BASEBALL Phillies sign Bell to replace Rolen; Red Sox eye GM

At 28, Theo Epstein could become the youngest general manager in baseball history.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Phillies don't have to worry about their new third baseman's relationship with manager Larry Bowa.
David Bell, who helped the San Francisco Giants reach the World Series last month, agreed to a $17-million, four-year deal with the Phillies on Sunday.
Bell hit .261 with 20 homers and 73 RBIs last season. The free agent will replace All-Star third baseman Scott Rolen, traded by Philadelphia to St. Louis in July.
The right fit
Rolen and Bowa had opposite personalities and feuded often during their 11/2 seasons together. Bell and Bowa got along well when they were together in Seattle from 1999-01.
"I know Larry, and I really like Larry," Bell said. "I look forward to playing for him."
Bowa, a coach with Seattle when Bell was there, likes his approach and attitude.
"His work ethic is second to none," Bowa said. "He's always prepared, plays the game the way it's supposed to be played. He's very unselfish, knows how to play and has come from winning teams."
Bell will get $3 million in 2003, $4.2 million in 2004, and $4.5 million in 2005 and 2006, plus a signing bonus of $800,000.
The 30-year-old Bell also played with Cleveland and St. Louis in an eight-year major league career. He has a career average of .256 with 81 homers and 351 RBIs.
Bell chose the Phillies over the Giants, where he played one year after 31/2 seasons in Seattle. He said San Francisco and Philadelphia made similar offers, and his decision didn't come down to money. He also said the departure of former Giants manager Dusty Baker wasn't a factor in his decision.
"It was a tough decision but I feel I made the right decision. I couldn't be happier," Bell said. "They have the basis for a great team. It's a young team, but they have all the pieces in place. I'm looking forward to coming in and doing anything I can to help them win."
Red Sox hire general manager
BOSTON -- The Red Sox were set to announce the hiring of 28-year-old Theo Epstein at a news conference today, a team source told The Associated Press. He will be the youngest GM in baseball history; Randy Smith was 29 when he was hired by San Diego in 1993.
The Red Sox have been without a permanent general manager since Florida financier John W. Henry bought the team in spring training and fired Dan Duquette. Mike Port was interim GM for the season and was a candidate for the long-term job that went to Epstein.
Henry declined to confirm that Epstein was the choice. "But I can tell you I am extraordinarily happy with the end result of this intensive process," he said in an e-mail message to The Associated Press early today.
Red Sox president Larry Lucchino did not return repeated calls seeking comment.
Reached at home Sunday night, Port said he was "in the loop" on the decision but declined to say what it was.
"I think they plan an announcement," he said. "I think we just need to let that take care of it."
Resume
Epstein, who was raised near Fenway Park in the Boston suburb of Brookline, became director of baseball operations for San Diego in 2000, when Lucchino was running the Padres. Epstein also spent two years each in San Diego's media relations department and as a baseball operations assistant.
When the group headed by Henry and Lucchino bought the Red Sox in February, they brought Epstein to Boston as an assistant general manager. From the start, there were whispers that the Yale-educated Epstein would eventually take over the Red Sox reins.