Varitek, Red Sox Working On Deal?

"Varitek, 36, is looking for a four-year deal worth $40MM"

LOL!

He better take 2 yrs with Boston. I cant see 4 yrs happening unless its a team that has a young catcher waiting in the wings. Jason can DH after he cant be a catcher anymore

Personally I hope he is not resigned, another year of this guys hitting will kill me.

4 years 40 mill, bwahahaha

@HHHHHHHHH:

Actually, he can't DH later on... he's not worth the lineup spot offensively... but bring him back for his work with opposing hitters and with our rotation alone.... 2 years.... 19-22M

"Jason can DH after he cant be a catcher anymore"
-AHAHA

seriously, if he wasnt "jason varitek" he would be getting the deal that josh bard just got.

Good riddance Jason. Have fun in Japan.

One thing about that atricle is missing is since last contract he has averaged 112K'S a season. That is terrible for a guy that does not hit HR'S or at least drive in runs.

I see this as simple if he does not take what is offered, they look elsewhere.

Great news for Yankees fans. I was worried the Sox would be smart and give up something that they have a lot of for something they have little of.

ie. Pitching prospect Bucholz for catching prospect Saltalamachia

Having Veritek in that lineup for the next two years is going to be a beautiful sight. Him and his big red "C".

"People don't realize that Posada got his contract from the Yankees. The Yankees will spend $40+ million on an old catcher who's washed up (aka Jorge Posada) just because of a stellar offensive season. If Posada had asked the Sox for that contract he would have gotten the same response that Tek is currently getting. You are over 35, You get a 2 year deal for a little bit more than a bengie molina, and that's it."

thats funny, if you give Tek anymore then $10m then thats a joke. atleast Jorge can still hit, if you give this guy $10m for catching a ball? We have a guy like that, JOSE Molina, for $1m

It's time for Tek to play somewhere else or retire. The Sox should just sign Zaun if they cant trade for a good young catcher. Tek chose to explore the market, the Sox owe him nothing.

Wow, and these are Sox fans pounding on their former captain? The guy was a rock for two world champion teams, with a pretty clutch bat, too. The team should avoid resigning him for anything more than a backup's pay, yes, but hell, at least tip your cap to him as he goes out the door.

This four years $40 mil thing shouldn't be taken seriously as Tek's demand. It's got nothing to do with Jason. It's just Scott being Scott. D'ya notice a pattern? Boras asks for something no one else could do with a straight face, claims it is reasonable when compared to the worst overpaid contract at that position in history...and then he waits for the price to fall below that ludicrous starting point and end up at only laughable. It's a ploy that works again and again.

I'm assuming it won't work in Boston in this case---Theo isn't as sentimental as Cashman---but some other team might be tricked into thinking they'll have a strong leader who'll be a bridge to their prospect.

4 yrs 40 million has Varitek lost his mind???? This paycheck for a catcher who hit .235, .255, .220 give me a break! He's a useless bat and for being able to call a good game he's deserves that kind of paycheck? I don't care who you are at age 36 a catcher's skill will diminish and fast. Cmon he should be grateful to get half of that for the dismal numbers he puts up. As for anyone saying he could DH give me a break, you obviously haven't seen this guy bat.

I'm surprised by how many people are saying not to bring back Varitek... Sox fans saying it.

It isn't about whether or not that opinion is right... it's just shocking the change in mentality... the "what have you done for me lately" mentality.

Belichick, Pioli, Epstein have all had their effect on this region... and it's a good thing.

We all knew this news was coming. Boras is smart enough to know that no other team is going to be willing to give up any sort of draft pick for Varitek and pay him. Only suitor is the Sox. If Zaun is signed, Tek will probably go teamless.

Ok..well Michael young is owed 16 mil per with a no trade clause..But id def consider Hamilton in a deal..Why is everybody so gaga over salty? Just get tek for a year or two or just platoon that position for a couple years and offer Mauer a ton of $$$ and years in 2010. ALL Sox fans appreciated what Tek has meant to this team..but when you whine cause your pinch hit for,your barely hitting over 200,and your asking for 4/40mil...C'mon!! Even asking for that amount and holding out this long was ridiculous..

I agree Cyyoung...Like I said,Maybe Hamilton..Only because he is a natural talent and just got himself in a bad place a few years ago..I dont care for salty or Young..Theo is one of the most creative GM's in the biz.Im wondering your thoughts on Baldelli coming to Boston to platoon the OF.

Is Tek looking for 4/40 or is it Boras.

Honestly, as a Sox fan, if Tek personally thinks he is worth 4/40 - get rid of him, that is a detachment from reality that is troubling.

Cyyoung, I still want to get rid of Gabbard and Murphy for Gagne. Gagne was having a good season and was worth the risk, he sucked, don't blame it all on Theo.

Gabbard wouldn't make the Pawtucket starting rotation, and Murphy wouldn't play in Boston, need RH CF bat, something he isn't. Same as Moss, decent player, never a fit with Boston.

If Tek comes back on a small deal thats fine, if its Bard/ Zaun/ or whomever else, I am also ok with it. Honestly Bard/ Kottaras wouldn't overly bother me, Kottaras has some pop.

Wish we had those 2 now for ammo on Salty trade. Gabbard is going to be alright. Murphy had a hell of a year last year,

We got a couple great picks for Gagne too..Good looking prospects..

Yeah I believe he was 19-20..Rocco is a "natural" ball player too..Too bad about his medical issues..But when I saw him jack a high inside pitch out of the park in The WS this year,I knew He still has that pop that we desperately need from the right side off the bench. Cant go wrong at about 2-4 mil per.Local boy factor too..

With Baldelli/Bailey from the right side and a Carter/Van Every from the left side..theres your platoon outfield..carters defense is still suspect though..I think Rocco would be fine playing 2 or even 3 times a week..At least thats what his doctors are saying with the new diagnosis.If something were to happen to Rocco,They have the pieces in AAA to get the job done..

so your bench is Baldelli, Carter, Catcher and Lugo?

I could live with that.

Its not a little funny that the other team quite interested in Lugo, the Mets, are stuck with Castillo, a contract that makes Lugo's deal seem like a winner.

You can see a Crisp thing happening with Lugo, keep him on board, rebuild value, and then trade him for final year. If only he could throw a baseball you could trade him, he provided a decent OBP in 2008, though no SLG.

Lol..thats true..One more year..yeah ,Thats the more likely scenario..Ya know with Lugo, hes gonna give ya 20-30 errors a year and chuck the ball into the 5th row every 10th throw..but if his bat can come around again and hes a great clubhouse guy,his value will go up a bit..I still think nobodys gonna want to pay him 9mil..even if for 1 year..Theo will have to get creative on this one if he wants him gone..

the only problem is that lugo can't throw, as a bench player, at least don't lose us the game..

Yeah..your gonna see a lot of deals this week..Im really not as worried as I see a lot of sox fan are..We got a solid lineup and pitching staff..I also dont think Theo is done dealing yet..Hes gonna pull something off like he does every year..we'll be just fine this year without giving up the farm to do it..I for one am impressed with the philosophy of the management on our farm system..We got some good kids down there where we can pick up a couple of pieces via FA and keep the farm intact..Id still offer Mauer 25mil/8yrs in 2010..

Ok ..maybe 20mil

I saw Mauer many times here in New Britain, the Twins farm team AA. Man if we could get him!! Real nice young gentleman too.

yup..sox have already made it clear that they really want him..6'5 and 230,hits 300+, power, and solid behind the plate..yeah, Id drop over 20mil per on him and lock him up for a while..and hes NOT a Borass client!!

There IS a ton of good young talent out there..Ive also seen that kid play..hes a keeper..The O's got some good kids in the system..I see some people complaining about not getting Tex..Truth is, he was a luxury..The Front office is thinking long term.I really dont think Tex is worth the 23.5 the Yanks payed for him IMHO..Mauer would be worth it cause we NEED a catcher..We got a bunch of kids that are gonna be ready to come to the big show in 2010..should be good..

I remeber when trade was made for Beckett and Lowell, and the good things Beckett said about him. He was the true leader on that club that won the WS, for the Marlins.

Yeah..If your gonna deal some of your young talent, Hanley/Anibel ,You couldnt ask for anything more than the deal we got..Im fully satisfied with that trade without a doubt..

Little bear...I just dont think anyone is gonna pay Lugo 9mil per ,thats all.. would you? Prob going to have to eat some of it just to get rid of him.. doesnt have to be bad deal for bad deal but thats where you'll have to eat some of it..I like the Bloomquist idea though..

chowdah: "Little bear...I just dont think anyone is gonna pay Lugo 9mil per ,thats all.. would you? Prob going to have to eat some of it just to get rid of him.. doesnt have to be bad deal for bad deal but thats where you'll have to eat some of it"

Oh I agree completely. The only way to get rid of Lugo without taking another bad deal in return is to find some low payroll team that needs a SS or 2B, but can't (or won't) afford a good one, and the Sox pay most of Lugo's salary to play there. That allows the other team to put their money into some other position and get marginally better.

When Spring training opens, could still make deal for Lugo, injuries happen, and teams make deals. Kids that teams are banking on just are not cutting it, so patience here I suppose. Cora I like also, I think good veteran to have and he likes Boston. He is willing to come back at reasonable price too.

Baldelli and Cora this week and I would say New Year is starting out alright. Varitek, well longer you wait the lower the price. Managemnet has not forgotten the Teixeira situation. I know I wouldn't.

Maybe by July Lugo will get his act together and be gone...Yup, not ideal but workable..

Zack: Jorge is washed up. His shoulder is shot. What he says and what the doctors say are contradicting.

He's sub-par behind the plate, he doesn't develop his pitchers well (as we see with Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, Joba can throw 100MPH not much a catchers gotta do there). He's gonna be forced back behind the plate when the more sensible thing to do would have been to move Jorge to 1B (rather than sign Teix) where he can rest his shoulder, keep Pudge as your cather (who is excellent with young pitchers, he helped develop guys like Josh Beckett and Brad Penny, funny enough both of whom are Red Sox now), and then sign Manny Ramirez so your outfield would be Ramirez, Damon, Nady.

Tek may not have a good arm but he's one of the top CATCHERS in baseball. Hitting is very secondary when you look at that position.

well cora didnt have any power but could bunt real good and was a good fielder/clubhouse guy...I think the power has to come from the outfield bench guy not so much middle infielder,although that would be ideal..

Not to mention his usual batting average is above the league average. He's a switch hitter which Theo loves. And he will make guys like Jon Lester continue to succeed. Bucholz will rebound as well. There is a reason the Sox are reluctant to trade him. He's nasty.

Good defensive catcher with a sturdy frame. Excellent at throwing runners out. Average to slightly above average at blocking balls in the dirt. Calls a good game, but needs to improve framing pitches. Nimble behind the plate, looks good fielding bunts. Previously projected as a potential elite defensive catcher, Wagner's defensive development seemed to slow somewhat in 2008.

Wagner MAYBE. But as they say he needs more time. Thats what the 2 years are for.

I want To make a solid run at Mauer in 2010...no questions.if we dont get him then Wagner/Kottaras/Exposito or whoever should be ready to hit the big show..

Tek is not a top catcher in baseball, this isnt 2003. Jose Molina is better then Tek.

"I never was on the Tex bandwagon anyways"
"Never wanted Tex anyways"
-Please you guys are jokes.

Mauer will NEVER leave the Twins
-He's a hometown boy, they took him over Mark Prior #1 because of that fact. Twins will give him $30m a year if thats what it takes. (someone said he has power, which is false he does not)

Twins have one of the cheapest owners in baseball, 30 million a year. That is one I will hold judgement on.

chowdah: "I want To make a solid run at Mauer in 2010...no questions."

If the Sox don't trade for Mauer now, they're never going to get him. The Yankees, with their unlimited resources, will just outbid the Sox once Mauer becomes a FA. The only time the Sox have been able to outbid the Yankees in recent years was the sealed bid for Dice-K.

Trade would have to start with Bucholz and Bowden, Riddick I would think have to be included too, maybe catcher, Esposito.

Im all for that..will have to give up the farm though..look at what they wanted for santana..some key parts that helped us a ton this year and for years to come..if the sox only go after 1 guy with that kind of money and they want/need him,I think they have the resources to bid with NYY.Your only gonna go so high no matter who it is.Remember, the sox dont have a bunch of players with ridiculous contracts and by 2010 they will have even lower payroll because of the young talent in the system coming up..Bottom line, i believe the management will make the best move for the team whether FA or a trade..I have faith in them..

I agree chowdah,
If management were going to make big trade this would be the one. Young great efensive catcher who can flat out hit. Only position that needs improvement on at this moment. Work with Twins so it is a fair trade. One thing about Twins they are not afraid of using young kids. Actually their front office is run very good. I dont see how they compete with high priced teams.