If you read the Red Sox website, Theo & the players are all saying the right things about Jason Varitek. He works hard, studies to be prepared & handles the pitching staff well. Youk said it would be a shock not to see Varitek in the locker room in Fort Myers next year. Offense is obviously the weak point.
On the negative side is Scott Boras, the agent for Varitek. While the Sox seem to negotiate with Boras pretty well (a la Dice-K & others) the fact that there are not a lot of quality catchers out there will definitely be a bargaining point in favor of Boras - Varitek. Theo, however, is not interested in a Posada-type deal for similar length of contract or money.
So let the fun begin. If I'm Theo, here's my offer to Varitek:
- 2 years guaranteed, $8 million a year
- club option for 3rd year, $8 million again
Let me know what you would offer the Captain if you were Theo. I believe that Varitek's last contract was 4-years, $10 million a year.
1 comment:
The Jason Varitek question will definately be the hardest one of the off season for the Sox' front office. Catcher appears to be the easiest and quickest location to look at and say "here's where we can get better quick". However after doing a little reseaerch this is going to be the hardest postion to fill.
Let's start NYY style and go look for the big free agent... There are none, at least none younger than me and I'm 32. The best available free agent this year is 31 year old Kenji Johjima who with a lifetime average of .272 hit only .227 this past year.
As for the farm system the cupboard appears to be a little bare there too. Kevin Cash played 61 games this year for Boston but hit just .225 with 3 HRs and 15 RBIs. These numbers are actually a little less than Tek's, and he's 31 years old so I believe he's matured as much as he will. Then from the Pawsox we have David Ross, a 31 year old, who hit .207 at AAA this year and is only .222 lifetime.
By the numbers alone our only minor league catcher with a possability of an upside is George Kottaras who hit .243, is 25 but only 185 pounds for 6 feet. 162 MLB games as a catcher is physically demanding, I'd like to see him a little bigger, but at this point, in my post and in our choices, beggers can't be choosers.
So in conclusion I don't see where the Red Sox have a choice but to resign Jason. Fortunately he's a class act all the way, but I think a 2 year contract at $5 million would be fine with a club option for a third. As much as it looks to me like the Red Sox have to sign him I don't think that any other team will offer him much. If they do I would be willing to match up to $8 million but for 1 year only.
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