Varitek, Byrd offered arbitration
The Red Sox offered arbitration to catcher Jason Varitek and pitcher Paul Byrd before tonight's midnight deadline to do so. They did not offer arbitration to any of their other free agents. Varitek and Byrd are the only two of the Sox free agents to be classified as either a Type A or Type B free agent, with Varitek as an A and Byrd as a B.
That means that, if either player chooses to decline arbitration, the Red Sox stand to benefit with extra draft picks. If Varitek declines -- and the Sox do not later sign him -- the Sox would be awarded a first round pick and a sandwich pick in the 2009 draft. If Byrd declines, the Sox would get a supplemental pick in the same draft. Varitek is almost certain not to accept arbitration, as he (and agent Scott Boras) have in mind a multi-year contract either with the Red Sox or with another team.
Byrd also appears unlikely to accept arbitration from the Sox.
-Scott Boras is a pimp.
-Varitek is one of his many girls.
-Major League Baseball teams are his high-paying regulars.
Get that money Varitek. It's all about "feeding your family," isn't it? Uncle Scotty will make sure they eat real good.
You'd be living in a cardboard box if it wasn't for Uncle Scotty.
Type your comment here...I hope Boras and Tek reconsider and take arbitration. The team obviously wants him back but to ask for a multi-year deal for a catcher who is in his late thirties is too risky.
If the Sox are about to sign Teixiera, Boras will likely try to extort some extra money for Tek to grease the wheels. If Teixiera goes elsewhere, Tek's chances of a big Red Sox payday go down drastically, I would imagine.
I think it would be a good idea for Varitek to accept it, then sign for a year and prove himself (or not). I hope Byrd doesn't accept.
I love Tek, but no way he gets Posada money. Posada shouldn't have gotten Posada money. His contract was a joke that only the Yankees would fall for. Three years, $27M would be plenty for Tek. However, I don't think the Sox want to go that high. They made an exception for Mike Lowell, and will now likely pay the price, although I hope Mikey comes back and tears it up next season. If he does, they can tell Teixeira to stick his $200M demands where the sun doesn't shine too.
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