The Associated Press

BOSTON - Terry Francona will be hired as Boston's new manager, a source told the Associated Press, reuniting pitcher Curt Schilling with his former boss in a push to bring the Red Sox their first World Series title since 1918.

The Red Sox scheduled a news conference for today at which they will announce Francona's hiring, a baseball source said Wednesday.

Francona, 44, managed Philadelphia through four losing seasons from 1997-2000 when the Phillies were a young team trying to rebuild.

Francona will be under pressure to win immediately in Boston, where Grady Little averaged 94 wins over two seasons but was let go after the team collapsed in the seventh game of the AL Championship Series.

The Red Sox traded four players for Schilling last week, but the deal was held up while they negotiated a contract extension with the 37-year-old pitcher to get him to waive his no-trade clause. They agreed Friday to a deal that will pay him $37.5 million over the next three years, with an option for a fourth.

Francona managed Philadelphia to a 285-363 record over four years, never winning more than 77 games. That was a young team that considered improvement a success.

"The one thing you just die for is a chance to win," Francona said after his interview. "To have a chance to win and to be expected to win is what you play for, what you coach for."

PHILLIES: Former Phillies catcher Bob Boone was hired by Philadelphia on Wednesday as a special assignment scout.

Boone, the catcher on Philadelphia's 1980 World Series championship team, was a four-time All-Star and seven-time Gold Glove winner during a 19-year career.

He was drafted by the Phillies in 1969 and was considered one of the best defensive catchers of his era.

Boone managed Kansas City from 1995-97 and the Reds from 2000 until he was fired in July. He had a 371-444 record as manager, with no winning seasons.

CUBS: Scratch that right-handed setup man off the Cubs' wish list.

The Cubs confirmed they'd agreed to terms with free agent reliever LaTroy Hawkins. The three-year deal with the former Minnesota Twins pitcher is worth $11 million and includes a player option for the third year.

Hawkins, who turns 31 later this month, was 9-3 with a 1.86 ERA in 77 1/3 innings. He had 75 strikeouts and didn't allow a run over 20 games from July 31 to Sept. 14.

Hawkins was converted to a reliever in 2000, when the Twins made him their closer. He was moved to the setup role before the 2002 season and is 15-3 with a 2.00 ERA in 139 games since then.

Bolstering the bullpen was high on the list of priorities for Cubs general manager Jim Hendry this offseason. Cubs relievers were 20-19 with a 4.16 ERA, 16th in the majors.

YANKEES: Left-handed reliever Felix Heredia agreed to a two-year contract worth about $3.8 million to stay in New York.

He was 0-1 with a 1.20 ERA in 12 appearances with the Yankees, who claimed him off waivers from the Reds Aug. 25. He was 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 57 games with the Reds.

Heredia had a $1.7 million player option for 2004, which he declined. His new deal includes a team option for 2006.

BLUE JAYS: Left-hander Chi-Hung Cheng agreed to a minor-league contract.

Cheng, 18, is a member of Taiwan's national team. He is the ninth player from Taiwan to sign with a major-league club.

The Blue Jays will allow Cheng to participate in the 2004 Athens Olympics if he is selected.

SERIES SHARES: Florida Marlins players earned a place in baseball history with their World Series win over the New York Yankees - as well as an extra $306,149.92 for the holiday shopping season.

The Marlins split a $14.9 million portion of postseason gate receipts, Major League Baseball said.

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