Jason Varitek

Odds and Ends: Aurilia, Vazquez, Al Reyes, Varitek

By Tim Dierkes | September 19, 2008 at 2:45pm CDT

Some random links for today…

McCovey Chronicles thinks Rich Aurilia would be a nice fit for the ’09 Giants.
Tyler Kepner of the New York Times says the Yankees never really had to give up on Javier Vazquez.
The Mets released Al Reyes; he never pitched for them. Reyes had nine saves for the Rays in April of last year, but it’s mostly been downhill since then.
Jason Varitek does not want to talk about 2009. It’s hard to see the Red Sox offering him more than one year.
RotoAuthority discusses the fantasy baseball code of honor.

Gammons’ Latest: Martin, Dunn, Quentin

By Tim Dierkes | September 1, 2008 at 9:18pm CDT

Here’s the latest blog post from ESPN’s Peter Gammons…

Takashi Saito is mentioned as a free agent this winter, but I believe it’s a situation where he can only re-sign, return to Japan, or retire.
Gammons heard talk that Russell Martin could be switched permanently to third base. In that scenario, the Dodgers would sign a pitching-oriented catcher such as Jason Varitek. Would that be a good move?
Adam Dunn knows it’s cliche, but he intends to prioritize winning over money when he hits free agency.
The D’Backs were asking a lot for Carlos Quentin last winter, with the White Sox, Red Sox, and Indians interested. Josh Byrnes was not able to get Michael Bowden, Jed Lowrie, or Cliff Lee. Arizona ended up getting Chris Carter from Chicago and flipping him to Oakland in the Dan Haren deal. Carter mashed 39 home runs in A ball this year. You can’t say the Diamondbacks gave Quentin away for nothing, since they acquired a crucial component for the Haren trade.
A year ago, Yankees GM Brian Cashman asked Joe Torre and his coaches their opinion on a Robinson Cano for Orlando Hudson swap. Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa were heavily in favor of keeping Cano.

Odds and Ends: Hart, Ellis, Mientkiewicz, Varitek

By Tim Dierkes | August 29, 2008 at 11:35am CDT

Today’s random links…

Ken Rosenthal discusses possible changes at various GM positions. Jon Heyman says Pat Gillick could take a high-ranking role with the Blue Jays if not the Mariners.
Former Indians and Rangers GM John Hart is interested in the Mariners job. The Mariners hope to have their permanent GM hired by the end of October.
A Japanese pitcher invented a new pitch called the shake.
Eddie Bajek wonders if Mark Ellis could handle shortstop. It’s good to think out of the box given the free agent market at the position.
Doug Mientkiewicz would like to spend another season as a Pirates clubhouse leader, but he’d also like more playing time.
The trio of Blue Jays middle infielders react to the Angels rumor.
DraftInfo chatted with MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo.
Amalie Benjamin believes there’s a good chance the Red Sox re-sign Jason Varitek.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Millar, Sheffield, Dunn, Rangers, Salty

By Cork Gaines | August 15, 2008 at 12:09pm CDT

A few random notes from around the baseball Blogosphere…

Beerleaguer feels that Kevin Millar would make a nice addition to the Phillies’ bench.
MetsBlog says Gary Sheffield is the right-handed outfield bat the Mets need and this is the best time to add a player with something to prove.
True Blue LA is angered that the Dodgers did not block the D’Backs’ claim of Adam Dunn.
Newberg Report discusses which players the Rangers must be willing to part with if they are to land an "All-Star level, legitimate number one" pitcher or even a pitcher from the next level of starters.
Over The Monster wonders if the Red Sox will replace Jason Varitek with Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Odds and Ends: Bedard, Hudson, Inoa, Varitek

By Tim Dierkes | July 23, 2008 at 1:28pm CDT

Let’s dig through today’s links.

Cork Gaines takes a look at the Rays most likely to be traded.
According to Ken Davidoff, the Rockies have been scouting Yankees pitching prospect Humberto Sanchez. He’d be a more reasonable return for Brian Fuentes.
Erik Bedard’s MRI came out clean, but it’s still hard to see him in a big league game before August.
Dan Haren used to follow every trade rumor on the Internet, but Justin Duchscherer doesn’t monitor the hot stove buzz.
Shane Victorino is aware of the rumors, but wants to stay in Philly.
With Emilio Bonifacio gone, Scott Bordow thinks the D’Backs should try to sign Orlando Hudson. Bordow would only offer $8MM a year though.
Paul Hoynes looks at the Indians’ areas of need for the offseason.
Peter Abraham doesn’t expect the Yankees to pursue a catcher.
Melissa Segura of SI.com writes about Michael Inoa’s buscon.
Patrick Newman profiles Kenshin Kawakami, who should be quite popular this winter.
Buster Olney expects Jason Varitek to feel a ripple effect from Jorge Posada’s injury. His sources expect the Red Sox to offer Varitek one or two years at $6-8MM per.
MLB.com is looking for a fan to guest host their show The Dish.

Red Sox Trade Wish List

By Tim Dierkes | July 7, 2008 at 10:28am CDT

Tony Massarotti of the Boston Herald takes a look at Boston’s wish list, some of which could be fulfilled via trade this month.

The Red Sox are still looking for an heir to Jason Varitek’s throne. Apparently the Sox have inquired about catching prospects. The Rangers are considered to have the game’s largest surplus at the position.
Julio Lugo is signed through 2010, but the Red Sox are looking for a better long-term option at short. Massarotti doesn’t mention how Jed Lowrie fits into the plan.
Massarotti says the Red Sox are "closely monitoring" Braves first baseman Mark Teixeira. Their interest will be linked to David Ortiz’s health.
The Sox are also in the market for a left-handed setup man. Names to consider: George Sherrill, Brian Fuentes, Damaso Marte, Ron Mahay, and Jeremy Affeldt.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Jason Varitek

By Joe Pawlikowski | May 3, 2008 at 10:56am CDT

Oh no! It’s a Yankees blogger talking about the Red Sox! He’s gonna be all biased and junk! While I’m sure I’ll get some of that in the comments, I think talking about Jason Varitek’s impending free agency is a worthy topic for this slow Saturday. So, what are we looking at for the 36-year-old backstop?

You know where I’m going with this. After the 2007 season, a 36-year-old Jorge Posada signed a four-year, $52.4MM contract. This was on the heels of Posada’s best season, .338/.426/.543. Can we expect something similar for Varitek, who will turn 37 at the beginning of the 2009 season?

The short answer: no. I understand that Varitek means a lot to the Red Sox as a team. But does that really justify giving him a four-year deal? In my opinion, no. Then again, Varitek is the same season-age as Jorge, so maybe he’ll be looking for a three-year deal. But even then, do the Red Sox want to match Jorge’s yearly salary of $13.1MM?

Red Sox fans might kill me, but once again I have to say no. If I showed you Player 1 and Player 2, without identifying them, and asked you to tell me who has had the better career, you’d pick Player 1 without question. I’d even factor in that Player 2 plays demonstrably better defense. It’s still a landslide.

Varitek is off to a quiet start this year, hitting .256/.301/.449. I expect he’ll bring those numbers up, as he had a similarly slow start last year, yet finished at .255/.367/.421. But you have to wonder how much longer he’s going to hold up. Tek was great from 2003 through 2005, but hasn’t been able to reach the same levels over the past two years. And while he’ll rebound this year, it’s doubtful his OPS+ will be much more than 100.

So what would you pay for a league average hitting catcher for his age 37 through, say, 39 seasons? I figure the Red Sox will end up matching his previous deal, only three years this time around. So three years, $30MM. But it’s not like the Red Sox don’t have the resources to add a fourth year.

Posted by Joe Pawlikowski.

Stark’s Latest: Zito, Anthony Reyes, Varitek, Inoa

By Tim Dierkes | May 1, 2008 at 7:55pm CDT

ESPN’s Jayson Stark has been working the phones, and the result is his latest Rumblings and Grumblings column.

Stark talked to an official from a "pitching-starved" team. This person said the Giants would have to eat at least $80MM of Barry Zito’s remaining $112.5MM if they want to trade him. One scout suggested Zito’s only chance at revival is a reunion with Rick Peterson.
The Cards’ Anthony Reyes is "eminently available." Problem is, John Mozeliak has a high asking price for the 26 year-old hurler.
Edwin Jackson remains a hot commodity, but there’s no reason for the Rays to move him.
How much will Scott Boras want from the Red Sox for a Jason Varitek extension? If it’s in the Jorge Posada four-year, $52MM neighborhood, there’s no chance.
Stark informs us of a highly sought-after 16 year-old Dominican pitcher named Michel Inoa. The kid could get a signing bonus north of $1.5MM. The Astros are one club interested in Inoa.

Boras Won’t Make First Move For Varitek Extension

By Tim Dierkes | March 17, 2008 at 10:25am CDT

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe quotes Scott Boras as saying that the Red Sox would have to come to him about an extension for Jason Varitek. Boras and Varitek are open to a deal, but I guess they don’t want to sound desperate and give up their leverage.

Tek turns 36 in April; the Red Sox are going to want to minimize their risk. They could roll the dice in hopes of signing him after the season, as they did with Mike Lowell and Curt Schilling. It can be tough to measure the value of a catcher, but Baseball Prospectus has Varitek worth $4.6MM in ’09 and dropping off significantly after that.

Perrotto’s Latest: Sabathia, Varitek, Crede, Villone

By Tim Dierkes | January 14, 2008 at 1:15am CDT

John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus checks in with his usual Sunday column. He’s got some new hot stove material to consider.

Perrotto says the Indians are holding firm at an offer of four years plus an option for C.C. Sabathia. As of a week ago, the Indians were said to have an offer on the table for him. I suggested that the Tribe might top out around four years, $72MM plus an option for 2013.
Perrotto writes that "Boston is expected to sign catcher Jason Varitek to a two-year extension worth around $20 million." Varitek could retire after that.
Perrotto suggests that Joe Crede is on the Giants’ radar if they don’t re-sign Pedro Feliz (hat tip South Side Sox). Crede seems like he’ll be involved in one of those late Spring Training deals, given the need to prove his health.
The Yankees, Mets, and Pirates are interested in free agent lefty reliever Ron Villone.

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