The Red Sox and Jason Varitek are in the final stages of a new multi-year contract for the 53-year-old to return to the team’s coaching staff, MassLive.com’s Sean McAdam reports. The official announcement “is expected soon,” McAdam writes, and chances are the two sides may just be waiting until either the end of the World Series or until an off-day. The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier writes that Varitek has agreed to a new deal.
Varitek has been part of Boston’s coaching staff in each of the last five seasons, all as a game-planning coordinator. He was also a catching coach from 2021-24, but his job title was switched to game-planning and run prevention coach prior to this season. It isn’t known if he’ll return to that job or if Varitek might have some different responsibilities in 2026, but whatever the capacity, he’ll be back as a trusted member of Alex Cora’s staff.
Most coaches generally operate on year-to-year contracts, but Varitek’s previous deal was a three-year pact covering the 2023-25 seasons. McAdam speculates that Varitek’s forthcoming contract could be a two-year deal, in order to line Varitek up with Cora (whose contract is up after the 2027 campaign).
Acquired from the Mariners in a trade at the 1997 deadline, Varitek spent his entire 15-season playing career in a Red Sox uniform, and he has remained with the organization since he retired from on-field action. He worked as a special assistant within the front office before also taking on a roving catching instructor role in 2020, prior to his formal designation as part of the big league coaching staff in 2021.
Every team now has an army of coaches, with seemingly redundant titles. “Game planning coach?” “Run prevention coach?” “Catching instructor” does not sound crazy, but an MLB team having a full time catching instructor was unheard of not too long ago.
What is the role of the manager? It seems as if they aren’t really “coaching” these days.
It seems as if managers are expected to deal with the media, relate to players, and keep their players motivated.
That makes it hard for me to understand why teams are more amenable to managers who have never played professional baseball.
I’m open to being the “I thought I heard something” coach.
I would definitely pass on the “I think someone farted” coaching position if offered.
Didn’t the Rangers have an “associate Manager” and an “Offensive Coordinator”? MLB teams are starting to sound like NFL teams…
I hope you don’t mind if I ask this here again, but what exactly does Jason Varitek provide in the area of skill?
What really does he bring to the table?
The only thing that comes to mind for me is loyalty. That’s it.
I’m sure there’s things I’m overlooking or there’s things obviously the team likes or they wouldn’t keep bringing him back.
But I’m genuinely curious what those things are.
Why is he considered such a valuable coach and everybody pushing for him to be the next manager of the team?
It has to be more than, “he’s an ex catcher and catchers make great managers.”
There has to be more to it than that right?
I read an article that said that teams hire a huge amount of redundant coaches to just keep good baseball people in the organization, and to not see them sign elsewhere.
Varitek will be “Game Planning and Run Prevention Coach.” Hmmmm, what exactly will the manager and bench coach do? Won’t his “run prevention coaching” lead to conflicts with the pitching coach?
the 1b and 3b coach typically were tasked with either coaching the infielders or the outfielders. Is that still a thing?
If you don’t know, read a couple of books on the role of a catcher. The position is called the field general. Good ones manage both the pitching staff and the defense from behind the plate on a pitch by pitch basis. That’s all you need to know to determine what his skills are that make him qualified to manage.
Look around MLB. Why do you think so many catchers are managers and coaches?
Oh my goodness. “Catchers make great managers.”
OK so that’s the reason why you’re going to hire Jason Varitek. Got it.
Since you don’t like the answer I gave you, which was much more than catchers make great managers, go to your local library. Your answers are there. Can’t educate the unwilling.
What are you talking about? I’m asking a simple question based on your assertion.
But you can’t back it up and you tell me to go to the library?
OK great. I appreciate the direction. Thank you.
Let me state it this way. Why would you hire Jason Varitek as your next manager? What would separate him from any other catcher, or are you simply stating, find a catcher, hire him and you’re all set?
It’s not my intention to pick on you personally. I’m just curious why Jason Varitek in particular ?
Why anyone if that’s the case. Why Steven Vogt? Why Craig Counsell? (I know he’s not a C). Why Kevin Cash?
There are things that guys bring to a team that is well above your or my understanding of the game.
I look at MLB managers like what the role of the president or any CEO should be. An immense understanding of the big picture, with people underneath them that understand more micro elements of the job much better than even the top dog.
Gary, it was known when he played, JV was managerial material. The way he controlled the staff (Wake’s knuckleball aside), his take no prisoners attitude and ability to relate to all were all easy to see then. He’s been the manager in waiting for when Cora moves up forever and his wife’s recent comments were likely to troll fans, having fun. While Cora as the next team president concerns me, having JV ready to take over
seems set.
Why are you so negative?
Gary..let me ask you this..can you explain what all of the other people employed on the major league staff bring to the table, Including Cora? ..not the medical staff..thats pretty obvious.
But the base coaches..bench coach..what do they bring to the table can you detail thier day to day work for us so we have some context about them vs tek?…then maybe we can help answer your question on what team brings and does
Poolhalljunkies OK I can see your point here.
But I don’t have an answer for you as it relates to how other coaches and managers perform at the MLB level. I guess the judgment begins with looking at the results?
So as it relates to Tek, you may as well give him his shot because he seems to have what it takes, so why not?
He’s proven himself along the way, so it’s the logical next step. Might as well give it a try.
OK, fair enough.
Gary: I think we can assume Tek has a lot of baseball knowledge from his many years of playing and that he also has knowledge of what it takes to win a World Series in Boston. I think we can also assume he has good leadership skills as he was the captain of the Red Sox when he played. I would definitely want Tek on my coaching staff and I think he would probably be a fine manager.
I always assumed the organization was grooming him to be their ideal future manager.
Maybe the plan is that he takes Cora’s role after his current deal expires and Cora moves into the FO?
Kind of torn about that, but I think Tek would be a good manager. I just kind of trust him. Maybe that’s because he was a key part of the Sox when I was growing up but…
He should be HC now!
HC????????????????????
Happy camper
Wrong sport.
Tardaddy, Why should he be the manager of the Red Sox?
I don’t think he’d be interested in working for the Houston Chronicle.
And doesn’t have the build to ride the Tour de France.
Eventually Tek will be manager when Cora moves up into the front office.
Why would you hire Jason Varitek to be the manager?
Why wouldn’t I hire him to be the manager?
Lol. See this is what I mean. Crickets. Nobody can give me a reason.
Mind you, I’m not saying there isn’t a reason. I just want to know what it is.
Love your answer, though. Totally expected.
Because he has a great baseball mind. He was captain of The Sox when he was a catcher. He had succes at the Little League, College and Major League levels. Why wouldn’t you want him to coach and manage your team? It makes almost zero sense to question why a guy like Tek would be a good coach.
Varitek was renowned in his playing days for calling games, and was a clubhouse leader in the team’s strongest years (or the start of them, depending how you measure the era).
He’s had roles on the team where he’s able to observe all the moving parts. Personnel decisions in the front office, and in-game decisionmaking— no doubt based on analytics, but also his feel for the game as former player. I always thought he’d be a great future manager!
Why would anyone want Cora as a GM?
Future Red Sox manager ready to step in when the Cora expiration date gets here.
May I ask you mab51357, why would you hire Jason Varitek as manager?
What separates him from all the other candidates?
Lots of the same reasons whyhayzee also stated. Seems like a natural candidate to me. He was tough as nails, a really good catcher who worked with some great pitchers and well respected around MLB.
OK, that helps. Thanks for the follow up.
No catcher, not even Pudge Fisk, meant more to this franchise.
He caught 4 no-hitters and would have caught more if the pitcher had not shaken off his sign.
He understood the opposing batters better than their own coaches.
He subjugated his ego every time another catcher was brought on the team that might play more than him.
He insisted to his agent (Boras) that he would stay on the Red Sox.
And lastly, he easily manhandled Aroid, which was the turning point in the 2004 season.
He understood the opposing batters better than their own coaches.
OK, this is good. A solid concrete answer. I appreciate it. It makes sense.
You’re welcome, I sensed your frustration.
Of course, there’s no guarantee he will turn out to be a great manager, but I think he has a great head for the game as it’s being played.
Yes, definitely. There’s so many great baseball minds on this website who comment regularly, I figured I could find my answer, but perhaps it’ll come later today or this evening? Yours makes sense though and is well written. Thanks again.
This seems like a good move.
The “Game Planning Coordinator” is the liaison between the analytics division, the onfield staff, and the players. Analytics produces reams of data throughout the year, season and off-season; everything from assessing high school, college and international players, evaluating the development of coaches and talent within the minor league system, scouting upcoming opponents, identifying strengths, weaknesses, proclivities and tendencies – the list is endless. Some of that information goes to individual game planning, some is more procedural and systematic, but the game planning material goes to a specific field level coach who consults with the manager, the other coaches, and, most importantly, perhaps, the players, for both pre-game and in-the-moment strategy.
The skillset is fit for a basketball lifer who has the veteran experience to make analytic input actionable – it’s a specialty skill that the manager does not have time to take on on a day-to-day basis. The manager relies on input from a hitting coach, input from a pitching coach, input from the medical staff, and input from a game coordinator coach, the guy who huddles with the analytics department.
The Red Sox, like most modern day teams, have an extensive group of Research and Development staffers. There’s a Director of Baseball Sciences, a Director of Baseball Systems, a Director of Baseball Technology, and a Director of Baseball Analytics. Each of these Director level employees heads up a staff of biomechanics, data engineers, coordinators, etc.
If you’re still thinking that Alex Cora pats nine guys on the butt and says “Get out there and win one for the fans!”, you’re a bit behind the times. Leo Durocher speaks your language.
Jason Varitek is a trusted organizational guy, a grizzled veteran who has (apparently) expressed an interest in management. He’s trusted by the players, he’s trusted by management, he’s trusted by ownership, and the Red Sox are well advised to leverage his knowledge base and his skillset to apply analytics to team performance. While he helps the current team, he continues to develop skills and experience that might eventually make him a successful management candidate, whether for the Sox or someone else.
Game planning coordinator and run prevention coach lol!
Nice to see Tek back for another year
Bringing that drunken fool back for more
Catching Instructor:
At first glance it sounds fine. But might the CI feel compelled to frequently give advice? This might make the catchers overthink things, and they might become annoyed by the CI. Or the CI does not give enough advice and his job is put in question.
I don’t see how this would be any different from a pitching or hitting coach. Catching is it’s own specific role, and learning from a coach is always helpful.