Varitek Wants To Stay

[CalvnHobs6]

Varitek: My heart's here

Catcher would like to stay with team

By Ian Browne / MLB.com

tickets for any Major League Baseball game

 

BOSTON -- By all accounts, he is the leader of the Boston Red Sox. Be it behind the plate, in the dugout or in the clubhouse, there are really no arguments from anyone around the team that Jason Varitek is in complete and total charge.

 

Though he isn't the captain officially (the Red Sox haven't had once since the retirement of Jim Rice), that's exactly what Varitek has been over the last few years.

 

Suddenly, the leader is a free agent. The Red Sox have until Nov. 11 to sign Varitek. After that, they will be battling with 29 other teams for the services of the invaluable catcher.

 

Of all the free agents the World Series champion Red Sox have this winter -- a list that includes prominent players such as Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe and Orlando Cabrera -- Varitek is the one player who is almost impossible to picture in another uniform.

 

If his true wishes are granted, there will be no other uniform.

 

"My heart's here, so we'll see," said Varitek as he was packing up his locker for the championship parade Boston waited 86 years for.

 

As much as Varitek would like to stay with the team and the city he has represented so well since coming to the Major Leagues for good in 1998, he isn't going to sell himself short. In fact, he spoke for not just himself, but some of his teammates in how the veteran players will approach free agency.

 

"I've also had to play an entire season with all the risk on my part," said Varitek. "And all of us had to. We still have to be treated fairly."

 

The Red Sox have spent this week doing preliminary work in an attempt to strike deals with their free agents. Though numerous reports have stated that Varitek and Martinez are the team's top priority, general manager Theo Epstein has a policy of keeping contract discussions confidential.

 

Varitek is 32 years old, an age some catchers start their downswing. But Varitek has played the best baseball of his career the last two seasons and, if anything, seems to be getting better. In 2004, he hit .296 with 18 homers and 73 RBIs.

 

Because of his sheer strength and the way he works out, Varitek could age better than any catcher since Carlton Fisk.

 

Varitek wouldn't say what he needs to get a deal done, but length of the pact is likely to be a sticking point. In the prime of his career, Varitek might look for anywhere between three and five years.

 

"There's a few things that are very important to this getting done and we have to see how willing they are to get this done," said Varitek.

 

While Plan A for the Red Sox is to keep Varitek, it's hard to even find a Plan B. There's nothing close to Varitek as far as catchers go on this year's free agent market. Though Kelly Shoppach is one of the best prospects in the organization, he likely needs another year at Triple-A to improve his hitting.

 

Through all his years in Boston, you'd be hard-pressed to find even one pitcher who didn't have thorough respect for the way Varitek calls a game.

 

"It's not just with the pitching staff. It's with our entire team," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "Nothing he does is average. The second day [of Spring Training] we ran a bunt defense and I went back on his field and we were there about five minutes -- because I had heard so much about him -- I thought this guy, this is what you're looking for.

 

"Every time he was in a drill, it was run perfect. Even rundowns, things like that, this guy is the heart and soul of our team. He never quits. He cares so much about keeping those pitchers in line, he might be the first hitter of the inning but he's over there babysitting a pitcher. This guy is everything you can ask for in a catcher."

 

Though Varitek typically turns individual praise away, he has come to understand what he has meant to the Red Sox.

 

"I understand what I do on the field, it may never come out in a statistic," said Varitek. "But I understand what I do with the pitching staff, and those things, and I've really come to grips the last couple of years with really understanding that role, I'm able to do and take off of a lot of people."

 

Wherever he goes, the leadership mantle will probably be his. He knows no other way to play the game. But Varitek, as much as he respects the business side of the game, is not interested in filling out a change-of-address form.

 

"Hopefully all goes well and we can all walk away smiling," said Varitek.

 

Reactions? I love this guy, and the more I think about how much I love him, and how good he's been....ahhh we need to resign him. Really badly. Is he the second coming of Fisk? Better? Something I never knew - Fisk played until he was 46 years old. That's dirty. Fisk was 32 when he left Boston. Varitek is now 32. I hope we can change the outcome a bit this time. 4-5 years, somewhere between 30 and 45 million. (45 obviously only if 5 years)

[ahhchon]

45 for 5 years is too big of a contract to give a catcher of his age.. i wouldn't give tek more than 3 years. if he wanted 5 years i wouldn't pay over 7 a year.

 

john

[yeszir]

It makes sense that he wants to stay. Who wouldn't? The team is awesome, and they just won the world series.

[CalvnHobs6]

I-Rod got 40 mill/4 years. Same agent as Tek. Jason will get similar. I-Rod's older.

[ahhchon]

i-rod can and usually hits for more power than tek, i-rod hits for a better average than tek- i-rod has a much stronger arm than tek, i-rod has had 10 consec gold gloves, i-rod can steal bases when needed, i-rod is an obvious leader (not saying tek isn't).. he brought the detroit team from dead last to almost .500 team. not bad in 1 year.

 

i-rod > tek in everyway possible on paper with the exception of fpct behind the plate.

 

tek is awsome, but 10 mill a year is too much, 9 mill is too much. 8 is acceptable if it isn't long term.

 

john

[CalvnHobs6]

I was just bringing up that much coveted free agent at same position at same age is likely to a simliar contract. I'm saying that 4/36 and 5/45 aren't extremely unreasonable.

[mosox]

I don't see the Sox having much of an option here. They need to sign and hope there's enough money leftover. I do believe he is the best catcher to come along in Boston since Fisk. A long term deal can be worked out if Theo can keep some trade options in the future.

[derekn]

I have prepared myself to lose Lowe, Cabrera and Pedro and find possible replacements in Free Agency (Pavano, Radke, Vizquel/Larkin).

 

I don't think I am prepared to lose Tek. Mirabelli though is a great backup and has a good bat, but he's a free agent too. I was 12 years old when Fisk didn't come back. Boy did that suck. However Rich Gedman did quite well in his place....

[RedSoxRooter]

Pitching is more important than any catcher. If you have to choose, you choose Pedro.

 

Nobody can argue that Tek is worth a lot of money and years, but the Sox don't need him for 5 more years, or even 4, if Shoppach is as good as people say.

[elsrbueno]

If Varitek really wants to stay, he'll prove it by accepting a reasonable offer, and I believe the Sox WILL make a reasonable offer.

 

I have the deepest respect for what Varitek has done for the Red Sox, and the role he played in this team winning the championship in 2004.

 

But if he's asking for 5 years?!? Knowing he'll be 37 in that 5th year! How many catchers are still worth $10 million at 37? Not many.

 

Nomar SAID he really wanted to stay, but rejected a very good offer. If Varitek is driven by greed this offseason, he WILL sign elsewhere.

 

We'll see how much Varitek really wants to stay when he agrees to a contract (wherever that might be).

[mosox]

I also have deep respect for Varitek. I don't trust Scott Boras.

[sarasoxfan]

scott boras is a whore and I am so f***ing scared he will price varitek out of our range...sad thing is probably would get 5 years from someone else..

 

 

5 years no trade for a catcher his age.sheeesh..

 

I forget how old fisk was when we lost him, though, and he lasted forever...so maybe this time we bite the bullet and give him 3 with an option for 4 or 4 with an option for 5..

 

When Boras grabs you by the balls you cant shake him unless you cough up the dough.

[elsrbueno]

Originally posted by sarasoxfan@Nov 9 2004, 12:29 PM

scott boras is a whore and I am so f***ing scared he will price varitek out of our range...sad thing is probably would get 5 years from someone else..

 

 

5 years no trade for a catcher his age.sheeesh..

 

I forget how old fisk was when we lost him, though, and he lasted forever...so maybe this time we bite the bullet and give him 3 with an option for 4 or 4 with an option for 5..

 

When Boras grabs you by the balls you cant shake him unless you cough up the dough.

Scott Boras waited with Ivan Rodriguez until he got what he wanted. Ivan kept saying he wanted to stay in Florida, but he was priced out of the market.

 

Unlike the Yankees, the Red Sox WILL NOT allow their payroll to get out of control. In fact, I think I read somewhere that they wanted to REDUCE their payroll from last year....

 

The hangup here is the length of the deal. Epstein and the Red Sox know that catchers typically START declining right around Varitek's age. Boras knows that too, so he wants guaranteed money for 'Tek at age 37 because he knows if he hits the market in 3 years he's not getting $10/year.

 

I believe the Red Sox will stick to their guns here. As much as I hate to say it, if Varitek demands that 5th year at $10/mil... he'll be playing somewhere else.

 

The Red Sox should (and probably would) compromise with a mutual 4th year. It's that 5th year that might break this deal.

 

I've already heard rumblings that the Red Sox were thinking about trading for Charles Johnson (Colorado). If these rumors are true, I'd expect they don't like their chances of resigning Tek.

[RedSoxRooter]

"Unlike the Yankees, the Red Sox WILL NOT allow their payroll to get out of control. In fact, I think I read somewhere that they wanted to REDUCE their payroll from last year...."

 

120 Million is the number I've been hearing - though the Luxury Tax will be up to 130 Million by then (probably saving that extra 10 million for a mid-season acquisition...)

 

Anyway, what's wrong with Mirrabelli? Why not have him replace Tek if we can't resign him and have Sandy Martinez and Shoppach as backups?

[yeszir]

Originally posted by RedSoxRooter@Nov 9 2004, 02:13 PM

"Unlike the Yankees, the Red Sox WILL NOT allow their payroll to get out of control. In fact, I think I read somewhere that they wanted to REDUCE their payroll from last year...."

 

120 Million is the number I've been hearing - though the Luxury Tax will be up to 130 Million by then (probably saving that extra 10 million for a mid-season acquisition...)

 

Anyway, what's wrong with Mirrabelli? Why not have him replace Tek if we can't resign him and have Sandy Martinez and Shoppach as backups?

What I'm worried about is Mirabelli's consistency. Sure he hit well when he played 1/5 games, but what happens when the soreness and beatings you take from being a daily catcher catch up to him? How will he hit then?

 

As for Varitek. If he wants to stay so badly, why would he let Boras pitch such a horrible offer.

[Zenny]

Originally posted by yeszir@Nov 9 2004, 07:48 PM

What I'm worried about is Mirabelli's consistency. Sure he hit well when he played 1/5 games, but what happens when the soreness and beatings you take from being a daily catcher catch up to him? How will he hit then?

 

As for Varitek. If he wants to stay so badly, why would he let Boras pitch such a horrible offer.

Exactly my feelings on both points. Folks, Tek is overrated. Look at the home/road splits. My grandmother could hit at Fenway. Sure, he's a nice guy in the clubhouse and the pitchers like him, but there are a lot of other catchers out there who could produce very similar results for 10% of the money.

[RedSoxRooter]

Boras: Varitek seeking five years, no trade

By Boston.com Staff | November 9, 2004

 

Jason Varitek's agent told WEEI Sports Radio this morning that the free agent Red Sox catcher wants a five-year contract with a no-trade clause -- terms the Sox are unlikely to offer.

 

The Boston Globe’s Gordon Edes reported on Oct. 30 that Varitek was seeking a five-year deal in the vicinity of $50 million and that the Red Sox's offer was believed to be for $24 million over three years. Boras confirmed today that the catcher is also seeking a no-trade provision.

 

Varitek recently finished a three-year, $14.9 million contract he signed with Boston in 2001.

 

"He actually gave Boston one of his free agent years, signed a contract there that was, I think, very club oriented, and he's been very loyal to the Red Sox,” Boras said. “When he became a free agent, this is the time in his career when he has to concern himself with his family."

 

Any no-trade the Sox agree upon with any player automatically triggers one for Manny Ramirez under terms laid out in his eight-year, $160 million deal. That is an unlikely scenario, considering the Sox are still on the hook for four more years of the Ramirez contract (plus two option years) at an average of $19.25 million per year.

 

Varitek is widely considered the leader of the 2004 World Series champions, and the anchor of the team’s pitching staff. He hit .296 with 18 home runs and 73 RBIs this past season. In the postseason, he hit three home runs and drove in 11.

 

"He merely wants the quid pro quo of where his standing is among catchers in the game,” Boras said. “Certainly I don't think anyone's going to argue that Jason Varitek tops that list.”

 

Tek's out if you ask me. Theo wont buy a No-Trade, or a 5 year deal. If you're gonna invest your money, do it in pitching (Pedro...).

[mosox]

When the series ended Tek was the priority, and I'm still hoping something can be worked out.

Fisk, I believe, was the same age as Varitek is when he left the Sox for the ChiSox. Tek has a long way to go to becoming another Fisk, but I do think his departure creates a huge hole for this team. His batting numbers may not be overwhelming, but he did hit 30 doubles and stole 10 bases and his value to the pitching staff is immense. And the way he jammed that punk a-rod turned the season around. He is the team leader and without him this will not be the same team. Mirabelli has proven to be a great backup, but can he catch over 130 games and still be productive?

[ahhchon]

stop overrating tek. he's awsome, we all love him but we need to realize that he IS replaceable. i don't buy the whole clubhouse leader etc. baseball is not that type of sport, it's not football, it's not basketball, or hockey, it's different.

 

unless they are willing to negotiate dramatically tek is gone and i won't miss him a bit, not when he's asking to be paid 10 mill per year at 36 and 37 yrs of age.

 

john