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Varitek not out of Red Sox picture

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07:36 AM ET 12.27 | Despite their recent troubles with Scott Boras, the sides continue to exchange ideas on Jason Varitek's potential return. No market has been established for him, made far more difficult by his status as a Type A free agent. A return to Boston, given his needs and the team's needs, is a possibility.

Boston Globe

Jason Varitek, Jim Rogash/Getty Images Jason Varitek, Jim Rogash/Getty Images
December 27, 2008  08:35 AM ET

Hey, like Casey once said of Choo Choo Coleman his first catcher on the first Mets team. You got to have a catcher, or the ball will roll to the screen. Varitek could stop that from happening.

December 27, 2008  09:08 AM ET

That would be comfortable for both sides after all of the rumors that have been floating around. Have I ever said how much I hate Boras?

December 27, 2008  09:24 AM ET

I am a huge Sox fan and I have always admired Tek's ability to manage a pitcher. The guy has caught FOUR no hitters, made three All Star squads and has a gold glove to his credit. As with all mid-thirties catchers, his offesnive skills are in decline. He's averaged arouind 10mil per year over the last three years. Offer him 10 per for two years, club option a third and go after one of those two young studs in Texas or wrestle Mauer away from the Twins.

December 27, 2008  09:31 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

Offer him 10 per for two years, club option a third and go after one of those two young studs in Texas or wrestle Mauer away from the Twins.

first- Mauer will not be wrestled away.....
secondly- they SHOULD go after texas' 2 regardless of what
happens with Varitek

As far as varitek- he's their Captain....
it is an extremely dicey situation

I thnk they should give him a ONE year 8-10 mil deal and then
offer him a 'personal services' contract - so he can either move
to coaching after the year or go to front office.....
- this way, he isn't a 'lame-duck' and can start helping the young
pitching without feeling like he won't be around

December 27, 2008  09:54 AM ET

Just bring back Tek. His leadership and defense is worth it alone and can probably get him on the cheap... 2 years $14 mil. He also comes up big when he needs to...i.e. the home run in game 2 of the ALCS of James Sheilds.

Comment #6 has been removed
December 27, 2008  11:36 AM ET

HE IS NO TYPE A FREE AGENT MABE A B IF LUCKY

December 27, 2008  11:42 AM ET

Offer Tek a one year six million dollar 1 year deal, give him a week to think about then if he hasn't signed pull it off the table. He never should have turned down the ten million dollar 1 year deal he had on the table and unfortunately now Tek and Boras need to learn a valuable lesson.

December 27, 2008  11:54 AM ET

No one else is going to give him big money to play. His choices are few, so are the Red Sox since they do not want to give anything in a trade for a catcher..

December 27, 2008  12:20 PM ET

There is no void as far as setting the market for Varitek. The Posada signing establishes at least a base from which to work. The big difference, of course, is that Posada was coming off a great year, and Varitek is coming off one of his worst. Although it shouldn't, that is going to work strongly into the construction of any contract. Two years with a team option on a third at around 15 per when all the smoke has cleared would be my guess.

December 27, 2008  01:19 PM ET
QUOTE(#10):

There is no void as far as setting the market for Varitek. The Posada signing establishes at least a base from which to work. The big difference, of course, is that Posada was coming off a great year, and Varitek is coming off one of his worst. Although it shouldn't, that is going to work strongly into the construction of any contract. Two years with a team option on a third at around 15 per when all the smoke has cleared would be my guess.

there is no way he is getting more than 8 per year. The red sox have all of the power in the negotiations considering nobody want to give up a 1st round draft pick for a catcher who is over the hill. He will end up with the sox on a two year deal that will make Tek regret listening to Boras about declining arbitration.

December 27, 2008  01:22 PM ET

They are probably afraid that he has lost it all as a hitter. Do you know how many RBIs Tek had after June 1? He had 24, and that includes the playoffs.

In September and the playoffs combined, he went 15-94 with 7 RBIs, striking out 27 times. That's a batting average of .160 . He looked like a AA minor leaguer, hacking at each pitch.

There is legitimate reason to fear that Tek is now a sub .200 hitter. His stroke is completely messed up. And he is going to be 37 in April.

Even if the Sox sign him, they may still be in desperate need of a catcher.

December 27, 2008  01:38 PM ET
QUOTE(#11):

there is no way he is getting more than 8 per year. The red sox have all of the power in the negotiations considering nobody want to give up a 1st round draft pick for a catcher who is over the hill. He will end up with the sox on a two year deal that will make Tek regret listening to Boras about declining arbitration.

After Posada got 20 mil for four, I don't see Tek accepting 8 for 2. He is more valuable to the Sox than Posada is to the Yanks, last seasons BA notwithstanding. You're probably right abour Boras, though. He isn't going to get what he thought he was from Tek or Manny. People are finally starting to get sick of him and his slimey ways.

December 27, 2008  04:57 PM ET

good. now you can leave joe mauer alone

December 27, 2008  06:27 PM ET

Tek is not worth ten million a year

December 27, 2008  06:28 PM ET
QUOTE(#13):

After Posada got 20 mil for four, I don't see Tek accepting 8 for 2. He is more valuable to the Sox than Posada is to the Yanks, last seasons BA notwithstanding. You're probably right abour Boras, though. He isn't going to get what he thought he was from Tek or Manny. People are finally starting to get sick of him and his slimey ways.

Says who? Go away Yankee fan. No one wants your opinion. Go to your own board

December 27, 2008  06:40 PM ET

If I were Theo, I think I'd rather get the two draft picks than re-sign Tek at $16M over 2 years.

I haven't read anything that said he's gotten an offer from another team. Given that it is almost Jan 1, I'd say the upper hand in these negotiations is Theo's.

December 27, 2008  07:01 PM ET
QUOTE(#16):

Says who? Go away Yankee fan. No one wants your opinion. Go to your own board

That's great when the Boras fans speak up. Lets the public education community know there's plenty more work to do.

December 27, 2008  07:23 PM ET

That's the best news yankee fans got all year ahahahhaa.. I hope and pray the sawx bring him back so I can laugh at his 200. Batting avg . You Got lucky twice your runs over get back in the basement were you belong !!!

 
December 27, 2008  08:20 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

first- Mauer will not be wrestled away.....secondly- they SHOULD go after texas' 2 regardless of whathappens with VaritekAs far as varitek- he's their Captain....it is an extremely dicey situation I thnk they should give him a ONE year 8-10 mil deal and thenoffer him a 'personal services' contract - so he can either moveto coaching after the year or go to front office.....- this way, he isn't a 'lame-duck' and can start helping the youngpitching without feeling like he won't be around

Sounds reasonable to me.

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