Odds and Ends: Aurilia, Vazquez, Al Reyes, Varitek

Id be nervous if i were varitek, the numbers are way down and the talks for salty seem to have some truth to them, they wont go away. If the sox acquire salty, its probably pretty much over for tek, which would seriously seriously suck. i want tek to stay, even with the low numbers

i think varitek stays with the sox, his numbers are down enough that another team wont blow the sox lesser offer out of the water.
i think he starts regularly next year but in a platoon (he handles 2-3 pitchers instead of 4... lester definitely being one as well as any other young starters that might need to pick his brain)
he filed for divorce this season as well, so more rest and resolution might help his numbers rebound slightly in 09.
2 year deal for $12 mil with incentives. its a paycut, but familiarity will help.

Reasons why varitek will remain a member of the Red Sox, and why he will probably get a two year deal out of them (though he has said the longevity of the contract is not of concern to him and he doesn't seem to mind a year to year):

1) he has caught more no hitters than any catcher in the HISTORY if the game. That says something about pitch calls, keeping the pitchers head on straight (especially with bucholz and lester) ect.
2) Young pitching staff that loves him, feels comfortable and has OBVIOUSLY benefit from his presence (Lester and bucholz all the way back to Papelbon and Beckett).
3) The hitting isn't that inexcusable. Your average catcher this year is around the .250-.260 mark. I'm willing to deal with his bat and I think the Sox feel they have enough pop in the line up to take a chance.

You have a pitching staff that has been very successful with Varitek behind the plate. You are not going to see him move until someone else fills THAT void.