Red Sox, ex-Mariner Pineiro near deal

Joel Pineiro reached a preliminary agreement on a $4 million, one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox, who are turning to the former Seattle starter as a contender for their vacant closer’s job.

The contract includes $2 million in performance bonuses based on games finished, according to a person familiar with the negotiations, who spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the agreement has not been announced.

Pineiro’s deal also contains a player option for 2008. He must pass a physical for the contract to be finalized.

Boston general manager Theo Epstein did not immediately respond to an e-mail requesting comment. Pineiro, a 28-year-old right-hander, became a free agent last month when Seattle failed to offer a 2007 contracts.

Red Sox fan dies at 112

Kathryn Gemme, a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan who followed the team since the days of Babe Ruth, has died. She was 112.

Gemme died at the Nemasket Healthcare Center in Middleborough, Mass., on Friday, according to the O’Neill Funeral Home.

As an 18-year-old, she attended her first game at Fenway Park in 1912 shortly after the ballpark opened. At 109, Gemme was greeted by catcher Jason Varitek and former player and coach Johnny Pesky during her last game in May 2004.

Team officials brought the 2004 World Series trophy to her 111th birthday party in November 2005.

“That was a big day of her life,” her daughter, Lucille Findley of Jacksonville, Ill., told The Boston Globe.

Company says balls were juiced

A company in Cleveland that uses computer imaging claims baseballs had a larger rubberized core and a synthetic rubber ring in 1998, including the ball Mark McGwire hit for his 70th homer.

Universal Medical Systems Inc. said that with the assistance of Drs. Avrami S. Grader and Dr. Philip M. Halleck from The Center for Quantitative Imaging at Penn State, it took images of 1998 baseballs.

“Examining the CT images of Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball one can clearly see the synthetic ring around the core – or ‘pill’ – of the baseball,” UMS president David Zavagno said. “While Mark McGwire may or may not have used illegal steroids, the evidence shows his ball – under the governing body of the league – was juiced.”

Fingers owes back taxes

Hall of Fame pitcher Rollie Fingers owes Wisconsin more than $1.4 million in income taxes and is the seventh biggest tax delinquent in the state.

The state Department of Revenue lists Roland G. Fingers as owing $1,433,609. Among those owing only income taxes, Fingers tops the list.

Clearing the bases

The Seattle Mariners have agreed with third baseman Sean Burroughs on a minor-league contract and have invited him to spring training next month. If Burroughs, 26, makes Seattle’s 40-man roster, he would get a $450,000, one-year contract. … Infielder Jamey Carroll and the Colorado Rockies reached a preliminary agreement on a $4 million, two-year contract. Carroll must pass a physical to finalize the agreement. … Free-agent right-handed reliever Keith Foulke is expected to finalize a one-year contract today with the Cleveland Indians. … Baltimore finalized a $20 million, three-year contract with outfielder Aubrey Huff. Baltimore also reached an agreement on a $1,825,000, one-year contract with right-hander Daniel Cabrera. … Right-hander Sidney Ponson and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a minor league contract, a deal that could be worth as much as $3 million.