Sox still pursuing Tek

[jacksonianmarch]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090108&content_id=3737583&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp&partnerId=rss_mlb

 

Interesting read.

[CrespoBlows]

Make a trade for an quality catcher, and use the savings from Teixeira to sign a whole bunch of prospects in the 2009 draft.

[Cocos Disciples]

Ugh. Just let him go.

[BSN07]

I am on the side of let him go now. I'd much rather see a young Catcher brought in. But if that's not possible, then could bring back Tek for 1 year, I wouldn't cry about it.

[BoSox21]

Publicly, Epstein seems content at the idea of filling the catcher spot in house and I'm sure he would be more than happy to take the draft picks for Varitek. The FO did a good job of taking all the leverage away from Boras in this case.

[riverside sluggers]

Id much rather have a platoon of Bard/Kottaras plus the 2 draft picks

[BSN07]

Id much rather have a platoon of Bard/Kottaras plus the 2 draft picks

 

Me too. But who is going to sign Tek? I guess someone could get desperate in ST.

 

 

Is there an experation date for the draft pick?

[riverside sluggers]

Ive only heard speculation about the Mets. At season's end there was interest from the Astros, but that was the last time its been brought up

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Let him walk.

 

 

The Orioles (one catcher ATM), Nationals (three terrible ones), Mets, Padres, and Astros all have catcher needs to some degree. Varitek will get picked up. Probably sometime in early February.

[rician blast]

Ive only heard speculation about the Mets. At season's end there was interest from the Astros' date=' but that was the last time its been brought up[/quote']

 

Don't the 'Stros already have a sub .225 hitter in Ausmus?

[BoSox21]

I thought Ausmus retired

[BSN07]

I honestly don't see another team out there. Maybe NYM. LAD was a possibility, but that was only if Martin went to 3B and he won't since Blake is back.

 

 

Maybe he waits until ST and someone gets injured or something.

 

Maybe he won't sign until his divorce is final. That way the ol ball and chain doesn't get any of his new deal:dunno:

[BoSox21]

Maybe he won't sign until his divorce is final. That way the ol ball and chain doesn't get any of his new deal:dunno:

 

Maybe thats why he turned down $10 mil in arbitration

[BSN07]

Maybe thats why he turned down $10 mil in arbitration

 

In all honesty it very well could be. I mean we are all looking at it from a baseball standpoint. He is looking at it like he just lost half of everything. Why give her half of the 10M, when he can wait and sign for 5M. Yes he ends up with the same amount if he had split the original 10M, but she wouldn't get anything. And if he is anything like a typical guy going through divorce, he doesn't want to give her another nickel.

 

 

 

It's just a thought though.

[TheKilo]

The Orioles won't sign Varitek because Matt Wieters is the future of their franchise.

[Cocos Disciples]

Is Wieters ready to go?

[riverside sluggers]

Shunning Boras from the meeting could get a deal in place

 

WEEI.com reports that Red Sox owner John Henry is scheduled to have a one-on-one meeting Friday with Jason Varitek.

 

The Red Sox may give re-signing Varitek one last try before moving on to potential trade targets. Varitek has seemingly drawn little interest on the free agent market after rejecting Boston's arbitration offer.

[Cocos Disciples]

No! Enough! Move on!

[example1]

I bet he's a Red Sox catcher next year. He's too good a guy and a leader to have drawn such little interest so the Sox should be able to get him for not too much.

[riverside sluggers]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/thebuzz/

 

It was Varitek who requested the meeting

[Cocos Disciples]

Of course it was, the Sox are his only option.

[italstallianion]

I hope that means that he'd be able to go back for cheaper. I mean in all fairness the money that we save will be peanuts, but it'll be a message nonetheless. Plus the money could get put to good use through the draft where it isn't necessarily merely peanuts.

 

Plus, without a trade I don't think our options are in multitude. I still say go for a trade over Tek, but I think there are worse things than a 1 year deal under a lower price, whilst being able to keep all of our prospects.

 

If we traded for a young catcher we'd be able to get Varitek to mentor him perhaps. I trust Theo's judgment though. He's earned it.

[Cocos Disciples]

^ While right now it seems nobody would sign him, if someone did then we would get picks as well.

[BSN07]

Bringing Tek back on a 1 yr deal isn't all that bad. They could still look to deal for a Catcher as well.

[italstallianion]

^ While right now it seems nobody would sign him' date=' if someone did then we would get picks as well.[/quote']

 

 

True, however, judging by the lack of interest (and the team giving up a draft pick) I see Varitek retiring or signing after the deadline which would leave the Sox without either draft pick and without Varitek.

 

In my dream world, I'd have Varitek sign elsewhere, get the pick (say a 2nd round pick) and the supplemental pick and then trade either Bowden or Bard for Montero (or trade a few for Teagarden) and use the picks in June.

 

That said, that's just what happens in my dreams, I'd be happy with many alternate scenarios. I just want a decent catching option and either the draft picks or retain our top prospects. At the least I hope to save some money in a deal with Varitek. Each little bit can go a long way.

[riverside sluggers]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/

 

Varitek and Henry had met for 90 minutes

[Dojji]

Look at it this way guys, we've been bringing in washouts and low-risk high reward gambles on 1 year deals for everyone else's players, we've got a shot to pull a similar deal on one of our own guys, and at a position of need.

 

While I do believe in Bard, Kottaras and Brown's ability to between them field 2 average catchers, I see no reason not to apply the same philosophy to guys who were on our 25 man roster last year that we apply to everyone else's veteran castoffs -- if you can get a cheap deal on a player who you think has a good chance to do the job, why not?

[BSN07]

Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe reports that Jason Varitek thought last night's meeting with Red Sox owner John Henry "went OK." Varitek confirmed he wants to play for the Red Sox this year in a text message.

 

Varitek, who requested the meeting, did not comment when asked if the Red Sox were interested in bringing him back.

[msubulldogs21]

If you can get a cheap deal on a player who you think has a good chance to do the job' date=' why not?[/quote']

 

...Only I don't think Varitek has a "good chance" of doing the job, at least at the plate anyway.

[jacksonianmarch]

If Theo's plan all along was to get Tek back for one yr at cheap money, he played this beautifully.