Truth & Rumors > MLB

Varitek facing career decision

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09:30 AM ET 02.05 | Jason Varitek is trying to make a very tough decision. "He's deliberating what he wants to do," said his agent, Scott Boras. And that deliberation has to include the very difficult reality of possible retirement. Varitek will be 40 years old on April 11. In his heart, he believes he can still play. His body feels as good as it has in a long time. So why quit now? That probably is his mind-set, but the reality is that there is no room on the Red Sox roster for him. Could he come to spring training as a nonroster player and win a job, or be ready in case one of the others gets hurt? Of course. Could he summon the desire to play for another team?

Boston Globe

Jason Varitek, Icon SMI Jason Varitek, Icon SMI
February 5, 2012  09:32 AM ET

Time To Call It Quits, Bro.

Comment #2 has been removed
February 5, 2012  10:04 AM ET

Move in to coaching.

February 5, 2012  10:18 AM ET

C'est la vie mon. Thanx for the memories and beat it; unless he's planning on a valet position, I don't see any Major League team signing him.

February 5, 2012  10:25 AM ET

Scott Boras says it is Varitek's decision. Ah, I don't think so. He was fortunate to play last year, only the Red Sox had any interest then, and they are over that now.

February 5, 2012  11:20 AM ET

got to take whatever its left out for you!!

February 5, 2012  11:21 AM ET

pudge rodriguez still waiting for a desperate phone call from a unsettled team!!!

February 5, 2012  11:58 AM ET

He's smart enough to know that 40 year old catchers do not play MLB, so he must need the money badly to keep hanging around. That divorce must have cleaned him out.
Time to move on to the next career.

February 5, 2012  12:01 PM ET
QUOTE(#8):

Time to move on to the next career.

I think Varitek could become a very good manager...many top managers have been catchers.

February 5, 2012  12:25 PM ET

I say follow Heidi Watney to the sunshine state. I'm sure you could find something to put in her catcher's mitt.

February 5, 2012  12:34 PM ET

He has already stayed too long. Production has been diminishing for years and he has been a liability with a bat in his hands, especially after the All Star Break. More importantly, he did not live up to the"C" on his chest last year. As the Captain and Beckett's personal catcher, he could have/should have stopped the beer and chicken nonsense.

February 5, 2012  01:43 PM ET

Be a coach or a commentator. Catchers are usually good at both so why not at this point?

February 5, 2012  03:00 PM ET
QUOTE(#11):

He has already stayed too long. Production has been diminishing for years and he has been a liability with a bat in his hands, especially after the All Star Break. More importantly, he did not live up to the"C" on his chest last year. As the Captain and Beckett's personal catcher, he could have/should have stopped the beer and chicken nonsense.

Agree on all points.
He said he led by example, not by being vocal, but as Captain, when you see it's not going well you have an obligation to say something to the problem-children.

February 5, 2012  03:55 PM ET

This really is a non story. He had a good run and a couple of WS rings to show for it.

February 5, 2012  04:32 PM ET

The only career decision he has now is between selling insurance or used cars.

February 5, 2012  04:32 PM ET

Go the insurance route.

Comment #17 has been removed
Comment #18 has been removed
February 6, 2012  06:12 AM ET
QUOTE(#17):

Good riddance tekky. A Posada and HOFr he will never be...including 5 world series rings btw.

You mean a Posada OR a Hall of Famer? Posada ain't gettin' in without a ticket--not until Jeter and Rivera sneak him in through the Veteran Committee back door in 30-40 years with Bernie and Pettitte and God knows who else. In the meantime, he'll have to take a seat behind two better Yankee catchers that are not in the Hall.

BTW--one of those rings was a freebie; he player 8 games in 96 and didn't even make the post-season roster.

 
February 6, 2012  11:41 AM ET

Retirement: a lifetime of beer and fried chicken await.

In other news, the BoSox say Varitek shows all the skills necessary to come back to Fenway as a coach and show the rookies how the vets do it...

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