A novel solution to the Varitek question?

[Dojji]

I don't know if Varitek would go for it, but would it be possible to give him a contract with a coaching option if he can't stick behind the plate next year? There's no denying that Varitek is a very solid coaching prospect and will probably manage in the big leagues somewhere when his playing days are over.

 

Being able to phase him into the coaching staff if we sign him to a deal and it turns out he needs to hang it up would allow the Sox to keep hold of a valuable asset to our pitchers without running the risk of having our roster clogged by a bad old player for a couple years if he can't get it done. And it would mean that Varitek would probably succeed Tito as the Sox manager when and if his health makes it impossible for him to be in the dugout anymore.

[BoSox21]

I dont think Varitek has Scott Boras as an agent so he can get a coaching contract

[Dojji]

Coaching OPTION. He'd be signed as a player but if he needed to hang them up his contract would allow him to remain with the Boston Red Sox in a coaching capacity.

 

Varitek rammed his last contract down Boras' throat though in order to stay with the Red Sox. I'd like to hope that we treated him well enough that that sentiment persists. Boras will rattle the chains a little bit trying to stir up offers and money from other teams in order to increase the money Tek gets from Theo but I can't really picture Tek in another uniform.

[BoSox21]

yea, but why would he need to retire from being a player in the first place? I dont think there's any doubt that he isnt thinking about being anything but a player for the next few years. I dont see the Sox bending over backwards to keep Varitek, theyve shown theyre very willing to cut ties with guys who are dear in the hearts of RSN when its time

[Gom]

Varitek will not retire IMO.

 

Expect Varitek to sign a contract elsewhere if he wants to be a starter, but as a backup catcher, I can't see him anywhere but Boston.

[Paradisecity]

My guess is he comes back and we get trade for some young hot stud catcher for Tek to split time with and groom.

 

I hope that young hot stud isn't Kevin Cash.

[riverside sluggers]

Ive heard that the Astros and Tigers are interested in bringing him in for a platoon role

[Dojji]

I could see it. Lord knows JR Towles and Dusty Ryan could stand the mentoring.

[inkman]

My guess is he comes back and we get trade for some young hot stud catcher for Tek to split time with and groom.

 

I hope that young hot stud isn't Kevin Cash.

 

I am hoping this is the solution as well. Tek can still be an asset but a young decent hitting catcher to split time with would be key.

[TheKilo]

Novel solution would be to make Varitek Wake's caddy.

[Dojji]

No, that's just a stupid solution. A more novel solution is to have Varitek caddy for the rookies who might benefit from his extra help and let New Rookie Catcher X handle Wakefield plus the rest of the staff.

[TheKilo]

Oh OK.

 

Throwing out baserunners may be an issue but that's life for every catcher who works with Wake.

 

Care to tell me why it's a "stupid solution" - besides, he can help the rookies even when working with Wakefield.

 

No more stupid than "coaching options"

[Dojji]

1: It wastes Varitek's biggest talents to have him caddy for a 1 pitch pitcher

 

2: It also exposes his biggest flaws (arm and K-ball handling) with no particular advantage gained

 

3: Varitek's not very good at it, or at least is wildly out of practice

 

4: Catching the knuckleball is very hard on a catcher, which is why it made sense to use the caddy system in the first place.

 

5: No way Tito or Tek would go for it.

 

And before you go knocking the concept of a guy moving right into the coaching staff, you might remember Billy Ballgame did it back in '06 and MLB has a long history (albeit a short list) of player-managers.

 

I would like to have Tek's influence on some of our young pitchers as they make the transition into the big leagues. I think he helped Lester, Papelbon, Masterson, etc a lot to attack hitters with the confidence that one of the two members of the battery have been through this before. Veteran starters have been around the block and probably don't need him as much so that's where you bring in the young catcher. It makes greater than zero sense anyway.

[TheKilo]

1: It wastes Varitek's biggest talents to have him caddy for a 1 pitch pitcher

 

How so - they're all in the same clubhouse

 

2: It also exposes his biggest flaws (arm and K-ball handling) with no particular advantage gained

 

The advantage is Varitek has fewer ABs. Make him Wake's Caddy and catch LHP.

 

3: Varitek's not very good at it, or at least is wildly out of practice

 

Easily fixable, especially with someone like Varitek's supposed work ethic.

 

4: Catching the knuckleball is very hard on a catcher, which is why it made sense to use the caddy system in the first place.

 

Ok, make Tek the caddy

 

5: No way Tito or Tek would go for it.

 

Really?

 

I would like to have Tek's influence on some of our young pitchers as they make the transition into the big leagues. I think he helped Lester, Papelbon, Masterson, etc a lot to attack hitters with the confidence that one of the two members of the battery have been through this before. Veteran starters have been around the block and probably don't need him as much so that's where you bring in the young catcher. It makes greater than zero sense anyway.

 

If he's brought back as Wake's caddy, it's not like he wouldn;t be able to talk to these guys. He can still exhibit some influence.