Source: Aaron Cook, Red Sox agree to deal

According to multiple industry sources, the Red Sox have agreed to terms with free agent starting pitcher Aaron Cook [1] on a minor league deal, pending a physical. The 32-year-old right-hander is expected to compete for one of the final spots in the Sox' rotation in 2012. If he is summoned to the big leagues under the contract, he would receive a prorated $1.5 million salary.

Cook, who is coming off a three-year, $29.5 million deal with the Rockies, appeared in 18 games in '11, making 17 starts. He finished the year going 3-10 with a 6.03 ERA. The Ohio native's best season came in 2008 when he went 16-9 with a 3.96 in 32 starts, earning an berth on the National League All-Star team.

For Red Sox fans, Cook is perhaps best known as being the starter for Colorado in Game 4 of the 2007 World Series. In that game he surrendered three runs over six innings, taking the loss. He also has a history with Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis, with the pair having played together on an AAU national championship team in 1994. (Youkilis also once hit two homers in a game against Cook when both were seniors in high school in 1997.)

Cook suffered a setback in '11 when he broke his right index finger in spring training, not allowing him to pitch until June 8 while seemingly affecting his command for much of the year. He is also close to new Red Sox pitching coach Bob McClure, who previously worked in the Colorado organization.

FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal was first to report the agreement.

For more Red Sox news, go to the team page at weei.com/redsox [2].

Alex Speier contributed to this report.