Jason Varitek

Red Sox Catching: Bard, Montero, Kottaras

By Alex Walsh | February 22, 2009 at 12:58pm CDT

Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe has a wrap-up of the Red Sox’ catching situation heading into the beginning of the 2009 season.

Even after signing Jason Varitek, the Red Sox were rumored to have been continuing their pursuit of a trade for a young catcher. In today’s article, Massarotti writes that at the beginning of Diamondbacks camp, Miguel Montero was informed that "no deals were imminent." Instead, it appears the Red Sox will stick with Josh Bard for now.

However, Massarotti also mentions another interesting in-house option for the Red Sox in George Kottaras. Massarotti summarizes Kottaras’ situation:

Kottaras is out of options and could be a threat to beat out Bard, though the more likely scenario is that the Red Sox are trying to increase Kottaras’ trade value so that they do not simply lose him on waivers.

It’s probably going to be ’Tek and Bard on Opening Day. We’ll see if the Red Sox end up acquiring, or even trading away, any young catchers in the meantime.

Red Sox Rumors: Lugo, Bay, Varitek, Beckett

By Tim Dierkes | February 16, 2009 at 8:52am CDT

The latest on the Red Sox, courtesy of WEEI’s Alex Speier.

Julio Lugo says he’s in the best shape of his career. The $9MM shortstop won’t be happy if he’s on the bench this year. Speier believes he’ll ask for a trade if he doesn’t win the competition with Jed Lowrie. Lugo was following the Tigers trade rumors earlier this winter.
Jason Bay remains open to an extension, but admitted "it’s not the end-all, be-all." Bay will be part of the 2009-10 free agent class if the Sox don’t lock him up.
According to the AP, catcher Jason Varitek spoke of spending the rest of his career with the Red Sox.
WEEI’s Rob Bradford spoke to Josh Beckett, who hopes to remain in Boston past his current contract. The Red Sox have a $12MM club option for a $2MM buyout for 2010.
Bradford also reports that the Brad Wilkerson signing is official; he’s in camp on a minor league deal.

Odds And Ends: Griffey, Varitek, Giants

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 14, 2009 at 11:00am CDT

A few links for Saturday morning…

Russell Branyan wants Ken Griffey Jr. to join him in Seattle according to this AP story found in the Globe and Mail.
If Griffey ends up in Seattle, Cameron Smith of the Washington Post says it’s nothing but a marketing ploy.
Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times likes the depth the Bobby Abreu addition gives the Angels.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle suggests the Giants could make a trade in Spring Training if teams are looking to dump salary. Brian Sabean says he’s keeping his eye on teams who may need to free up money.
Alex Speier of WEEI in Boston heard from Jason Varitek about his contract negotiations this offseason. Varitek says he never doubted that he would stay in Boston.
This doesn’t have to do with rumors, but it’s a good read: MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan shares anecdotes from 20 years of Spring Training.

Odds And Ends: Anderson, Griffey, Varitek

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 7, 2009 at 11:09am CDT

Links for Saturday…

According to Bill Dwyre of the LA Times Garret Anderson has no ill will towards the Angels.
Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times thinks the Mariners need to sign Ken Griffey Jr. He adds that the Mariners may be "warming to the idea."
The Kyodo News reports that the Blue Jays have finalized Ken Takahashi’s contract.
According to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe, Jason Varitek passed his physical.
Jay Jaffe, Kevin Goldstein and Christina Kahrl of BP fill in the remaining holes on National League teams.
Buster Olney of ESPN.com writes that players should "go the extra mile" to please fans in the weakened economy, as they did in 1995 after the strike.

Heyman On Andruw, Pedro, Crede, Grudz

By Tim Dierkes | February 5, 2009 at 2:11pm CDT

The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…

The Yankees offered a minor league deal to Andruw Jones, which he turned down. Other teams "thought to have interest": the Rangers, Phillies, Braves, and Mets.
Heyman thinks Pedro Martinez makes a lot of sense for the Dodgers. However, Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times learned from Ned Colletti on January 6th that the Dodgers weren’t among the teams pursuing Pedro.
Jason Varitek’s camp (ie, Scott Boras) apparently has no regrets about rejecting arbitration since it wouldn’t have been a guaranteed contract.
Chad Cordero’s next showcase is scheduled for February 19th.
Heyman has the Twins as favorites over the Giants to sign Joe Crede. More on Crede here.
Heyman says the Yankees feel they’re more likely to find a deal for Nick Swisher than Xavier Nady.
Add Mark Grudzielanek to the list of right-handed hitters the Phillies are considering (Nomar Garciaparra, Rich Aurilia, and Moises Alou being the others).

Odds and Ends: Wieters, Varitek, Ohman

By Tim Dierkes | February 3, 2009 at 12:54pm CDT

Links for Tuesday…

Chat today, 2pm CST.
RotoAuthority explains why Matt Wieters is a good fantasy pick even if he doesn’t debut with the Orioles til mid-May.
Baseball America’s Jim Callis has the updated ’09 June draft order.
Cristian Guzman was wise to sign a two-year, $16MM extension when he did, his agent tells MLB.com’s Bill Ladson.
An agreement to sell the Padres to Jeff Moorad could be done by mid-month, says Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Jason Varitek doesn’t need to worry about regaining Type A status, says Rob Bradford of WEEI.
Nothing appears imminent with the Phillies and Will Ohman, David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News writes.

Reactions To Jason Varitek Signing

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 31, 2009 at 11:03am CDT

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."

Jason Varitek, Red Sox Reach Agreement

By Tim Dierkes | January 30, 2009 at 1:28pm CDT

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

By Tim Dierkes | January 29, 2009 at 7:58pm CDT

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.

Rosenthal On Abreu, Garland, Glavine, Sisco

By Tim Dierkes | January 29, 2009 at 9:14am CDT

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.

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