Varitek, Red Sox Talking

Then they'll just have to trade Michael Bowden. Texas has no reason to trade one of their young catchers unless they're getting a top young pitching prospect in return. Sorry Sox, you have to give value to get value.

Varitek on more than a 1 year deal would be a bad idea.

That "C" on his chest better stand for cheap.
What's a .220 hitter worth now of days in Boras way of thinking.
.179 with men in scoring position.

Sign Varitek for 2 yrs/8 million. If he wants more, let him walk.

If he walks be happy with what you have for a few years. I don't think you can do much worse.

Either way, go after Mauer in two years. The Yankees will probably end up giving him 6/110 though.

In the end I think the Red Sox and Varitek will come to an agreement because no one else has any interest in him.

"Either way, go after Mauer in two years. The Yankees will probably end up giving him 6/110 though."

Mauer will not get less from the Yankees than Teixeira did. He's a much better player than Teixeira. Maybe fewer years, but not a lower per year salary. Not two years down the road in (hopefully) a better market.

"Varitek's only use to the Sox right now is the draft picks. Although he might just have to choose retirement, as nobody will probably give up the pick to sign Tek. Go use an AAA catcher or something."

Back 1/2 of teams lose no 1st round pick, nor would some teams that may sign another Type A FA. Just getting a comp pick (while saving 8 million) and signing a Zaun type catcher whom is equal to 'Tek defensively and may even be a better hitter may look like a good choice if Boras continues to draw this out and wait until late Jan seeking the impossible. By then, Boston will not wait and have another vet signed and no 'tek then, just as it should be waitng on more of Boras's games.

And we're not talking Texas's catchers and/or top prospects.

Let Varitek walk - Class thing to do is make him a offer (1yr for 2m plus incts) He'll be back. No one wants him hitting 2 bills.

I think the Sox have the perfect high risk, high reward back up catcher to go along with Tek. Jeff Bailey, international league MVP last year was drafted as a catcher. He played there for years until he developed a problem throwing. I'll be honest that there isn't much good information out there regarding his issue, but it looks like it was more of a mental thing than a physical, so I would absolutely give him a shot. He's a 20+ homer 280+ average and 375 obp potential.

CTScott- Jeff Bailey would be low risk, high reward. The Sox don't have to give up anything to get him, and backup catchers are a dime a dozen. There is no risk to giving Bailey the backup slot, but plenty of upside to see if he pans out at catcher.

"I'm pretty sure there are at least 5 AAA catchers throughout MLB who could provide the Varitek package for the league minimum."

Point understood now after your 2nd post, only Boston already has a decent AAA catcher at Pawtucket (Kotteras) out of ML options that can catch a knuckleball and useful for wake, so Sox may be thinking of a vet to teach him better all around defensive skills which is what he is supposedly lacking as he can hit some and has decent power.

Plus, this way the Sox do not have to give up anything for another team's decent AAA catcher when they already have Exposito and Wagner at 1- 1 1/2 years away.

Van Every and Carter might make team, for 4th outfielder spot.
I know this is about catcher, but just want to break up the monotony. Carter can flat out hit, Van Every has been a centerfielder his whole career. Maybe no need for Baldelli.

according to milb.com 26 year old dusty brown hit .290 with a .377 obp in pawtucket last year. however he is hitting .220 with a .369 obp in the fall league though.

plus he caught charlie zink so he has knuckler experience, i think he has a chance to be the backup job over kottaras who only hit .243 with a .348 obp in pawtucket last year.

Varitek could make sense for the Yanks or Mets if Boston doesn't want him.

"Varitek could make sense for the Yanks or Mets if Boston doesn't want him."

i would love that, then the Yanks would have 2 catchers that couldn't throw with him and Posada and probably have to get rid of Molina, the only real catcher that they have, a good thing for Boston and Ellsbury could steal 2nd and 3rd every time ge gets on auto.

Haha the Yanks don't want or need Varitek. Anyway what would Boston get by now, a fourth round pick for compensation?

These Elias ratings are starting to make less and less sense. Varitek's performance last year certainly does not merit a Type A rating. The AL has 14 starting catchers, one for each team, 13 of the 14 are rated. I guess its different for catchers since there are so few of them and they don't get lumped with anyone else. It just doesn't seem to mean much when each catcher is either a Type A or B and nothing less. One option would be to put more in the Type B category and the Type C/no compensation category. This is just more proof that the Elias system needs to be reevaluated and addressed. Here's another interesting thing, in the 06-07 Elias rankings Varitek was a Type B catcher.

Sorry about my mistake in typing high risk (by accident). I guess that must be the biggest blunder ever on these boards.

I'm glad guys like Boston Belongs to Me gets a kick out of it.

As far as disagreeing with the idea in principle; I wasn't saying sign him long-term or hand him the starting gig, but I think Bailey should be given any opportunity he can considering his offensive upside.