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July 2, 2007
The Red Sox announced today that they have extended their Player Development Contract with the Portland Sea Dogs for an additional four years; the deal now goes through 2012.
Boston vice president-player personnel Ben Cherington and Sea Dogs' president and general manager Charlie Eshbach made the announcement this afternoon at Portland's Hadlock Field.
The Sea Dogs, who play in the double-A Eastern League, began their relationship with Boston in September 2002, after nine years with the Marlins. The original two-year deal has now had two four-year extensions added on.
Portland won its first-ever Eastern League championship last year, averaging a franchise-record 6,358 fans per game. In the four-plus seasons since the Boston-Portland relationship began, 29 Sea Dogs have played with the Red Sox, including Manny Delcarmen, Kevin Youkilis, Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia and tonight's starter, Kason Gabbard.
Josh Beckett also played for Portland, though it was when the Sea Dogs were the Marlins' affiliate.
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