Tek in Dodger Blue?

[BSN07]

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.

 

Slow topic day, thought this seemed interesting.

 

I mean with LA's history of bringing in former Sox players, it has to be atleast considered.

 

Would Tek leave Boston if they don't offer gim what he/Boras wants? Or will Tek stay in Boston no matter what? With Favre wearing a Jets uni, anything is possible these days.

 

So if Tek leaves where do the Sox look? Big trade, someone in the system, or a FA stop gap? I could be wrong, but I don't remeber any long term good C becoming available via FA this off season.

[jacksonianmarch]

I have a feeling that Varitek is gone at the end of the yr. They havent publicly destroyed him yet, but they dont really need to. Tek's offensive numbers are just plain awful. Walks are down, power is down, average is down, runs are down, RBIs are down, etc. The signing of Ross, IMO was an indication that they are searching for his replacement. To be honest with you, Ross and Kottaras might end up being the sox platoon mates next yr and letting Tek walk may not be a bad idea.

[BSN07]

If they cut ties, then I don't see an offering of Arb. So no picks.

 

I have to admit, I know little on Ross, can somone fill me in please.

[TheKilo]

I think Ross/Brown/Kottaras (or any combo of the three) can do the job

[26 to 6]

I think Colletti would be foolish to sign Jason Varitek.

 

As for who the Red Sox would get to replace him, you guys can take Pudge, we'll be more than happy with the draft picks

 

I'm not sure what his Free Agent status would be, but I imagine he would at least qualify as a Type B free agent, if not A.

[26 to 6]

I think Ross/Brown/Kottaras (or any combo of the three) can do the job

I don't. I think with the combinationof youth and veteran pitchers on that staff you need an experienced vet behind the plate. Any of those 3 would probably suffice as a backup, but I don't think either of those 3 would make a good starting catcher for the Red Sox. But hey, I'm all in favor of you guys trying it out.

[das11209]

Thank God - sick and tired of Tek's out of zone fastball calling.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Jeez... this is getting to be like the Browns/Broncos connection in the NFL.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

I think Ross/Brown/Kottaras (or any combo of the three) can do the job

Do we really want a catcher merry-go-round? That never works.

[TheKilo]

It's a moot point, the Sox will re-sign Varitek for two years, 22 million this offseason.

[26 to 6]

It's a moot point' date=' the Sox will re-sign Varitek for two years, 22 million this offseason.[/quote']

Probably. But hey, that's even better than the proposed catching merry-go-round.

[Cocos Disciples]

It's a moot point' date=' the Sox will re-sign Varitek for two years, 22 million this offseason.[/quote']

 

My eyes burned at the prospect of this. Gonna go dunk my head in cold water.

[Dojji]

I don't. I think with the combinationof youth and veteran pitchers on that staff you need an experienced vet behind the plate. Any of those 3 would probably suffice as a backup' date=' but I don't think either of those 3 would make a good starting catcher for the Red Sox. But hey, I'm all in favor of you guys trying it out.[/quote']

 

Disagree. Most of our minor league pitchers have seen Brown and Kottaras before in the minors. That gives them a quasi-veteran status with those pitchers.

 

Will there be a learning experience if Dusty and George are our two catchers? Absolutely. But I doubt it's insurmountable, and both catchers seem to me to be qualified to at least hold the job down while we search for (Laird/Salty/Anderson) or develop (Wagner/Expo/Still) a new top catcher.

 

Some nifty advantages to going with Dusty and George, too. Nice lefty-righty platoon advantages -- we can play both catchers mostly in situations where they're comfortable. Also, both Dusty and george can handle the knuck (or at least Zink's knuck) so we can put either one opposite Wakefield. That might extend Wakefield's career by a year or two since we don't "have to keep the dang caddy on the roster!"

 

That, and it would be reasonable to expect both Kot and Brown to hit at a better-than-2009-Tek level in the the big leagues next year (although less so for Kot) so there's that to be considered.

[VA Sox Fan]

Everyone knows, I want him back on the Sox.

 

From Amalie Benjamin's live chat 8/29 in the Globe:

 

What is the general opinion among sportswriters on where Jason Varitek will end up next year? Do you think he'll accept a lowball offer from the Sox, or does the paycheck outweigh loyalty and he'll end up somewhere else? If he does leave, who do you see taking his place? There's a lot of buzz around Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Or "Saltamacchia" as Jerry Remy would say).

Nick, Allston

 

A: Given Varitek's bad year offensively -- and it has been bad -- I think there's a much greater chance that the Sox will land him for next year than they would have otherwise. I know there was concern about Varitek in the organization after Jorge Posada signed his deal in spring training (4 years, $52.4 million), but that has mostly dissipated with Varitek's offensive woes. There is some belief that one of the younger catchers in the organization, like a Mark Wagner or a Luis Exposito, could eventually be the Sox catcher, but that's a hard position for a transition to a young player, and neither of those players is even close to ready for the big leagues. So I think there's a good chance we'll see Varitek back.

[BSN07]

2 years maybe, 11M a season is a stretch.

 

The Sox stand by what they think a player is worth, just look at Lowell. They offered him less then what everyone else wanted and stood by it. And that was after a career year at the plate. Don't fool yourself with this whole loyalty deal. The Sox FO runs the team like a buisness, and there not going to bend over and take it from an over the hill catcher, that bats with a wiffle ball bat. They will offer him what they think is a good deal and if he doesn't take it they will move on. I love Tek, but i don't see the Sox giving him that much money. They have stood by him this year, and haven't embarrased him while he has struggled with the bat, but if he returns, I think it will be understood he will see a little less time and will be pinch hit for in certain situations. If not, thank you for your time and effort and good luck to you in the future.

 

 

2 years 18M tops is my bet:D

[kreinbihl34]

2 years maybe, 11M a season is a stretch.

 

The Sox stand by what they think a player is worth, just look at Lowell. They offered him less then what everyone else wanted and stood by it. And that was after a career year at the plate. Don't fool yourself with this whole loyalty deal. The Sox FO runs the team like a buisness, and there not going to bend over and take it from an over the hill catcher, that bats with a wiffle ball bat. They will offer him what they think is a good deal and if he doesn't take it they will move on. I love Tek, but i don't see the Sox giving him that much money. They have stood by him this year, and haven't embarrased him while he has struggled with the bat, but if he returns, I think it will be understood he will see a little less time and will be pinch hit for in certain situations. If not, thank you for your time and effort and good luck to you in the future.

 

 

2 years 18M tops is my bet:D

 

Wow interesting on the whole contract situation. My best bet is that he will get a two year contract offer from the red sox at six to seven million a year.

 

Edit:

Interesting thought crossed my mind though, do you think the sox give him a Wakefield type option offer? Say lifetime options for four million a year or is that not allowed now? Because I agree with JHB on the idea that Tek could be an average defensive catcher for another three to four years, while contributing this year's line or possibly slightly better IMO.

[BoSox21]

Interesting thought crossed my mind though, do you think the sox give him a Wakefield type option offer? Say lifetime options for four million a year or is that not allowed now?

 

I would be curious to see how much Theo would have to spike Scott Boras' drink to get him to agree to a deal like that.

[TheKilo]

What's the difference between 2/22 and 2/18, especially if there aren't any "certain" replacements in our system?

 

The Sox won't care about $4 mil over two years - they gave that much to Alex Cora

[BSN07]

2/22M is a slight raise I believe. 2/18M is a significant cut in pay. And 18M was my peak guess. I wouldnt be surprised if they offered him 6 or 7M a year, no we are talking 12M or 14M, and that is a difference.

[TheKilo]

2 million = significant pay cut, but a slight raise?

 

Besides, the Sox won't care about paying him $1 million more per year if he accepts a two year deal (which is what the Sox really want)

[TheKilo]

Besides, the Lowell comp doesn't really hold water because he was coming off a WS MVP season and was looking for a four year deal.

 

Tek will be coming off a struggle of a season, looking for a 2-3 year deal.

[BSN07]

2 million = significant pay cut, but a slight raise?

 

Besides, the Sox won't care about paying him $1 million more per year if he accepts a two year deal (which is what the Sox really want)

 

Well and pay cut is significant to the players LOL I totally get where your coming from, and can see the Sox doing either or. I just think 2 years is the max they offer, and I don't see him getting a pay raise. The Sox FO has the leverage here, with Tek's batting woes. There going to want him to take a cut, not give him a raise.

 

 

And if Boras trys his usual dog and pony act, then I think they Sox will walk away. I don't think Boras will have much to do with these negotiations, if Tek wants to be in Bos, he will tell him to take whatever. if money is important, then this is when we could see Tek heading elsewhere.

[Mr Crunchy]

y'all think theres a big market for a 37 yr old catcher whos hitting .220 with little power?

and by market i mean a team thats going to step up and drop 40M on him?

who has that coin?

the dodgers??Frank Mccourt is going to try and keep manny,that will eliminate him from the tek sweepstakes as he has some fiscal issues of his own.

anaheim is set,chicagos are set and the yanks are set,the mets wont pay tek either.

so

how many teams will persue him with the zest and vigor it will take to get him out of boston?

his options will be limited

[Paradisecity]

2 years 7 per is my guess, 14, maybe 15 total.

[Mr Crunchy]

tek cant bitch about an offer like that

and i am sure he has enuff cash in his pocket to run his armadillo farm in bumble f*** georgia

tom

bc opens tomm

are you making a trip down for a game or what?

[BoSox21]

Can Tek really expect a higher annual salary than he's earned over the last 4 years? Two years at $7 mil a year is what I'd expect

[TheKilo]

In a word, yes. The Sox have no certain replacements for Varitek. He knows this, Boras knows this. I don't think the Red Sox would care if they had to pay him $1 million per year more as long as he accepts a two year deal.

[kreinbihl34]

I agree they have no certain replacements behind him, but that doesn't mean anything to the Red Sox. We have had a merry-go-around at SS the last five years and still pulled out two World Titles. I'm sorry but to me Tek is an expendable player. Leadership is great and all, but we're not talking about baby faced kids anymore; add on to the fact we have others who have been here long enough.

 

Edit:

I'd be glad to give him his three years if thats what he really wants, but he better also be able to accept the five to seven million a year, not nine to ten.