The Boston Red Sox's Wade Boggs, a .345 career hitter, is batting .136 in seven exhibition games.

The five-time AL batting champion remained at Chain O' Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Fla., for extra batting practice rather than travel to Fort Lauderdale to play the New York Yankees. He plans to take more batting practice today rather than play against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Vero Beach.

"That's the luxury of spring training. You come down here, work on things and get things ready for the regular season," Boggs said. "If I ever had to make a club in spring training, I don't think I ever would."

Boggs had the same problem last year, hitting .253 in exhibition games hitting .332 during the season, second-best in the major leagues.

* BREWERS: After months of negotiations, catcher B.J. Surhoff finally agreed to a $7.5 million, three-year contract.

Surhoff had agreed on Jan. 20 to a one-year contract worth $2.15 million, but the sides kept talking about a multiyear deal. The new contract replaces the earlier deal.

Surhoff, who would have eligible for free agency after the season, hit .271 with 28 home runs and 288 RBIs during his first five years with the Brewers. He hit .289 with five homers and 68 RBIs last season.