Varitek, Henry meet for 90 minutes
Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek and owner John Henry met for approximately 90 minutes near the player's Atlanta-area home Friday night, but it remains unclear as to whether Varitek is any closer to returning to the team.
Communicating via text message after the meeting, Varitek would say only that the meeting
"went OK" and that there was "nothing to report." The Red Sox’ captain and longtime catcher said he met with Henry "to speak [about] how I feel" and answered "yes" when asked if his desire was to return to the team for the 2009 season.
Varitek declined comment when asked if the Red Sox similarly expressed a desire for him to return. He also declined to address any specifics as to why he remains unsigned less than four weeks before pitchers and catchers are due to report to spring training.
Late last night, Henry returned an e-mail declining comment.
"It wouldn't be appropriate,'' wrote the Red Sox owner.
According to a baseball source, it was Varitek who requested the meeting.
Earlier this offseason, Varitek filed for free agency for the second time in his career, with agent Scott Boras going so far as to suggest that the player might warrant a deal in the range of the four-year, $52 million package awarded catcher Jorge Posada by the New York Yankees following the 2007 campaign.
The market for Varitek has barely developed and the catcher might have forfeited an annual salary in the range of $10 million-$12 million when he turned down an arbitration offer from the Sox last month. He is coming off a four-year, $40 million deal he signed following the 2004 season.
By offering Varitek arbitration, the Sox also ensured that they would receive a compensatory first-round draft selection should he sign with another club. The existence of that pick, along with Boras's insistence on a multi-year deal, has resulted in a virtually nonexistent market for the player, who batted .220 last season and will turn 37 on April 11.
Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said earlier this week that it is possible Varitek could return to Boston.
"There's still some unfinished business," Epstein said. "Jason's still out there. As I said at the beginning of the offseason, he has been a really important guy here, to this organization. By no means have we shut the door on him. There's still unfinished business there, and also in the pursuit of a younger catcher."
Josh Bard, who was signed to a one-year non-guaranteed deal with an option earlier this offseason, is the only catcher on the team's 40-man roster with significant major league experience. But the Sox view him as a backup. The other catchers are George Kottaras and Dusty Brown, neither of whom figures to be a major league starter this season.
Asked about Varitek's decision to decline arbitration earlier this week, Epstein said, "That's always the player's decision. The player and agent get together and decide what's in their best interest. But certainly it was something we were hoping he would have accepted and get him back under those terms. But that's behind us now and we'll see what happens next.
"We haven't ruled anything in or anything out at this point."
GOOD! I hope this gets this done and over with. We need Tek' back and I don't care what anybody says! We can all postulate about what ifs but all I know is when Tek' went down in 2006 that pitching staff fell apart and with no viable replacement in place this close to Spring Training and with a team built this well with a real chance to return to the World Series I think it would be beyomd idiotic not to bring back the Capatain for another 2 years. I don't care about his .220 BA, lok at the RAYS they had a few guys with bad BA's and that really didn't hurt them in the AL East. REMEMBER; It's pitching & defense that wins championships not a number 9 hitter with a .290 batting average!!!
GOOD!!!! 'Tek needs to FIRE Boras........he hosed him BIG TIME!!!!!!
No! Please just let this guy go, last year i wanted him ti strike out so he wouldnt hit into a double play, keep his bats though they are fairly new,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,he didnt use-em
Let him go. He's done. Can't hit the fastball anymore.
We can get another catcher.
No Theo or Lucchino? This is odd.
They're sending Henry either because the owner really wants him back and is willing to over pay to show respect
Or, they're going in a different direction and John wants to personally say thanks for everything.
I bet they get a deal done though.
You know, with the incentive laden contracts to Smoltzy and Kotsay (big fan of both, btw) why not give Tek a chance to make some money if he can bring up that average. Let's face it, the pitching won't get worse with him on board, and we've wasted money on guys that brought less to the table. (Clement or Renteria ring a bell?)
Still go after a young 'un, but bring Tek back to show him the way
Let him walk. The red sox should be done with Boras and his clients. Talk about overrated! No offer from other clubs should tell you that.
Hey. The Sox gave broken armed Curt schilling $8mil last year for no pitches thrown.....get Tek back here to work with what is potentially the best pitching staff in the world. He's worth a run per game just being here.
Do it without Boras.
It looks like we're stuck with him.. Boo Boo Boo.
please do not taketek back .how arogant can you be to refuse arbitration and probably around more than 10 million dollars with his 220 batting average. he said the heck with you red sox i am worth much more than that. do not forget how he got mad at tito when he pinch hit for him in the playoffs. way to think of the team first mr. captain
Enough with the standoff. Boston needs a catcher, the best one the team's ever had is sitting home in Georgia, with nothing to do and Spring Training starts sooner than one would think. Sign him up and bring 'Tek back.
Why aren't Kottaras and Brown figured to be major league starters? What are they lacking that Tek has so much more of? Tek's lost much of his range and doesn't hit as well as he did. But his game calling skills are so important and so much better that these guys don't even get a chance? Why have AAA players unless you project them to eventually help the parent club? Go into spring training with these two and Bard and see how quickly Tek signs, but even if he does, give them the opportunity to compete to be the starter. Gotta find out what they can do sometime.
DO NOT OVERPAY!!!
Just get it done. Tek has ment too much to this team, and this city for his time here to end in a fight. Just do a deal that is fair for both sides (because they do need each other). And Tek can retire a Sox and we hang 33 on the right field wall in a few years, end of story.
Here's hoping that better heads (and not ego) will prevail. Tek is needed for at least one more year and maybe a second year to help teach Taylor Teagarden after we get him in a trade. Then maybe Tek can be a coach in the system for as long as he desires. Hope things work out for both sides.
Come to your senses 'Tek. You are happy here and still needed.
No! Please just let this guy go, last year i wanted him ti strike out so he wouldnt hit into a double play, keep his bats though they are fairly new,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,he didnt use-em
A nice gesture by the Sox would be to offer Jason the 1 year at $10M he probably would have gotten in arbitration. Throw in a second year at the clubs option, and make it contingent upon him finding a new agent. Boras has done him no good at all, and deserves to be flushed. Jason Varitek should finish his career here, have his number up over the bleachers along with Joe, Jimmy, Teddy, Bobby, Johnny, Carl and Carleton, and be on the coaching staff when he hangs up the bat and glove.
What comes around seems to go around. I like Varitek I think his agent needs to see the light of day in a new economic time. The day of the big dollar deal is going so fast some players are getting burnt.
wish they would just let him go...a veteran pitching staff like ours doesnt need his help as much as we once did. it would be great to fill his spot in the lineup that wont fly out or ground to 2nd all day ong too..
SEATTLE -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of How much is Tek reaklly worth it...
Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik today announced that the Mariners have re-signed catcher Jamie Burke. Burke, who became a free agent after he was not tendered a contract on Dec. 12, has agreed to terms on a 2009 Minor League contract.
Burke, 37, appeared in 48 games with the Mariners last season, hitting .261 (24-for-92) with 3 doubles and 1 home run. He hit .341 (14-for-41) vs. left-handed pitching and threw out over 29% (5 of 17) of opponents attempting to steal a base. Burke hit .333 (12-for-36) in 22 games after the All-Star Break.
Lets go Tek. SIgn on the line. Drop Boras as your agent and lets get the ship pointed at another penant.
It's about time!!!!
I hope they don't re-sign him. It's time to move on.
Ugh, go away, Varitek. Nobody wants you and your telephone pole swing, your nonexistent arm, and your elitist attitude. Enough of this "clinging to the past" with Varitek and Wakefield. They clog up roster spots and offer no value whatsoever. Varitek ends more rallies than he starts and Wakefield cost them the LCS game last year in Tampa.
I'd be curious to know if Boras is participating or if this is Henry and Varitek hammering out a deal on their own (I hope). It'd be the second time in a year (A-Rod) that this would have happened to Boras.
Boras has literally cost Varitek millions by electing to decline arbitration. If he strikes a deal with Henry directly he should fire Boras first and then sign the deal so he can save 5%!
you got scooped again by Sons of Sam Horn. Please give credit where credit is due.
Scott Boras is in Atlanta today with Derek Lowe to sign with the Braves. Boras may not be "at the table" but don't assume he won't be at the meeting with you John Henry.
One question, who asked for the meeting??
I heard they are meeting at Wild Wings Cafe in Alpharetta, GA on Windward Parkway! Great wings!
.......I'm not a Varitek fan...not at all......he can't hit at all.....he can't throw out base stealers.....he is not the type of a guy to be a Captain......cut him loose before he is worthless in all respects....players come and go.....he is no different.....final sayonara, lover boy!!
Way cool. I say offer Tek 2 million to play for the sox this year and through in a 9 million dollar bonus if he fires his agent!!!
Maybe John Henry wants to find out personally if there is any truth to the Heidi Watney rumors....
We cannot afford a 2.20 hitter who failed miserably when the middle of the lineup was left hanging for most of the season... Let him go!!!!
"You know, with the incentive laden contracts to Smoltzy and Kotsay (big fan of both, btw) why not give Tek a chance to make some money if he can bring up that average. Let's face it, the pitching won't get worse with him on board, and we've wasted money on guys that brought less to the table. (Clement or Renteria ring a bell?)
Still go after a young 'un, but bring Tek back to show him the way"
I'm sorry but there is something called learning from your mistakes. As good of a catcher as he may be at calling a game, that doesn't mean that there's not other good catchers out there. We need to get younger. We have to part with him sooner or later so if not now then won't we be in the same boat this time next year?
Great news! Let's get the deal done!
Hopefully Henry doesn`t offer more than 5 mil for 2 years.
".he is not the type of a guy to be a Captain." That is crazy! His bat is too slow, he should NEVER hit left handed again, and he can't throw out runners consistently. He can, however, call a great game. And he CAN be the leader of this team. I like an incentive laden deal with a club option for 2010. And I really like throwing Boras under the bus being in the contract.
This makes sense as Henry seems to be the one who can be the most cold business minded about this situation. Theo seeks to emotionally involved to not keep waiting. And it sounds like a meeting without Boras too, doesn't it? My concern would be, Boras is probably still in Georgia with Derek Lowe signing with the Braves.
If Varitek looks like he walking funny next season, It's because he got the uncomfortable prison treatment from Boras in the offseason. Tek needs to take the one year deal the Sox offer him. He needs to groom his replacement and end his career on a high note. He is one of the best catchers of this generation. He has nothing to hang his head about, well maybe his choice of agents is questionable but, I think he should take the year offer and call it a successful career.
Remember, Varitek was in the middle of a nasty divorce last year. Hopefully, he has that BS put behind him and he rebounds from the stress of it all.
Not making excuses, but I don't think the guy is done. I can remember a certain Sox pitcher that wore his emotions on his sleeve that had a down year during his divorce.
Just because these guys have jobs where they perform in front of thousands and make millions for doing it doesn't mean that they are not human.
This is a great opportunity for the Red Sox to deal with Varitek on their terms. Spring training for pitchers and catchers is only four weeks away and no market whatsoever has developed for Varitek. No one is going to pay Boras money for Tek, who clearly is on the downslide, personal problems or not. Baseball is not going to be exempt from the economic downturn, unless you are the Yankees. How about a one year deal for Tek in the $4 million range with some incentives. How sweet to beat Boras.
Editorialist,
You said, "Boston needs a catcher, the best one the team's ever had is sitting home in Georgia, with nothing to do"
What's Carlton Fisk doing down there? He can't help the Sox, he's 61 years old.
As the Country collapses and people lose their homes by the millions isn't it important that people worry about "Tek", "Youk", "C.C." and "Tex". Meanwhile, the Yankees add insult to injury by having the audacity to ask for more public funds...If only everyone would put this same energy into holding their elected officials accountable. Good luck to all these big contract holders collecting...with any luck the entire system will collapse and they'll be left with only their GREED.
Remember, Varitek was in the middle of a nasty divorce last year. Hopefully, he has that BS put behind him and he rebounds from the stress of it all.
Not making excuses, but I don't think the guy is done. I can remember a certain Sox pitcher that wore his emotions on his sleeve that had a down year during his divorce.
Just because these guys have jobs where they perform in front of thousands and make millions for doing it doesn't mean that they are not human.
Tek was worth the 10mill+, he probably would have gotten in arbitration, & still is in my mind. I haven't seen one name out there that is actually a #1 catcher. Furthermore, none of them have shown that they can consistently put up the offensive numbers that are that much better than Tek's. The guy has been a lunch pail type of player for Boston since coming from Seattle. I would love to see him finish his career here & eventually move into the coaching ranks for the Red Sox. I definitely don't want to see him parting with ill feelings, so I hope that this meeting tonight at least clears the air & recognizes Tek's accomplishments here in Boston, & leaves the door open for him here in Boston, whether or not they can agree to get a deal done.
One of the two best catchers in my life time on the Sox, remember Fisk please. Last season he had a career ending output if no reason for it can be discovered. I would suspect his marital issues weighed heavily on his mind. Many people have off years when under personal tensions. Sign him short term for decent money with long term bonus possibilities and team options.
Tek could have taken arbitration and made over 10M, but him and his greedy agent declined. I don't want him back at all but if the sox decide they need him then they should pay no more than 3million or I will be pissed.
Its time to move on?? We are not talking about a broken sexual relationship here! Its simple, in 09 the sox will be a better team with Tek than with whats available. Sign him, pitchers and catchers report in less than a month.
Can't help but think that if he signs, Boras wins. That flat-out makes me sick. The RS should walk away. Tek CHOSE not to take arbitration and it's his choice to hang onto Scott Boras. If one two or three year offer had come thru he would've been long gone by now. Tek's age, his .220 BA and the fact that the catching problem STILL won't be resolved tells me Henry should just say "thanks for everything" and move on. Most importantly, no way I want to see Boras claim victory, which he certainly will, when it should be a humbling defeat. There are no other offers. Boras completely misread the market with regard to Varitek and John Henry's gonna help him save face.
I only want Tek back if it's going to be for 1 year and as a mentor to Salty or Montero or some other young guy.
The guy hit .180 after May last year. Uh, that's not good.
I will be very happy if the Sox can make a deal with Tek. His knowledge and command of the staff is unrivaled, let's offer him one year, $8M with a second year team option.
Thank god Boras is not there. Come back Tek!
Type your comment here..
A few things.....
1.) While Boras is the devil, the player makes the final call, so it's Tek who tried to hold us up. Don't cave - cap the offer st $3 mil for 1 year with some performance incentives for good faith.
2.) The one thing everyone refers to is Tek's "playcalling ability." He lost us the ALCS with that (in)ability by taking 4 games to figure out not to throw the ball hi and inside to Upton and Longoria and low and away to Pena. And it WAS Tek calling for the pitches most of the time, not missed location.
3.). His bat and arm are shot.
Make the trade for Salty. He's gonna be a stud and is young. Please don't tug at the heartstrings.....Wakefield already has cost us a useful body with that.
No more than 2 years.He is the best around to work with pitchers.!0 million for 2 years and then go after Papelbon big time
Any Sox fan that has thrown Tek under the bus should stay out of Fenway. Go route for the yankees. This guy has helped us win two WS in a short span of time and has suffered with the rest of us while he played his heart out. He had a bad year at the plate last year- big deal! A guy with his pedigree will be back, simply put. In fact, ask the Sox pitchers who they want to throw to...you know who it is.
Come on people! Work it out! We want Varitek to stay!!! We need your leadership! We need your heart!!! Don't go Jason!!!
Come on people! Work it out! We want Varitek to stay!!! We need your leadership! We need your heart!!! Don't go Jason!!!
Varitek has been a positive force in the clubhouse, and an excellent catcher for many seasons. He is a terrible batter, though, and is losing his throwing arm as well. He is a natural leader, and we don't have many good catchers to choose from -- those are the plusses for Tek. On the flip side, his time is past, and we need to find and develop some good young talent. I will miss him if he goes, but it is time to look to to the future, to keep the Red Sox a winning team.
These are the facts. Varitek's average was .220 last year. For the last three years combined, his average has been .238. A three year average is not a slump, it's a reality. Time to move on.
regarding putting the screws to boras, doesn't he represent matsuzaka? and
who else with the sox? a war of attrition won't be pretty. i would dearly love to see
his whole stable fire him but as long as the nyy remain, he will have plenty of work
and support ( "buzzards of a feather", as it were)
My guess is the Sox will give Tek a two year deal for $ 20 mil; and he's overpaid at that. There isn't a market, anymore, for a 37 year old catcher that hits .220. In the days of team loyalty, it would have made a difference however loyalty walked out the door when free agency and their high priced agents walked in.
I agree with the other poster while watching many a Sox game last year I found myself doing the unthinkable, yes that's right wishing that my home town player would strike out, so that he didn't hit into double play, as jason had done so, so, so many times.
Once again, I am finding myself doing the same thing cheering for Jason to strike out only this time I hope he strikes out on his negotiations and leaves Boston to his recent memories - Go now, in peace, just go...
Rule for the ages..."Don't get caught with a falling star. "
Game calling is overrated. We've got some smart pitchers who know what to throw, and when to throw it. Let's let these veterans pitch what they want to pitch and lay them game on them, not the catcher.
Having said that, I'm all for signing Varitek on a one year, short money deal with incentives and a team option for 2010. If the Sox want to play the low risk/high reward game with the Penny, Smoltz and Saito signings, which I agree with, then why not with an aging catcher too?
Dear Mr. Henry: Cap it it $2.5 million. If that doesn't get it done, pick up the check , thank Jason for a wonderful evening as well as a great career that he had with the Sox and walk away.
I don't think you can put the blame on Tek for the pitching errors in the ACLS...or he also gets all the credit for Game 1 with Dice-K which was one of the best performances I have seen from him. It wasn't the bad calls that made game 2 a loss...it was Beckett being hurt. And in Game 6, Beckett gave the performance of his life while pitching all beaten up...then Pap came in and closed the game with increased soreness and decreased velocity.
I always go back to the incredible amount of loyalty from the pitching staff to Tek...it says a lot to me about his value behind the plate. I hope the deal gets made and Tek comes back to the team.
P.S. And if Tek is meeting without Boras...it's about time! Maybe Manny will start meeting with teams on his own too. Boras is a cancer to all things baseball....are you listening Ells???
Sign him to a 2 year deal...deal with his offense...then get Joe Maurer as a free agent!
I sincerely hope Jasons Varitek tells Scott "Pit-bull" Boras to take a VERY LONG, COLD SWIM in the Charles River, and that he, and John Henry can reach an agreement on a contract, say for one-year plus an option for 2010. I think Dustin Pedroia put it best in his round-table discussion at Theo Epstein's and Peter Gammons' "Hot Stove, Cool Music" event last week, that "Your agent works FOR YOU," and that "you don't work for you agent." Sadly, the game needs more players like Pedroia, Tim Wakefield, and Kevin Youkilis, as well as more agents like Ron Shapiro, Jack Sands, and John Boggs,. Here's wishing Tek and Henry good luck.
Will Manny request to meet with Mr. Henry next ?
I'm very glad that they're meeting & hopefully going to make a deal...however, who does your editing?
"Free-agent catcher and Jason Varitek confirmed that he is meeting with Sox owner John Henry"... The opening sentence of this article makes me wonder who the free agent catcher is...
A previous comment hit the nail on the head...why does Tek get so much credit for good pitching performances, yet when the pitchers get lit up ( see 2008 ALCS , Upton et.al.) , none of that is Tek's fault, it's all on the pitchers? Along with a .220 BA and the inability to throw anybody out anymore, it just might be time to say Thank you and Goodnight.
stick a fork in em' he's DONE.....
We need Tek. You think Smoltz, Penny, Beckett and Dice-K are gonna trust Bard or some untested AAA catcher. Whether or not he play 90% or 50% of the time Tek needs to be here for the pitchers. A small year or two year contact with lots of incentives is the way to go. Come on now...its not like we haven't had players here that struck out a lot....Belhorn, Lugo...etc. He is the Captain and has a jerk for an agent. he had a bad year...everyone is allowed a bad year...
This is really simple. What are our options? We can't have Bard catching every day, right? The pitching staff would have to suffer if that was the case. Sign Varitek for 2/17-18 and let him groom some young'uns. Yeah, it's a spaghetti bat in the lineup but can he be any worse than last year? The guy went through a divorce, he's a proud dude, you'd have to think he's working his tail off to get ready. Also, consider this: would Varitek go to the Yankees like Damon did? Imagine the trade secrets he could share? But he won't go because he hates the Yankees. We can show him a little loyalty, can't we?
Why does anyone care what John Henry pays? It's not our money, and there is no salary cap in baseball. Bring him back already.
Get rid of him...and Twatney too. If you can run Wakefield out on a rail, that would work too.
There are not alot of catchers out there and Tek knows the Red Sox system. Bring him back for a year with incentives for a second.
I think you give him a 3 year deal with a low base and tons of incentives. This should obviously be his last year as a starter, but he could be a very good back up for a few years... much better than Mirasmelli and Cash probably, plus it allows him to stick around for a few years to teach the new starter how to call a good game... right?
Reduce his workload let him guide and give his experience to our crop of good young pitchers.He helped carry the Sox for the last ten years give him the respect that is due him.Let the TEAM carry him for awhile he deserves it. He won't embarrass the TEAM.Good job 'Tek' and thanks.
Bobby from Brockton
Offer him 5 Mil. Tell BorASS to make up the difference as to what HE thinks Tek is worth!
"This guy has helped us win two WS in a short span of time"
So you want Mark Bellhorn back at 2B too? Teams have to cut declining players at the right time, like the Patriots do.
The people who want Varitek back clearly do not understand the dynamic business of baseball. He was offered arbitration at a ridiculously high salary that he doesn't deserve. I liked him as much as the next person, especially because he is such a good guy, but when he said no to arbitration it was like he was snubbing the Sox and the fans. I hope he gets no offers at all and is forced to retire dishonorably. I always thought he'd retire in Boston, but it was TEK who went looking for another deal in another city -- the SOX tried to retain him. Peace out Tek -- hope you have a good life bro -- you ripped out my heart and now I hope the same happens to you!!
Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Tek.
Hey Eric Pitching n defense wins? well btw Jason dosen't pitch and not the best @ defense (throwing runners out) he can't even catch Wake! guess he's to busy checking the past history of hitters.He call a great game, (ya right)if that is so important then it's not about the pitching.i'm surprised catchers don't have a era if this so true.OVER RATED it's not just about Money (greed) it's about production ,only his offense and defense are way below average.a great guy to have (teamate) he's like a Joey Corra was ,a smart backup to have ,around 2 mill
I do think Tek made a mistake or two this off season, but I put most of the blame on Boras. And yes, he has lost his bat, but he does have a great relationship with all of the pitchers and seems to be able to bring out their confidence (2 no-nos in 2 years). No one could disagree that he is one of the most prepared catchers in baseball history, so why not bring him back, let him work with Bard, and the other young guys. Pay him like Smoltz... a reasonable base pay and bonuses upon reaching production goals. If he does well with the bat again, we all win, if he doesn't at least the young catchers will win by get the opportunity to learn from one of the smartest in the game.
Here's what I want. I want to see a press announcement that Tek is coming back and that as part of the deal he agreed to never associate with Boras again. Then, on a serious note, I want to see Tek end his career here and becoming a developing future coach.
Love to see Tek get a combination player / coach offer from the Sox. If his true value is everything that he has to offer working with the pitchers then let him catch another year or two and then make him an offer to work as pitching / catching coach of some sort. This would allow the Sox to offer him a multi year deal without being stuck with him at catcher forever. I can see him taking less $ per yr in a situation like that as well.
Varitek saves a run or two behind the plate, so anything offensive he adds is gravy. You can't honestly say he isn't one of the best pitch caller the game has ever seen.
what happened to the talk about joe mauer ? That would be something to drool about.........
The man is a cheater and deserves nothing. He is over the hill and has been for at least 2 years now. He stole money from the sox for the last 2 years. Let him go already. You people think he is johhny bench.
He made a big mistake passing on arbitration especially in this economy. What was he thinking? He's 37 and has had 3 bad years at the plate. When he got to the plate you were pretty sure nothing good was going to happen. This stuff doesnt get better with age.
I say give him either a 1 year for 7 to 9 mil or multi year for 5 mil b/c he can call a good game.
Do not underestimate the leadership qualities that Jason Varitek brings to the table. He offers intangibles that have made him such a valued member of a team that won its first two World Series titles since 1918. He may not have the same stick that he had coming up through the organization after the steal of the 90’s that brought both him and Derek Lowe to Boston from Seattle, but he is amongst the best and the brightest we have seen play at Fenway Park in recent memory, if not team history. I hope to see him behind the plate on a part time basis next year, perhaps one-third to one-half of the games, preferably teaching the pitching staff ropes to a new catcher, while being groomed for a future managerial role in the organization. One way or the other, I wish him the best.
Tek invited the owner but did not invite the agent, Theo will be invovled in the mtg by phone and Tek will be signed within a few days. Sure he can't hit but he is the best catcher available to work with pitchers, especially young ones, sign him for one maybe two years.
Five Million, one year contract with a team option for year two. That's it. Take it or leave it.
Hey - all of you out there who want to bend for Varitek. I remember that 4 years ago, Varitek stepped up during the negotiations, and told Bor-ass that he wanted to stop at the $40 mil he got offered. That ended it !! HE DIDN'T DO THAT THIS TIME !! He's a grown dude !!...a selfish one...let's move on...... on top of that, I got no respect for a millionaire who trades in his wife and family for a newer model.
Hoping John Henry checks the closets and under the bed at Tek's place before they talk. Just a bit too coincidental to have Tek set up a meeting with John Henry on the very same day Scott Boras is in Atlanta. The timing of ths meeting doesn't quite smell right.
glad to see mr. henry taking control of the situation. tek should come back while the sox also pursue the catcher of the future, no doubt. hes played his ass off here and has been a big part of a lot of big wins, including 2 rings. stats dont always tell the whole story. anyone that has played sports knows that certain players bring things to the table that dont show up on the stat sheet. hes one of those players.
Tek should stay in the organization. Whenever he moves from player to coach, and I'll leave the timing of that to wiser baseball minds, he should stay in the Sox family.
Henry flying out to meet a Boras client? Sounds like he'll be signing with the Yankees on Monday.
John Henry to Tek:
'Thanks Tek for all the years of service but your arm is gone and you totally blew the calls in the ALCS. We are going younger but just to show you I'm not the bad guy in all of this I'll pick up the dinner tab".
Oh, and John one more thing. If you do cave to his sobbing NO MORE THAN ONE YEAR AT 2 MILLION.
Why would the Red Sox give him a two-year deal for $20 million? Arbitration would have been one year at $10 million; are they tipping 100% or something? I don't think they'd give him one year/$10 million now, because they don't need to in this market, and he's not worth it. And if the team gets a young catcher they only need Varitek for one year of mentoring. But if that's what they need, they should hire him as a special coach, and pay him something between a player and coach salary (I know, it won't happen).
Of all the teams in MLB not 1 has shown any interest in Tek. Do you really think they're missing something? Bring him back and watch him achieve the lowest percentage throwing out base stealers. If he comes back and make him bunt w/ a runner on first. All this crap about calling a game. Veteran pitchers shake off what they don't want to throw anyway. The battery does their homework before a game and develop a pitch plan for each hitter in the line up. The veteran pitchers can teach young catchers almost as well as a veteran catcher. Get the young catchers in the game. Let them work out the butterflys, make their mistakes, and develop. Who knows they may hit .270 and throw out more than half the base stealers. wouldn't that be something.
"Remember, Varitek was in the middle of a nasty divorce last year. Hopefully, he has that BS put behind him and he rebounds from the stress of it all.
Not making excuses, but I don't think the guy is done. I can remember a certain Sox pitcher that wore his emotions on his sleeve that had a down year during his divorce."
This excuse is the lamest. A nasty divorce? OK, if you start an affair and an ensuing divorce causes you to under-perform at your job, try blaming the divorce to see if your employer is willing to accept that. That's not about player being a human; it's about doing your job and managing your own personal life. Why should we hold a millionaire player to a standard that's LOWER than average Joe's?
As far as whether he is done, look at his stats for the past 3 years, as some one has pointed out. And don't give us game-calling BS. The Phillies pitching coach's comment prior to the World Series about Red Sox pitchers put the blame right on Varitek.
What I see here is Jason and his agent are playing good cop bad cop, just like A-Rod did last year. Please don't fall for that.
Good, I sincerely hope the Red Sox sign him, I want to see them with a starting catcher who bats 220. In fact, I hope they sign him to a multi-year deal because his hitting will get worse as he gets older and he is already 37.
Tek had a horrible season. I remember Mike Lowell having such a bad year a while back that his team forced the Red Sox to accept him in trade, in order to complete a certain deal. Anyone recall what happened?
Tek has been an invaluable part of two championship teams. He deserves better than what most so-called fans are giving him. Yet we wonder why players take the money and run. I'm ashamed of Red Sox Nation tonight reading most of the comments here. Sickening. I'm not saying to break the bank for him. He HAS been well compensated for the past 4 years. But to be so vicious about it...well those that take that attitude really disgust me as a fan.
It is very very simple....Look at the track record the sox have had when he has gone down to injury. It is bad period. When he's around, the sox are the team that wins around 95 games/ year and gets into the tournament. He isn't an offensive force, never really was. I would love to see him just settle in to one side of the plate for the year and abandon switch hitting, but that is near irrelevant. His game prep is a real difference maker, and pitchers are comfortable with him. I would love to see him end his playing career in Boston and migrate to a coaching roll bullpen coach etc...
Almost all of you Tek haters miss a very important point. You are worried about 4-5 at bats at the bottom of the batting order and forgetting that the catcher is involved with more defensive plays (every pitch) in every game than any other defensive player. Pitchers only pitch every 5 games. Tek catches almost every game. 95% of a catchers job is to catch, not hit. Calling a game is much more important than 5 at bats at the end of the order. I am happy they may get him back, especially with no replacement in sight less than 3 weeks before pitchers and catchers are to report to spring training.
The only way we should take Tek back is in management ... he's done behind the plate ... he can't hit ... he needs to move on with the next stage of his career
Varitek had a good run here, but it's over. His hitting ability is nil and he can't throw out baserunners. Time to bow out gracefully, Tek.
I don't care if he walks to home plate without a bat in his hands for the entire season!!! He is the heart and soul of the pitching staff. The pitchers, young and old have confidence in how he calls a game. There is no other catcher in MLB that calls a better game and prepares his staff for the same. I hope the sox sign him long enough for him to retire in Boston so they can make him part of the coaching staff.
Oh yeah, somebody mentioned that Carlton Fisk was the best backstop in Sox history... Uh, how many rings does old Fiskie have? I'm sorry could you repeat that but say it a little louder.....
The .220 BA isn't as bad as some people make out. That's 93 hits over 423 at bats. Conversely, a .250 hitter would've hit 106 hits. That's 13 more hits over the course of a 131 games, or 1 more hit ever 10 games or so.
Let's face it, it isn't likely we're going to do much better than a .250 hitter behind the plate next year anyway. Thus, I'd take good management of pitchers over 1 more hit every 10 games. Plus, while I don't expect Varitek to regain the form he had a few years ago, I wouldn't be shocked to see him put up .250 and 15 HR next season.
Varitek is an important part of the Red Sox team. His skills in coaching pitchers, the institutional knowledge he carries, his leadership qualities, warrant another 1-2 yr contract. Especially as his valuable knowledge can be passed on to the new generation of Red Sox catchers, Bard, etc.
Boras has not done 'Tek any favors by holding out.
Great news now get it done !
I have to go 50/50. I want him here because of what he brings to the club and to the pitchers.
on the OTHER hand he needs a batting average to match what he does behind the plate. I want to say it was a bad year for him due to personal crap he had going on.
It is hard to just say go; but like that pair of comfortable jeans that are no longer worthy of even your favorite sports bar, what is Theo to do? Josh bard isn't the answer, heck there isn't a good catcher out there at all.
He is still one of my all-time favorite players of the sport not just of the Red Sox.
If it is any indication that Bor-ASS isn't invited it could be that J-Tek is going to come back for two years for like maybe 'tween 14 - 18 mil.
I love how the Red Sox' pitching "fell apart" in 2006 due to Varitek's absence. It wouldn't have anything to do with ham and eggers like Kyle Snyder, Jason Johnson, Lenny DiNardo, or Kevin Jarvis starting games late in that season, would it? Nah, it had to be the Captain. Just look at the great season Clay Buchholz had with 'Tek behind the plate in '08. Oh, wait...
mauer and morneau, anyone?
Who are these idiots saying give him $10 million? How about 3 million plua incentives with the Sox holding an option for 2010. Sorry Jason, your agent cost you millions. Time to say Bye Bye Boras.
It's no accident that JV has been such an able captain of this team. Few players prepare as hard as he does, few catchers can call a game as well as he does--he's a consummate professional. And I don't think that believing that 'Tek will have a better season at the plate this year makes me a hopeless optimist. Personally, I'm hoping that the parties can find common ground, and that 'Tek returns.
OH MY GOD, all you IDIOTS who want to let Tek go because he can't hit (it doesn't freakin MATTER if he can't hit, he is a catcher, his role is to work with the pitchers - he is a No. 9 hittier, WHAT team has a good No. 9 hitter??), who is going to replace him???? There is no one out there that is going to replace him, don't you all realize that? Sign him for one more year, overpay him, who cares. They overpaid for J.D. Drew and Lugo. NOW they have to get rid of Lugo and pay his salary. Don't you think that Tek is worth more to the Red Sox than freakin Lugo???? Tek can come back for the year and work with a younger catcher. By the way the Yankees don't know if Posada is going to be healthy. Do ANY OF YOU want to see Tek is a Yankee Uniform???
Jason, thank you for holding this negotiation without Boras.
I hope you and the Sox come to terms to keep you in the organization for now as a player and hopefully as part of the management staff in the future. You are a consumate professional and a great team captain.You have been been very patient throughout this rocky offseason negotiation which is due to Boras's demands . I hope you sign with the Sox and be named comeback player of the year . The Sox need you and I believe deep down you want to stay with the Sox.
Tek has been a big part of this team for many years.
I say offer him a lower dollar contract with incentive clauses that only pay out if he delivers.
But if he ain't hitting by May...
Just what I want to hear. Jason is his own man. He should tell Boras to let him negotiate on his own terms. Jason is too valuable to let go.