Reactions To Jason Varitek Signing
Here are some reactions to the Jason Varitek signing. To recap, the Red Sox will pay him $5MM this year, and they’ll have the option of bringing him back for the same price in 2010. If the Red Sox don’t exercise their option, Varitek can exercise a $3MM player option with incentives.
- Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports understands how Varitek thought he had more value on the open market than he really did.
- ESPN.com’s Rob Neyer says Varitek "gambled and lost," and the Red Sox did well.
- Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe thinks the Red Sox did well to keep Varitek since he provides depth and experience. Massarotti also has details on ‘Tek’s incentives.
- The Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan argues that Varitek’s was lucky to get at least $8MM considering he’s in "obvious decline."
Salty, Teagarden Likely To Remain Rangers
Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram notes that the signing of Jason Varitek "should end any more talk of Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden being traded to Boston."
Saltalamacchia will head into spring training atop the Rangers’ catching depth chart, but Teagarden can win himself consideration with a strong showing in camp. Salty, 23, hit .253 last season with three home runs and 26 RBI in 198 at-bats. Teagarden, 25, batted .319 with six dingers and 17 RBI in 47 at-bats during a short time with the big league club.
Jason Varitek, Red Sox Reach Agreement
1:28pm: Contract details from Massarotti:
Varitek will earn $5MM in 2009, with the club holding a $5MM option for 2010. If the Red Sox do not pick up that option, Varitek has the choice of remaining with the club on a $3MM deal. In ’10, he can earn another $2MM in incentives based on playing time, beginning at 80 games started. The incentives apply to the player option only.
The Boston Herald breaks down the 2010 bonuses. ESPN’s Jayson Stark and Jerry Crasnick add:
Had he declined or not responded, the team was gearing up to trade for another catcher.
1:01pm: From Jon Heyman: the Red Sox reached an agreement on a two-year deal with Varitek.
12:38pm: Nothing too huge here, but check out Massarotti’s latest. He says a resolution is expected by day’s end.
8:57am: Joe McDonald of the Providence Journal says there’s no morning deadline, though "a decision is likely to be made by this afternoon." WEEI’s Alex Speier and ESPN’s Jayson Stark heard something similar.
8:35am: So that deadline on Boston’s contract offer to Jason Varitek…what time zone is it in? Tony Massarotti believes it’s 11:30 EST. As Massarotti has said, Varitek is "seriously considering sitting out the 2009 season or retiring rather than accepting the offer."
Jason Varitek Rumors: Thursday
7:58pm: Alex Speier of WEEI provides us with a Varitek-relevant quote from Curt Schilling’s appearance on the Big Show:
“I’ve talked with Jason a couple different times about this. I think there’s probably some discussion going on around the parameters of a deal since it was put on the table. In fact, I know there (has been). I think you’re going to end up with a deal that nets Jason the $10 million over two years, somehow guaranteed or tied into some incentives, that keeps him here, or I think he might end up taking the one-year deal. I’m not positive, but at the end of the day I think it’s going to be Jason Varitek catching for the Boston Red Sox, which is really all I care about."
5:01pm: Former teammate Sean Casey had this to say on the MLB Network Thursday:
"I’d be shocked if ‘Tek doesn’t come back to Boston. The fans love him there. The guys in that clubhouse love ‘Tek. I can’t imagine Jason Varitek putting on a uniform besides the Boston Red Sox. I saw him a few weeks ago. I know he wants to come back to the Red Sox. So I hope they get that done. I think it would be good for both sides, no doubt about it, especially that pitching staff."
3:50pm: Varitek faces a Friday morning (8:30am) deadline, says Tony Massarotti. Massarotti’s source adds that Varitek is "very seriously considering the option of sitting out the 2009 season and/or retiring rather than accepting the contract offer made to him last week."
Massarotti adds that the Red Sox are expected to reopen trade talks for Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Miguel Montero, independent of Varitek.
9:55am: A quote from WEEI’s Michael Holley in regard to Jason Varitek this morning:
"I have moles who have told me if the deadline were today, no deal." Catch the audio here, about 13 minutes in.
The deadline is tomorrow. Michael Silverman noted today that if Varitek declines the current $5MM plus an option offer, the Red Sox would either move on or make a lesser offer.
Odds and Ends: Kotsay, Redding
Links for Thursday…
- RotoAuthority ranks the catchers for fantasy baseball.
- Dave Cameron reminds us that talented minor leaguers often have delayed success in the bigs.
- MLB.com’s Mychael Urban talked to Mark Kotsay, who did not enjoy the free agent experience.
- MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone transcribes a Tim Redding MLB Network interview, where it was revealed that the Rockies, Pirates, and Orioles had interest before the pitcher signed with the Mets.
Rosenthal On Abreu, Garland, Glavine, Sisco
The latest from Ken Rosenthal…
- The Mariners and Giants are interested in Bobby Abreu, if the price is right. Yesterday Buster Olney suggested that Abreu is willing to take a one-year deal. The A’s and Nationals have other targets, while the Mets, White Sox, and Braves are seen as long shots.
- Rosenthal examines the nuances of Jon Garland‘s December 7th decision to reject arbitration, saying that it wasn’t an obvious mistake at the time.
- Tom Glavine‘s agent Gregg Clifton did not attend yesterday’s meeting with Frank Wren; it was a health update and not a contract negotiation. Rosenthal says Glavine figures to seek a Freddy Garcia-like deal. The Braves need to save money to add an outfielder, with Nick Swisher atop their list. The Yankees’ goal in moving Swisher or Xavier Nady would be to recoup prospects.
- The Brewers are not interested in projects such as Kris Benson, Jason Jennings, Mark Redman, and Victor Zambrano. They’re just lukewarm on Mark Mulder. Benson is drawing interest from the Dodgers, Rangers, and Cardinals; one exec reviewed his audition as "so-so."
- Rosenthal doesn’t seem to buy the idea that Jason Varitek and Scott Boras feared the Red Sox could cut him if he accepted arbitration, noting that Boras client Travis Lee was advised to accept years ago.
- The Braves have reservations about re-signing Andruw Jones, who could be a Spring Training cut.
- The A’s deal for Russ Springer will be worth more than $3MM plus incentives. They’re also eyeing Brian Shouse and Andrew Sisco as possible pen additions. Sisco, recovering from Tommy John, has also auditioned for the Rockies and Giants.
Jason Varitek Rumors: Tuesday
7:24pm: Massarotti notes that the exact date of the deadline is still a bit fuzzy. Either way, he writes that "it is possible that a resolution will be unknown until early Saturday."
5:13pm: CBSSports.com is reporting that Varitek has only until Friday to accept or decline either deal.
12:12pm: A source told Massarotti Varitek can choose between a one-year, $5MM deal or the deal with a dual option for 2010.
8:19am: A summary of what we learned recently: the Red Sox made an offer to Jason Varitek for $5MM in ’09 plus a $5MM club/$3MM player option for ’10. The offer has a Saturday deadline attached, with Varitek and the team putting other options on hold until the situation plays out.
A new tidbit from Tony Massarotti: the offer was made near the end of last week. Massarotti still contends that Varitek may prefer a straight one-year deal.
Red Sox Invite Six More To Camp
The Red Sox have extended six more non-roster spring training invitations. Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe compiled the list:
Infielders Angel Chavez, Nick Green and Ivan Ochoa; outfielder Chip Ambres; right-hander pitcher Fernando Cabrera; and catcher Carlos Maldonado.
Jason Varitek Rumors: Monday
11:26pm: According to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald, the Red Sox have set a Saturday deadline for their offer to Varitek. Silverman does not expect the Sox to sweeten their offer. He adds that Varitek "is believed to have instructed his agent not to discuss monetary terms with any other teams during the entire free agent process." For their part, the Red Sox will wait on Varitek before pursuing a trade for a catcher.
5:55pm: Rob Neyer of ESPN.com believes the Red Sox will get what they want no matter what: A cheap Varitek or no Varitek at all.
12:24pm: Tony Massarotti confirms Bradford’s numbers on Boston’s offer. The incentives are based on awards rather than health or playing time. Massarotti suggests Varitek could prefer to eliminate the ’10 option.
9:26am: Yesterday, WEEI’s Rob Bradford wrote that the Red Sox made this offer to Jason Varitek: $5MM for ’09, with a $5MM club/$3MM player option for ’10. The offer has a deadline attached.
The Boston Herald’s Michael Silverman writes today that the one-year plus an option offer to Varitek is worth between $3-5MM. He believes the Red Sox are "unwilling to wait much longer" and unwilling to budge much.
Jon Heyman wrote on Thursday:
It’s still a mystery to many why Varitek didn’t take arbitration. And even Red Sox owner John Henry asked Varitek in their well-publicized meeting a week ago why he didn’t take the arbitration offer. The reason is that Varitek didn’t believe that accepting arbitration would guarantee him a spot on the team.
Buster Olney called this notion "laughable" in today’s blog, labeling it as a Scott Boras talking point to cover for a poor decision. Peter Gammons agrees.
Offer For Varitek, With Deadline
Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports that the Red Sox have made an offer to Jason Varitek.
Varitek would be paid $5MM for 2009. The offer also includes a team option for 2010 at $5MM, as well as a player option for $3MM. The deal includes a deadline, but that date is not known by Bradford.