By Tim Dierkes | at
According to Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have a proposal on the table for Jason Varitek. However, the two sides have not made recent progress on a deal. Varitek "has not given up hope of securing a two-year deal," according to Massarotti’s source.
More realistically, I am guessing Tek can accept around $4MM on a one-year deal. If he’s really stubborn he can wait until after the June draft, but it’d take a desperate team to give him more than a few million for a half-season.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Links for Monday…
By Nat Boyle | at
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has a new article up in this Sunday’s paper:
By Ben Nicholson-Smith | at
11:37pm: More on Varitek from NESN’s Heidi Watney. She says Varitek’s meeting with Henry was to "clear the air" rather than negotiate. The Red Sox had not been returning Scott Boras’ phone calls, but now they’ll reopen negotiations. Watney notes that Varitek was not aware when he turned down arbitration that any signing team would have to give up a draft pick. Tek does not blame Boras for this.
9:07am: Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe reports that Jason Varitek thought last night’s meeting with Red Sox owner John Henry "went OK." Varitek confirmed he wants to play for the Red Sox this year in a text message.
Varitek, who requested the meeting, did not comment when asked if the Red Sox were interested in bringing him back.
Buster Olney asked multiple executives whether they’d sign Varitek at any price given that they’d have to give up an early draft pick for doing so. Everyone asked said no, they’d rather have the pick. Olney reminds us that some executives could think differently, but his informal poll shows that Varitek doesn’t have much leverage with the Red Sox.
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to WEEI’s Alex Speier, Red Sox owner John Henry said in a Comcast Sportsnet interview that he is meeting Jason Varitek tonight one-on-one. Tony Massarotti confirmed with Varitek that a meeting will take place. You have to think a meeting without Scott Boras might speed up talks.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Links for Friday…
By Tim Dierkes | at
Here’s a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal.
By Tim Dierkes | at
As you know, players such as Jason Varitek, Orlando Cabrera, and Juan Cruz are Type A free agents who declined offers of arbitration. As such, it costs a draft pick to sign one of these players. For Varitek in particular, no team seems comfortable with this cost.
WEEI’s Alex Speier looks at the Varitek situation, outlining four ways the catcher might get around this problem: wait until June, have the Red Sox waive their right to a compensation pick, a sign and trade, or a minor league contract. Bottom line, Varitek will probably not find a way to circumvent the draft pick compensation (which is why re-signing with the Sox makes the most sense). It’s never wise to bet against Scott Boras, but the agent’s apparent recommendation to decline Boston’s offer of arbitration looks like a miscalculation.
By Tim Dierkes | at
9:10am: WEEI’s Alex Speier talked to a source who said little has changed in the Montero trade talks. Speier says the D’Backs hope to receive a starter for Montero, meaning Daniel Bard might not cut it. The D’Backs aren’t in any rush to trade Montero.
TUESDAY, 8:40am: Massarotti says the D’Backs and Red Sox "clearly feel there is a fit." They’re still trying to determine which young Boston player is comparable to Montero. Massarotti reiterates that the Red Sox maintain interest in Jason Varitek and Jarrod Saltalamacchia as well.
MONDAY, 2:44pm: Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic weighs in:
We’re hearing the Diamondbacks aren’t getting the impression that the Red Sox are zeroing in on Montero. The clubs are still talking — or maybe we should say they are again talking — and the Sox have tweaked their offer, but it apparently is not to the point where it satisfies the Diamondbacks.
8:59am: According to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald, the Red Sox have been "intensifying talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks concerning 25-year-old catcher Miguel Montero." Silverman says the D’Backs have not been requesting Clay Buchholz, and the teams may be able to find a match. Last week Peter Gammons said the Red Sox would not give up Michael Bowden for Montero. Alex Speier wrote on December 9th that the Red Sox rejected that offer.
Silverman adds that the Red Sox are expected to continue to sign new players this week. They’ve already added John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Mark Kotsay, Rocco Baldelli, and Takashi Saito on one-year deals. Former Dodgers GM Fred Claire weighs in on Boston’s bargains at MLB.com.
By Steve Adams | at
John Perrotto’s latest Every Given Sunday column at Baseball Prospectus takes a look at the top 20 remaining free agents (sorted by WARP3 – Wins Above Replacement Player) and offers destination predictions and top suitors (or lack thereof in some cases) for each one. For those without a BP subscription, here’s a quick summary:
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information
hide arrows scroll to top
