BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Red Sox finally got the middle infielder they wanted in a drawn-out pursuit.

It’s Pokey Reese, not Alex Rodriguez.

The second baseman, who spent two days with Boston two years ago, agreed Tuesday to a $1 million, one-year contract.

Three hours before Texas’ deadline for Boston to trade for Rodriguez, Reese said he’d like playing with Rodriguez or current Boston shortstop Nomar Garciaparra.

“Two future Hall of Famers, two All-Stars, two great people,” Reese said. “I’m in a win-win situation.”

Rangers’ owner Tom Hicks said after the deadline he had set of 5 p.m. EST that Rodriguez would remain with Texas next season.

Asked about the deadline during a conference call with Reese, Boston general manager Theo Epstein said “no comment.” After the deadline, the team said no discussions regarding the transaction are planned.

Talks about obtaining the AL MVP for left fielder Manny Ramirez began early this month, and the Red Sox hadn’t changed their position since last Thursday when team president Larry Lucchino said the deal is “dead.”

Reese, who became a free agent after two seasons with Pittsburgh, gets a $200,000 signing bonus and an $800,000 salary. He can earn another $600,000 in performance bonuses.

“He turned down a pretty significant amount of money to do this with the Red Sox because he wanted to be a part of this, part of the situation, part of the atmosphere,” said Mike Nicotera, Reese’s agent. “There were definitely quality clubs that were offering him what I would term as significantly more money.”

Reese adds speed and defense and is thrilled to join the rivalry with the New York Yankees.

“To be able to be a part of that is awesome,” the two-time Gold Glove winner said.

He also wanted to play behind Pedro Martinez in front of packed stands at Fenway Park.

“My goal was to one day play behind Pedro and I got that opportunity and I couldn’t turn it down,” Reese said.

Reese replaces Todd Walker, a better hitter who made more money and is a free agent. Epstein said one of his team’s weaknesses was the number of opponents’ hits to the right side.

He figured that with a club that led baseball in hitting last season and strengthened its pitching staff with Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke, he could afford less offense at second base.

“He’s a great fit with the club we have,” Epstein said of Reese. “The 2004 Red Sox are dramatically improved in the area of run prevention. … Hopefully, we’ll win a lot more 4-2 games, 3-1 games than we won last year.”

Reese, who stole 38 bases with Cincinnati in 1999, first joined the Red Sox on Dec. 19, 2001, in a trade with Colorado. They let him become a free agent two days later rather than offer a 2002 contract, which would have made him eligible for salary arbitration. They hoped he would sign a multiyear contract with them but he signed instead with the Pirates on Jan. 30, 2002.

Reese had a torn thumb ligament last season and hit .215 in 37 games. He didn’t play after May 13. In seven major league seasons, he’s hitting .251 with 41 homers and 138 stolen bases.

He passed his physical Monday “with flying colors,” Epstein said.

Last week, the Red Sox signed former Colorado second baseman Mark Bellhorn, but Reese is expected to be the regular.

“If he plays the way he’s capable, he’s going to be out there quite a bit,” Epstein said.

That’s fine with Reese.

“Two years ago I wish the deal would have went through,” he said. “I just can’t wait to really get to spring training, just to be part of the Boston mystique.”

Boston also reached agreements with two right-handed pitchers it had let go Saturday.

Jason Shiell got a one-year contract that would at a yearly rate of $303,000 in the major leagues and $72,000 in the minors. Edwin Almonte received a minor-league contract and would get a deal for the $300,000 minimum if he’s added to the 40-man roster.

AP-ES-12-23-03 1738EST