs, and he won Gold Gloves for fielding in 2007 and 2008.