Outlook positive in Beckett talks

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox reportedly have offered Josh Beckett a contract extension of four years, one year less than what Beckett and agent Michael Moye are believed to be seeking. But there remains optimism that a deal will be struck.Sox sources would not confirm or deny an ESPN report regarding a four-year offer. But such a deal would be in line with the team’s thinking. The difference in years could be made up by offering Beckett a deal with an average annual value higher than the five-year, $82.5 million contract awarded to John Lackey in December.That deal included an injury provision that would give the Sox a sixth season at the minimum salary if Lackey undergoes elbow surgery during the first five years. The Sox have concerns with Beckett’s shoulder and could try to negotiate similar protection into the extension.The civility between the sides could lead to a deal before the start of the season or shortly thereafter. Beckett has made it clear he wants to stay with the Sox, a notion general manager Theo Epstein agrees with.Wakefield works Tim Wakefield pitched three scoreless innings in a Double A game against Tampa Bay prospects, walking two and striking out three. He did not allow a hit. Victor Martinez, who has caught Wakefield all spring, was 1 for 2 with a walk.Tampa Bay coach Mo Moloney, a one-time Red Sox coach, marveled at the performance of the 43-year-old Wakefield.“He’s an amazing story,’’ Moloney said. “He still gets hitters out. He’s still tough to hit. Amazing career, really.’’Wakefield will start against the Nationals Saturday in Washington before making his season debut April 9 in Kansas City. He does not believe the Sox would use a six-man rotation once Daisuke Matsuzaka is ready to rejoin the team.“I don’t see that ever happening,’’ Wakefield said. “Because then you’re taking an arm out of the bullpen.’’Tazawa has tear Pitching prospect Junichi Tazawa, who appeared in six games for the Sox last year, could be lost for the season with an elbow injury.The 23-year-old righthander was found to have a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament when Dr. James Andrews examined him Monday in Birmingham, Ala.“Dr. Andrews kind of laid everything out for him. Soon we’ll figure out what’s going to happen,’’ Sox manager Terry Francona said. “I think a lot is getting thrown at him in a hurry.’’The Sox were impressed with Tazawa last spring after he was signed out of Japan’s Industrial League. But they noticed that he had lost something off his fastball as the year progressed, a trend that continued this year.Tazawa felt tightness in the joint for a few days, which led to the examination.“There is a little bit of nervousness,’’ said Tazawa, who next will meet with team physician Tom Gill. “For me, the tightness I was experiencing was fairly normal and what I’m used to. If it was completely up to me, I probably wouldn’t have gone ahead and gotten the exam.’’Tazawa had been penciled into the rotation at Pawtucket and would have been one of the pitchers considered for a call-up if a starter was needed during the season.Hermida hamstrung Jeremy Hermida (right hamstring) worked out on the elliptical machine at Fort Myers but otherwise spent his third day without doing any baseball activities. The Sox remain hopeful he will be cleared before Sunday . . . The Sox signed 22-year-old Cuban outfielder Jorge Padron. A lefthanded hitter, Padron received a $350,000 bonus, according to one report. He will start with either high Single A Salem or Double A Portland . . . Josh Reddick was 3 for 5 against the Rays in the 9-9 tie in Port Charlotte with a double and a home run. He is hitting .404 with 11 extra-base hits this spring. But unless Hermida goes on the disabled list, Reddick is not going to make the team. “When we talked to him the other day, it was more of a congratulations,’’ Francona said. “He had a great camp.’’ . . . Daniel Bard, who had allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings, gave up four runs on five hits in the seventh inning . . . Anthony Rizzo, a 20-year-old first baseman, was added to the roster for the day and went 3 for 5 with a long home run. He overcame lymphoma in 2008. “Surreal,’’ he said of the home run. “I just reacted and I hit it good.’’Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @peteabe.