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Jason Varitek

Odds and Ends: Cordero, Varitek, Hudson

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Links for Monday…

Cafardo’s Latest: Varitek, Sheets, Glavine

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has a new article up in this Sunday’s paper:

  • Mariners advisers have suggested bringing in Jason Varitek to improve the Seattle pitching staff.
  • "Arbitration-strapped" Philadelphia may have interest in Ben Sheets as he becomes a bigger bargain by the day.
  • Cafardo details the Kevin Youkilis contract extension, to the dollar.
  • Kris Benson will work out for the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Rangers, and Cubs next Saturday.
  • Tom Glavine would entertain an offer from Washington.
  • If Atlanta takes on Andruw Jones, they would only have to take on $400K of the $21MM plus the Dodgers are paying him.

Varitek Met With Henry, Hopes To Return

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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.

Odds and Ends: Putz, Mitsui, Varitek

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Links for Friday…

Rosenthal On Lackey, Dunn, Young, Isringhausen

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Here’s a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal.

  • John Lackey is due up for extension talks with the Angels, as he’ll be eligible for free agency after the ’09 season.  He’d easily be the best available starter.  Rosenthal says talks with the Angels should occur before the beginning of the season, but the Halos may not be willing to offer A.J. Burnett money (five years, $82.5MM).  In November, Jayson Stark said Lackey had been telling friends he expects to have an extension by Opening Day.  That came after Lackey’s confirmation he’d wait to see the Angels’ offensive plans before re-signing.
  • The Braves paid $60MM for Derek Lowe, though no one else made a comparable offer.  This is a testament to Scott Boras (and perhaps the Braves’ desperation), though Boras has more challenging work ahead in Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek.
  • The Red Sox have shown interest in Adam Dunn, one rival exec tells Rosenthal.  Rosenthal considers the possibility a longshot – "a square peg in a round hole."  The Sox could always make a midseason deal if their offense isn’t cutting it.
  • A Rangers official put Michael Young’s chances of being with the team on Opening Day at at least 90%.  The Rangers aren’t interested in moving Ian Kinsler to left field and Young to second base.
  • Rosenthal believes Xavier Nady is likely to garner Type A status when he becomes a free agent after the ’09 season, but half of the equation (his 2009 stats) is missing.
  • Jason Isringhausen is considering four teams, and he’d have a shot to close for those clubs.  The Dodgers aren’t terribly interested, while the Cardinals and Tigers are possibilities.
  • Should the Mets sign Andy Pettitte as well as Randy Wolf or Oliver Perez?  One rival exec suggested the idea.
  • The Astros apparently made a three-year, $28.5MM offer to Wolf before pulling it back.  Looks like he’ll be settling for less.
  • Rosenthal says a Rangers trade for Jermaine Dye is "not happening."  They’ll go with Hank Blalock’s left-handed offense rather than sign an aging veteran.  Blalock is headed into a contract year.
  • If Todd Helton has a healthy spring, the Rockies could shop Garrett Atkins.
  • The Red Sox and D’Backs are not close to a deal involving catcher Miguel Montero.  Arizona will need to add a capable backup catcher if they do find a deal for Montero.

Jason Varitek And Draft Pick Compensation

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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.

Red Sox Still Eyeing Miguel Montero

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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.

Perrotto’s Latest: Top 20 Remaining Free Agents

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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:

  • Manny Ramirez – Dodgers
  • Orlando Cabrera – Athletics
  • Derek Lowe – Braves/Mets/Cubs
  • Adam Dunn – Nationals
  • Bobby Abreu – Reds
  • Ben Sheets – Rangers
  • Orlando Hudson – Nationals
  • Andy Pettitte – Astros (at less than $10MM)
  • Jason Varitek – Red Sox (at less than $10MM)
  • Ty Wigginton – Astros
  • Ivan Rodriguez – Not much of a market, may have to take a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training if he’s not signed soon. Could he end up involuntarily retired, a la Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Mike Piazza?
  • Kevin Millar – Orioles
  • Mark Grudzielanek – Padres
  • Braden Looper – Brewers
  • Garret Anderson, Eric Hinske, Ray Durham, Jim Edmonds, Paul Byrd, Odalis Perez – All of them (with the exception of Byrd, who may retire) are drawing little to no interest and may be without a club on Opening Day.

Red Sox Still Working With Jason Varitek

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According to Ian Browne of MLB.com, the Red Sox are still pursuing free agent catcher Jason Varitek.

"There’s still some unfinished business," Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said Thursday. "Jason is still out there. As I said at the beginning of the offseason, he’s been a really important guy here to this organization and by no means have we shut the door on him."  Varitek hit .220 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI last season and made $10.4MM.  He’s definitely in line for a pay cut.

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