Sit out a year and not collect $5 million. that sounds really smart- put your and yoru agents ego aside and do the right thing.....

Jason and Scott, you have no cards. I call. Love and kisses, Larry

I'm really getting tired of this Varitek soap opera. In case Jason and Boras haven't noticed, 80,000 hard working Americans have lost their jobs just this week. I don't feel sorry for an underperforming catcher who has been insulted with a
$5-million a year offer. The issue isn't that Varitek is getting a 50% paycut, as Mazz wrote earlier this week. Jason is lucky to have a job, especially after his performance last year. Nobody is irreplaceable.

I've loved to watch Jason play over the years but if he's holding out for more I say let him go. Its time these fat cat pro players (and their even fatter agents) realize the world doesn't revolve around them. They're all so paranoid that if they don't get another $1M that it all goes to line the pockets of the owners. Maybe instead it would result in a year without ticket price increases for the fans! Remember us?

Sorry Jason, you've worked youself into this situation with Boras. If you didn't take the deal, you'll look like the stubborn money-grubbing player, management will be free and clear on this one.

greedy bastards. captain who?

Let Him Walk, He is a Overpaid Stiff.

Sox offer is more than fair. Best part is that after tomorrow, we won't have to read about this anymore! Hope he signs, but for sentimental reasons. If not, let's hope it forces an upgrade. Just know we aren't getting Joe Mauer - Yankees will give him 20 million a year. Saps.

'tis a shame it has come to this, but parting is such sweet sorrow - I think we all deserve better, good luck in the future and a sincere thanks for your years here.
You take Scott, we will keep Theo -

Well if Varitek is dumb enough to sit out the season then good for him!!! If I'm the Sox I exercise the right to lower the offer. If he thinks he'll get more someplace else good for him...I as a fan am tired of paying exorbitant prices to watch .220 hitters play baseball.Varitek is probably a nice guy but someone is giving him bad infofmation,he's only worth what a team is willing too spend. This is not a stare down this is a business decision on both parts.Tek wants more money,The sox say find someone willing too pay you more money!!!! It won't be the Sox.

If Tek walks, it really is all about the money. You CAN'T tell me he's hard up for cash. So, $5 million isn't enough, Jason? Oh, life is haaaard.

Sit out a year just to make a point. what an idiot. Take the one year 5 mill, prove you can hit and next year sign a 2 year team with someone else.

If he decides to sit out the year, vtek is taking the word stubborn and moron to a whole new leve.

Varitek obviously isn't the brightest bulb. He turned down 10 million, now may turn down 8 million. Some of Heidi's blond hair must be rubbing off on the "Captain"

Scott Boras is a greedy idiot, and he will cost Varitek the chance to finish his career in Boston. It's a sad day when $5 million for 1 year isn't enough, and you'd rather sit out the year. Sayonara!

see ya. Best of luck making $5 million in an office job. Don't let the door hit you and your 218 average.

It's one thing to sit when you're a first round draft choice. It's another when you're 37 and coming off a dreadful year offensively. If he thinks he can do $5 million better next year, his ego is larger than his brain.

I'd be amazed if, after all this, Boras would "allow" Varitek to retire. Boras would surely advise Tek to go for a one-year deal to get a commission. How ironic -- Boras could have once had a percentage commission on $10m; now his payday would be a percentage of zero.

my guess is Varitek and Boras played their hand and the market is not there for the big payouts, .....Remember, no matter what you think or emotions you have, IT IS STILL A BUSINESS for all parties...

Seriously? I love Tek - but if this is truly his point of view, time to say bye-bye.

C'mon Tek - kick Boras out the door. He's ruining you.

See ya Tek, no hard feelings but you are not worth even what was offered. Sit out a year and the Yanks will need you to replace broken Posada. Just too many holes in your swing, we will take our chances with youth.

That Stare from Jason is disbelief that Boring A$$ couldn't sell that 60% winning percentage to anybody !!

Why is Varitek still listening to Boras? With Boras' fine advice, hasn't he already maneuvered himself out of $5-10 Million or so? Nice going. If Varitek thinks that at his age, and with last season as the benchmark, he's going to sit out for a year and then get better offers than what he has on the table, he's completely delusional.
Varitek has been a great player, but at this point he needs to cut his losses (and Boras) and sign.

If the Red Sox give in at all they are buffoons. Jason Varitek is not even worth the five million dollars they have offered him, and the market bears that out. It's time for Varitek to be a man and swallow the pill he took out of the bottle.

Let Varitek retire, that's where he belongs anyways, retired as a coach. His playing days were over two years ago.

The Sox need to stand firm - Boros is going to ruin it once again for one of his clients.

The Sox need a new policy - no hires with those who choose to associate with Scott Boras.

People are losing houses, losing jobs, everyone is struggling in this economy - and Scot Boras is smelling, talking, and quacking like a banker from the Bernie Madoff school of greed.

Tek,
You've made your money and had an amazing career with the the Red Sox. You have the respect and support of every Red Sox fan and your entire clubhouse. As Millar would say, "Cowboy up" for one last season and make sure you end your career on a high note...

Another year older; a year away from baseball, and he and Bore-ass think he will get a better offer? That's rich! Sign the contract and quit acting like foolish babies!

Ego is a sad thing.

what a clown.... $5 million not enough when no-one else would even offer anything? take a realty pill... swallow.... now choke on it

Rip the C off his jersey and tell him to screw off!!

He can retire. I can hit .220 and like to think of myself as a game-calling savant. Are you kidding me? He'll retire because $5 million dollars is an insult? For years I made apologies for athletes making huge salaries as we don't understand, they perform and have small windows to make that money. This is a team that offered him the chance to at least make what he made last year, through arbitration, and he declined it.
Let him retire! I root for the name on the front of the uniform, not the back.

It must be nice to be so wealthy that you can thumb your nose at $5 million. I'll never know what that's like.

Actually, he'd only have to sit out a half a year. Once the draft goes by the Red Sox will not be entitled to compensation anymore and the odds of Varitek finding a sutior would increase. Although I still doubt he'll do better than $5m this year.

If this is true, it proves Varitek is an imbecile.

Way to go, Captain JV.
2008 wasn't personally bad enough for you; you had to see if 2009 could be worse. Stay home, then. See how that works for you.
And the next time the Sox designate a captain, it'll be Pedroia's grandson.

Walking away from $5 million is crazy. Take it, produce and hope for better next year. Forget Boras, he is selling Tek down the road to ruin.

Way to go, Captain JV.
2008 wasn't personally bad enough for you; you had to see if 2009 could be worse. Stay home, then. See how that works for you.
And the next time the Sox designate a captain, it'll be Pedroia's grandson.

Well, they have to know (Boras and Tek) that there is no bargaining chip they have right now and if they really were going to play, then they should have done so before now. I doubt a bluff is feasible any longer. And on the trade idea, I would rather deal with the platoon than give up pitching.

if Varitek turns down the offer he is a complete idiot

I wish I could sit a year out. Seriously. Tek, look around at every day people losing their jobs, homes, killing their families and then themselves, because they lost a job and can't provide for their families and then tell me and every one awaiting your 'tough' decision that $5M isn't worth even going to work!

Baseball needs a salary cap. Boras needs a jail cell.

I just don't see the Sox giving any more than the current offer. Even with the "intangibles" 'Tek isn't worth that. It's a reasonable offer, and the only reason he should reject it is if he really isn't that gung ho about playing and really would be content to take the year off, most likely never to return again. If so, cest le vie.

He'll take the deal or retire. If he doesn't want to play for $5 miliion he should retire. My gut says that we'll see him accept the offer but he will wait till the very last minute. I hope he does but honestly I won't miss his pathetic at bats which were so painful to watch last year.

$5 million here, $10 million there...pretty soon it becomes real money. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. I guess he'll sure show those nasty red sox.

Do the right thing!? What's wrong with the Sox? They were willing to pay him in arbitration 11 million or so...why not give him 11-12 for 2-years so he can show face. They need him and he needs them. About sitting out, he's got enough money to live the rest of his life quite comfortably so why not spur the Sox and sit out. A man has some pride...he was/is the CAPTAIN!

I cannot believe Varitek is doing this. I can believe Bor@ss corrupted him. Without Bor@ss I think he would've already signed. Look Varitek they want you back but your numbers do not warrant the big contract. Swallow your pride, fire that scum Bor@ss and sign already. If you sit out this year next year no one will want you.

lakemonsters, great post!

this is insulting to hardworking people everywhere. V-tek throwing a tantrum over $5 million dollars, when so many people are getting laid off

You don't deserve to be on this team. I hope you sign with the yankees, you scumbag.

The Red Sox offer is right on the money for what they will get from Varitek. If he doesn't feel like that is good enough for him then he can go on his way after Saturday so the Sox can focus on a reasonable trade for either Montero or Saltalamacchia.

Apparently all the traits that we have admired about our beloved Tek have been sucked out of him by that greedy, egotistical vermin he calls his agent. I would have expected Tek to fire Bor-ass and take the deal. If Gentlemen Athletes likeTek has truely bought into the "It's all about the money"brotherhood, then baseball is doomed. If he sits out a year, it will be the fastest anyone has ever gone from hero to Schmuck so quickly in my mind.

Sitting out the season or retiring. It's laughable that floated idea even gets printed as "fact" in this story. Ain't gonna happen.

I've always been a big Tek fan, especially loved the glove in the face to A-Rod...but he's lost my support here. 5 million for the last chapters of a great career seems fair. What's the issue? Must be more advice (malpractice) from his agent.

Between his coming clean on Clemens and recognizing the reality of this year's market, Andy Pettite just looks better and better, doesn't he?

Go home, Jason. Go home. Life will go on without you and your agent. The sun will come up tomorrow and the Red Sox will have someone throwing the ball back to the pitcher come opening day if it's not you, that's your loss.

I don;t believe this. Varitek has more money than he'll ever need for the rest of his life, his children's lives and their children's lives.

What is more important here/ A few bucks or playing baseball.

Jason, get rid of Boras and take the deal.

If Tek sit out a season..consider his career done and over...he's an old catcher ,not a younger catcher coming out of school...he's not that dumb..he'll sign

Hey, captain obvious, it's clear that you don't have any other offers. It's clear that we want you back and you want to come back. Everyone and their mother is taking a pay cut or being laid off right now. It's the economy, stupid! You could of had your $10Mill a year if you had accepted arbitration when it was offered but you didn't. Shit happens. Get off your high horse and take the deal. You seem like the type of player that loves the game. Remember what MJ said: It was never about the money. If you really love the game as much as I would like to think then I'm sure that anyone could be happy making $5M a year. I make way less than that and I'm still managing to do ok.

Funny, This is exactlly what Michael Holly said this morning

It will take me 71 years to make $ 5 million, he's just another greedy athlete, thanks for the memories Tek, you have shown what you are really made of...

Tek's position is ridiculous. Take ablut a guy who made a sorry mistake, refuse to acknowledge that he did so and now try to highjack the Sox with a water pistol. Men, i wish he will turn down the offer and Theo trade for a young catcher who will be able ti hit a fastball properly...

Sure, let him sit out a year.....give him some batting practice too....he needs it.

And if there's enough time in his busy schedule.....maybe he can learn how to throw the ball down to second base without it bouncing several times.

Wake up call, folks. We're pathethic losers to care about the players as much as we do. They don't live in the real world. What's more, they couldn't care less about us!

Has anyone told Varitek that thousands and thousands of peopl e have lost their jobs-$5,000,000 for playing a sport e specially with his decrease ability of hiiting and also catching. Last year he had many passed balls and droped balls in contact with runners at the plate.I would NOT resign him and spend the money to acquire another catcher.

Varitek 5 million to play baseball for part of the year...give me a break!!! He already has made 60..70...million. I truely feel sorry for him.

OK, the way I figure it will at least take four generations of my family working 40+ years each to make $5 million, this guy has the opportunity to make it in 9 months...and it is not enough???

get tek out of here. captain who (#6) is exactly right. the sox have been more than generous to him. it's been painful watching him struggle at the plate so much lately, and this latest fiasco shows (what we all knew all along) that it's all about the money. let him walk. we can do better! go sox in '09!

If I've got the math right, the last time he sat out for a year and went back into the draft he was 22 years old. If he sits out now at age 37, isn't he more or less, retired? Yikes! Got to think he is calling the shots at this point. Would he really be following Boras over the cliff?

GREEDY GREEDY Tek and BorASS. If he does not sign then to Hell with him, he is not even worth the $5 mil he was offered. I hope that Theo go's out and signs a young kid, be it Montero (Dacks) or Salt (Rangers) or whom ever they think can handle the job. I can't speak for everyone else but i don't think Red Sox Nation would ever Boycott the SOX like some other idiot suggested. Theo and the Red Sox will come up with some one or some other plan to take care of the Red Sox future. Tek was good in his days but never a Hall of Famer, he was solid and good for our pitchers but you can get another good catcher and he will learn to call a good game (wich is over rated). Pitchers should know what they are doing.

If Tek refuses this offer it will confirm my belief that he never should have been given the title of team captain in the first place. This is a more than fair offer from the Red Sox.

This might have as much to do with his ongoing divorce proceeding than anything baseball related. After taxes, Boras' commission, union dues, alimony & child support, etc... how much is the daily grind worth the effort for Tek if he's already banked a good chunk of change. Remember, Bret Saberhagen retired a few years ago after his divorce for this exact reason.

If he walks away from $5 million over pride or some other facade, then good riddance. It is absolutely disgusting to see professional athletes taking such stances in dire economic times when Americans making a miniscule fraction of those salaries are losing their jobs by the thousands.

Let me get this right - in Jason Varitek's case, Scott Boras recommended that he sit out two years at the beginning of his career to make more money. Even if they were minimal salary years this technique cost him money on the front end, healthy years of free agency in the middle and now possibly ending his career early on the far end. How does any of this make sense? Combined with the choice to forgo arbitration how has Boras done his client right?

The one of the problems here is that because Wakefield needed a personal catcher it really hindered the development of any of the Red Sox young catching prospects. Hopefully this will lead to our catcher of the future and one of our guys or some one we trade for will be in that position for as long as Varitek was.

Unfortunate situation insofar as it would seem to be in the interest of both parties to resolve this matter. Players seldom see their declining skills as clearly as others and a 50% cut in one year is tough for anyone to take even if the remainder is still exorbitant by any rational standard. Methinks they will get this done one way or another. If not, well, as DeGaulle said, "The graveyards are full of indispensable men."

Let him go. Time to move on. What I could do with $5 million, as my wife and I struggle to pay our bills and get our son through college. Don't let the door hit you in the rear Jason. How miserable is he going to be if he decides to take the offer? I for one am sick of today's pampered athletes.

People can't buy bread or milk. People are losing their homes. Spoiled brat Varitek has become arrogant (and he can't hit). Jason, be happy you have a job. Otherwise, go away. Far, far away.

There are two options for Jason Varitek: take $5 million guaranteed for 1 year (or at least $8 million for 2 years) or take $1 million six months to a year from now when you have the desire to play again. Very easy choice if Jason doesn't let his pride or Scott Boras's ego get in the way.

Tek,
just charge back borass the 6 million he left on the table by not taking arbitration.....as a business man, i'm sure he'll understand.

Boo Hoo, he might only make 5 million dollars next year ... get a grip Tek! The economy is collapsing around us and, after making enormous sums of money to play baseball (not work in a coal mine!) your ego is so big you can't settle for less money at your age? Take a look at all the home foreclosures , layoffs, and job losses that many Americans are facing and get some perspective.

This guy is such an idiot. He doesn't even deserve to be in the major leagues anymore and he has the cajones to turn down $5 Million. Who is advising this guy?

As someone who's wife just lost her job, Varitek is an A$$ for turning down $5 million dollars. I work so much harder for my money than he does and now I have to feed, clothe and house my family on what amounts to pocket change for him. Pro athletes are first class jerks, with a sense of entitlement only eclipsed by guys like Boras. While i'm at it, screw the Sox for their money hungry ways too. $25 for a hat, $50+ for a crappy seat at a game, a beer so expensive you could by over a six pack for what it costs...This whole system is just so messed up. The little guys get screwed while some clown argues about wether or not $5 million dollars is enough?Please. Try making it on $75 k Tek.

This is typical Boras, trying to invent leverage where he has none (remember Daisuke?). Maybe this will scare the Red Sox into coughing up a couple more bucks. It's worth a try. But no one is so dumb that he would turn down $5 million out of the principal that he should be making $10 mill. See you at spring training Tek.

What a fathead. Time for the Bosox to launch a new era and give the Rangers Bucholz for their best catching prospect .. Varitek will be lucky to get a minor league deal- with anyone.

I guess the "C" on his jersey stood for CASH rather than captain.

If I was Varitek I would walk. This is really between Boras and Henry. Henry called Boras's bluff with Teixiera, but Boras smoked him. Since then it has been a war of words. Henry wants to humiliate Boras in the worst way and willing to and is willing to publically chump down his champ captian to do it. Why the big public deadline? It's a Henry power play.
Boras's line is that the Red Sox actually need Varitek. Boras could probably pay Varitek the 5 million out of his pocket. If Varitek walks, then it will cost the Red Sox Buchholtz to get a mediocre catcher and Red Sox pitching might just collapse like it did in 2006 with no Varitek.

Oh Captain, My Captain!

Please sign the 1 year deal for $5M and put this behind you. The majority of the fans still love you and want you to retire as a Red Sox player. It seems your agent gave you bad advice to not file for arbitration and it came back to bite both of you. Look at what Andy Pettite had to settle on this year. Make the sensible choice for your fans. I still think you can put up decent numbers while proving your still a great catcher and game caller.

MAZZ, you said the player and team seem to be headed for an unhappy ending. I dont think this would be an unhappy ending for the Sox, only for Tek.... the Sox move on and play the season w/o an overpaid over the hill catcher on the books, now they can legitimately trade for Teagarden or Salty.....

Really???
I may have had some respect for Tek's "possition" if he was not such a sure out last year.
I agree, he and BorASS have no cards.
Thanks for the memories- and good luck Tek, you will need it.

Times are a changing Tek.... Boras is a fine intellect in bargaining yet his days are numbered in these economic conditions. How many people regret not pulling their money out a year ago before the economic downturn. How many people are looking for work with no prospects. Baseball has always been anomaly even during the Great Depression. Even so if you want to play "hard ball" well there are options today that were not so 6 months ago for the owners. Tek, you were a great captain, player, and Red Sox. A time to bid farewell!

I think it's pretty clear that the Sox already have a deal in place for one of the other catchers if Tek falls through. It will be done the next day. I think he's gaining nothing by trying to play hardball.

Memo to Jason: you were never in Jorge Posada's neighborhood as an offensive player. Your sin was your abiding faith in the mountebank that masquerades as your agent. He cared nothing about any of his clients save the one he delivered gift-wrapped to the Bronx. All you and Manny Being Manny did was keep the agen'ts name out there--you got used and didn't mind being used. So, retire! You won't be missed--and the Yanks won't come calling to wave a red flag in front of the Red Sox, either. I'd love to see you in the Yanks' clubhouse, dressing next to A-Rod! Ha ha!

Jason trusted the wrong man to be his agent. that's got to be one hell of a realization knowing how much money he lost out on in standing by Boras' sense of lost direction. Those in the Sox office have shown time after time to everyone that they know what they're doing. Too bad for V-Tek, I'll miss him...but I wont miss his .220 average.

Sit out a season......then what?? He will be 38 or 39 at that point, and will not have improved his value by sitting on the sideline. I don't see that there is anything to gain there. If he thinks he is worth so much more, he should take the $5 mil. w/out the option, put up better numbers, and hit the market again next year. If he retires or sits out, no one will feel badly for him - he and his agent made a mistake - if he wants to pay for it by sitting out, that's his choice. Who is going to offer him more than $5 million next season, after sitting out?? The Red Sox are the single most team that values him most - as evidenced by the offer of $5 mil.

Looks like not taking Arbitration worked out really well for Ya! What, is 5 Million not enough for you in these tough economic times? Remember, you play a sport for a living, something most people would die for! Get over Yourself, I hope you sit out and not get paid a Red Cent. You kinda seem like a New Nomar!

More Boras spin (I'd use a different word but my message would get deleted) . Just like he had another offer for Texiera! Come on folks, you're not buying this?

I've been as big a fan of Tek as there is. But the fact that he has let Boras (a guy who has already cost him $5M) talk him into a game of chicken that he can't win leaves me wondering exactly how stand up Tek is. Go ahead and sit out a year, like you'll get more after a year of rusting...and to Sox management ...take that 'C' off his chest !!

Come on Tony. Do you really have to carry Boras' water like this? Varitek the 22 year old playing another year in college is a lot different than V-tek the 36 year old shelving it. What an empty, idle threat and shame on you for putting it into black and while on Boras' behalf.

Anyone want to buy my Varitek Jersey? ;)

If he would rather sit out than accept a $5 million contract then good riddance. Don't let the door hit you in the...

What a bunch of lemmings you people are....so Tony spreads some Red Sox front office "plant material" and you all just jumped right into it!!

Who could blame the man for not wanting to come back here! Boston fans are the absolute worst!

The Red Sox want him to take a 50% pay-cut and yet at the same time want him to take on the added responsibility of training/mentoring a new catcher to take over his job. Yeah, I can see everyone being ready to take that deal in their profession.

professions too

It's Boras for god's sake.
Either 'Tek agrees in the 11th hour as is natural for any Boras transaction, or he's primed to sign a 1 year deal elsewhere. Boras isn't dumb. He's not going to accept a commission on $0.00

Perhaps Jason and Boras are looking forward to John Henry's jet flying into Atlanta and whisk our captain away for the hugs and kisses signing ceremony. Or perhaps not, but I'm not getting riled up over a guy who's offensive skills have eroded to the Bob Tilman level.

See ya - so much for the team concept. It was fun while it lasted...let's bring in someone who wants to play hard for the love of the game, not the love of money!

Please, please, please don't sign. Theo is a fool to try to appease you. You are a minor league player with a terrible attitude. Bye Bye.

Tek

You should have rertired before last year. Have a nice life. Why not see if Sammy White is still alive

See ya Tek, don't let the door hit ya in the arse. While I have admired your play over the years, the time has come for you and the Sox to move on. We'll see ya in the Redsox hall.

Veritek is more of a child than Manny. At least with Manny, we KNEW it was all about him. 'The Captain' always praised hard work, and a team first attitude. What a hypocrite. I wonder if he lives in a bubble; does he realize that Andy Pettitte, who actually CONTRIBUTED to his team last year only got 5.5 guarenteed? Greg Zaun, who has BETTER offensive numbers than V-Tek got less than 1.5 million. Giving Tek 5 million gave him a chance to save face, but the damage has been done, whether he returns or not. Anyone interested in buying my Veritek jersey from me?

Time to move on. Tek is completely over the hill, hurts the team with his bat more than his "catching genius" helps team, and has now proven to not be the mythical leader and captain he was supposed to be.

Any divorce lawyers out there? I remember 15-20 years ago that the Chicago Cubs had an all-star second baseman who retired (just for a year or two) to stone- wall his soon to be ex-wife in the divorce settlement. He lowered his net worth drastically for computation purposes, then got right back into baseball after the divorce was finalized. Maybe?

Jason, I have appreciated your past service to the Red Sox. However, for the last year, you have been an automatic out and rally killer. If you choose to retire, I wish you the best of luck. I do not think Theo should increase your offer. It is very generous, given your recent performance.

Veritek is more of a child than Manny. At least with Manny, we KNEW it was all about him. 'The Captain' always praised hard work, and a team first attitude. What a hypocrite. I wonder if he lives in a bubble; does he realize that Andy Pettitte, who actually CONTRIBUTED to his team last year only got 5.5 guarenteed? Greg Zaun, who has BETTER offensive numbers than V-Tek got less than 1.5 million. Giving Tek 5 million gave him a chance to save face, but the damage has been done, whether he returns or not. Anyone interested in buying my Veritek jersey from me?

Jason,

Dude you just got divorced! You need the money!!

This is what I hate about baseball - the players are prima donnas with egos made of blown glass.

Varitek was overpaid about $6 million last year, he is lucky to have any offer over $3 mil now. I hope he leaves, he's poisoned the well and is a bad sport to boot.

Yeah, right. Quit listening to Boras, Tomy M. Varitek ain't sitting out the season. He's gonna sign.

WOW!!

What a total misread of public perception. Even if he comes back JV's star has been unnecessarily self tarnished. A shame.

The Sox should add a third year incentive as a catcher's coach to the deal!

I own a Varitek tee shirt with 33 on the back. Change the number to "WHY ARE YOU SO STUPID" and buy me a shirt of someone who truly wants to play. Big disappointment Tek. Now we know why the "C" isn't often given out in baseball.

"Sit out a year and not collect $5 million. that sounds really smart"

Gotta agree with Kevin. A year of half-filled ballparks (due to the economy) will REALLY drive players' salaries upward, right?

The Sox should add a third year incentive as a catcher's coach to the deal!

And these are all the same readers that believed Teixeira was coming here!

lololol

Hmmmm seems to me alot of people are out of work right now! 5 million dollars is alot of money during these times! Hmmmm if he couldn't catch I bet he would be working at some seven eleven down south! I HOPE YOU WALK AWAY WITH YOUR BIG EGO!!!! Don't let the door hit you in the . . .

i really lost all respect for v-tek. 5 million is not enough????. he has been an average catcher his whole career. greedy bastard!!! let him go. i'd take my chances with a younger catcher! If he does come back. fenway should boooooooooooooooooo him everynight. we don't need a stiff like that on the team

As a Yankee fan, I love this. Good job on this Scott Boras, you really screwed things up for your client. $10 million? No we don't want that.

Usually, Boras strips his clients of their dignity, their good public image, and their old teams and devoted fans, but instead gets them the absolute maximum amount of money. Not this time. Boras and Veritek already blew the best financial option by declining arbitration. But Tek can salvage his dignity by accepting this offer and moving on. Sitting out rather than making "only" 5 millon? He's going to wind up with nothing.

When one is in a deep hole one can't get out off, it's best to stop digging. Turning down this offer is self defeating, but then, Mr. Varitek has, of late, shown a penchant for the self defeating act. Whether this is due to a character flaw or a shortage of intelligence we don't know, but you seem to be hell bent on making a fool of yourself.

I didn't read all of the comments, but look at 'Tek's point of view... over his past 4 yr and $40M contract.. he has paid at least 3% to Boras (about $1M) - 33-40% to taxes.. brings it down to $23-25M range/4 years equals $4M a year...

Between Obama's new tax plan he'll be paying an extra 500k to 1M in taxes... so that $5M is really 2.5M which is really $1.25M after he pays half of it to his wife in the divorce...
In simple math we are not talking about a 50% pay cut.. we are talking about a 66% pay cut....

TEK, IT'S NOT OUR FAULT YOU COULDN'T KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OF HEIDI!!!!!!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE..... retire or sit out a year. Are you kidding? sit out a year at age 37 when for the last season and a half you have hit below .200. You cant throw anyone out, and your calling a game legend is a product of the boston media. Would you go to a famous surgeon to have your gallbladder taken out who is 85, has parkinsons disease and has a tremor because he is a famous surgeon based on a reputation he acquired 30 years ago? Of course not. You will go to someone who is currently competent. Varitek is not a competent catcher anymore. . I find it insulting that he received an offer of $5million. Also do these guys have any say on their own or are they complete pawns for the agent. This drma show these two have put on this winter has insulted all hardworking new englanders and red sox fans. I hope we never hear about Jason Varitek again

Captain:
You have always presented yourself as the prepared blue collar working man, you always preached team over self, and yet all you offer after a down year is this money grubbing stand off...you blew it out of school, you almost blew it in 04 and now you are going to blow it, goodbye, good luck, you are a sham, I dont care what mazz says about atheletes not caring about fans or being in a different world, your world is our world, keep angering people who are angry already and you will find youself flippipng burgers you bozo....you were given a gift, and you can still make more in six months than most will mmake in two lifetimes...you cad

Captain:
You have always presented yourself as the prepared blue collar working man, you always preached team over self, and yet all you offer after a down year is this money grubbing stand off...you blew it out of school, you almost blew it in 04 and now you are going to blow it, goodbye, good luck, you are a sham, I dont care what mazz says about atheletes not caring about fans or being in a different world, your world is our world, keep pissing off people who are pissed off already and you will find youself flippipng burgers you bozo....you were given a gift, and you can still make more in six months than most will mmake in two lifetimes...you cad

forget it. he sucks. get a young guy with less ego, and pay less......

One word: BLUFF

Look Charles Barkley was right in that athletes are clearly not role models. Wake up my friend and look around. You have been a great asset to this region and you will never be forgotten, but my boys will no longer wear the VARITEK on their backs. The world is a different place, except for weak hitting, ignorant 221 hitters.
Somehow, someway I always thought you were the anti Barkley message. Oh well another one bites the dust.

Boras, we're not falling for it this time. For a couple reasons. You're cried wolf way too many times and the guy you're holding up for ransom is at the end of his career and coming off his worse season ever.

This makes it much easier for the Sox to just walk away and move in a much-needed new direction at that position.

Pudge or several other better and younger backstops are out there for young pitching, which there's plenty of down on the farm. Enjoy your retirement.

The man with the great big C on his shirt. I hope he turns down 5 million to play a child's game that he no longer is any good at. He couldn't hit a bull in the butt with a bass fiddle.

Sorry Tek. The offer is more than fair for a player at this late stage of his career. Take it, come back, hit .270, and help us win another WS. Or dont. The bus is leaving the station and you are making a big,big mistake.

Boy am I sick of Varitek and Boras. They both have some freakin' nerve. Varitiek was an important part of this team for a long time, including 2 championships, and for that I thank him. But enough is enough. Hitting .220 and never throwing a runner coupled with the contract soap opera has really soured my view of him. Thanks for your great years V-tek, but please go away now. Try living on 45k a year like the rest of us.

Please sit out.. I don't think I can stand watching another at bat.

I think there's a Yankee effect going on here. If they hadn't signed Posada to that ridiculous contract Boras wouldn't have that leverage for Varitek. How is that working out for the Yankees. Not too well. Jason's been one of the best Sox players ever. He's the captain of the team for God's sake. I don't blame the Sox or varitek. I think it's too far gone for a win/win result. If you have to blame someone, blame Boras and the Yankees, you'll feel better.

Gee what are the chances that Boras is the "baseball source"??? What a manipulating little pr!ck!

Maybe Heidi justs needs a bigger stimulus package.

If Boras is your agent,That means you think it's just about the Money!!!Take a Hike.

Boo hoo Tek. You made a huge mistake and turned down arbitration and totally misread the market. Now the Sox offer you a $5 million deal when that is even more than they have too and its not good enough??? What the hell do you think .220 hitters make in this league??? Sorry, but when his only plus is that he "calls a good game" then you aren't good enough. Go ahead and retire or sit out and make nothing. I've had enough of your ego and I'm sure everyone else has too. The Sox are not the bad guys here. They are doing business. thats all it is. Grow up Jason and do the right thing, because if you decide to sit out or retire you are going to lose all the goodwill you have built up in this town over the past decade then no one will be on your side except your brilliant agent.

Time to get the ol standby out of retirement. Mirabelli, where are you?

I make 7.50 per hour. I am psyched to still have a job. Tek, take it or leave it.

What is Pudge seeking as a FA?

Sit out a year? Does he think he is 20 years old or something?

I'm sure with economy crashing like it is, the market for a 38 year old washed up catcher will be much improved after a year off.

Thanks for the memories, and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Maybe Spewell can save you a spot in the bread line.

Did it every occur to any of you chumps that Mazz is only siting an "anonymous baseball source" who may not have even the smallest clue what they are talking about? Why do you people always jump on this flimsy excuse for "reporting" and treat this information like the gospel to the point where you now hate this player. This whole thing could be an unsubstantiated piece of crap but you brains jump all over it. Rumor and gossip...gossip and rumor!

He's not going to retire! He has a couple of things in his favor:
1. After June 1 he is truly "free", meaning no compensatory draft pick; and,
2. If the Sox' "Catcher by Committee" fails during Spring Training, his value, and his price, go up.

Look at it from his perspective, there's no rush to meet the Sox' artificial deadline, he can wait it out, some team is going to need him.

Bye Jason.

You earned more money last year alone then I will get in my entire lifetime. If you can't see how your value has dropped and don't think $5 million is enough in this economy when people are losing jobs and houses then I don't want you on the Red Sox and I sure as hell don't want you wearing a C on your chest. You play a game for outrageous sums of money that kids play for free. Stop whining and kick that idiot agent to the curb - he's not doing you any favors.

Look Charles Barkley was right in that athletes are clearly not role models. Wake up my friend and look around. You have been a great asset to this region and you will never be forgotten, but my boys will no longer wear the VARITEK on their backs. The world is a different place, except for weak hitting, ignorant 221 hitters.
Somehow, someway I always thought you were the anti Barkley message. Oh well another one bites the dust.

Jody Reed just called and said you played your hand perfect....

After all this, one can only imagine how nasty the boos will be as he hits his bat to both cleats, stands in the box, and wastes another out. Again, and again, and again, and again. Heck, even HE might feel ashamed. He needs to remember the day when $50 meant something before he scoffs at 5 large.

220 batting average would get anyone else a starting job in the minors. Everytime he came up in a critical situation I knew he was an out and the big inning was over. My guess is the Sox don't really want him and they know his ego will prevent him from taking the offer...
Good luck and thanks for the great years ....

Don't let the door hit you in the rear Jason , come on now you could have had 10mil in arbitration and you turned that down. the question is how smart are you Tek really , do us a favor and take your ball and go home.

LET THE JACKASS GO.> He is now wothless and STUPID. He is responsible for this , dont just blame his greedy agent. Sitting out a year at this age is a joke . It would fossilize his already dying body. He is NOT a good person , believe it.
Move on and forget him like a case of VD you never want to see again. He is now a DISEASE.

Are we really sure he was even a captain? More like Captain Kangaroo! How can you turn down 5 million dollars. He's even lucky that the Red Sox would offer him that. Boras/Varitek = biggest clowns in baseball history.

Look Charles Barkley was right in that athletes are clearly not role models. Wake up my friend and look around. You have been a great asset to this region and you will never be forgotten, but my boys will no longer wear the VARITEK on their backs. The world is a different place, except for weak hitting, ignorant 221 hitters.
Somehow, someway I always thought you were the anti Barkley message. Oh well another one bites the dust.

Varitek will lose ALL respect from Boston fans if he doesn't accept this offer. $8 mil minimum - for 2 years -playing a kid's game - after what he gave us last year??? HE BATTED 4 for 34 - A .118 AVERAGE - IN THE POSTSEASON LAST YEAR!!!!!! HE WAS AN AUTOMATIC OUT. I HOPE YOU'RE GETTING SCREWED ROYALLY IN YOUR DIVORCE, ASSWIPE.

the man with the Big C on his shirt wants to turn down 5 million to play a child's game he no longer is any god at? He couldn't hit a bull in the butt with a bass fiddle.

See ya Tek............you can't hit, you can't throw anyone out, you can't catch that well either...most of all...you can't choose the right agent...Bor-ass is just a greedy slime ball who has given you bad advice. You two are quite the team...both close to washed up...who needs you and who wants Bor-ass. I wouldn't hire him to wash my car! Let's face it Jason...you're just not that smart. Pack your bags, empty your locker and go teach little league in Virginia.

For those of us unaccustomed to dealing with really large amounts of money, that $5 million that Tek is ruminating over "works" out to (hold onto your seats) nearly $100,000 a week on a year round basis. Yes, that's correct. A cool hundred grand a week. Of course he doesn't really work all 52 weeks, but hey close enough. Maybe I could play Jason for a week or two this year (preferably for Sox fans when the team doesn't play.) I know how to enjoy the off-season and I would try to stay in shape, so I'll take two weeks of being Tek in November. Anyone else? We can put together a squad of virtual catchers, each of us taking a week or two of Jason's pay.

Looks like the tide is turning against the captain.....c ya!

Greg Zaun, who signed with the Orioles, is lookin' pretty good at the $1.5 mill he got. Too bad the Red Sox couldn't have wrapped this up long ago so that they may have signed some of the experienced free agents that were out there. As it is, let's go Bard, Kottaras, and Brown!

Are you kidding me!!!! If i had a year at my job like he had last year I would have been fired for non performance! You've had your day old man, you can't hit , your arm sucks and as far as handling pitchers that is overrated! This pitching staff can win with a stiff behind the plate which is what you have become.

I agree, Raffi - all it is is a bluff by Boras and Varitek. And I don't think Theo is blinking on this one, particularly after the Texiera negotiations. I simply don't see how "threatening to reject the offer merely as a way of leveraging the Red Sox into a more desirable agreement" is going to work.

Let him reject it. Maybe he can play on the Pirates or the Royals instead

embarassing

Remember when Boras told the Yankees to take a hike on the final offer to A-Rod and then A-Rod spoke to Warren Buffet who advised him to negotiate without Boras and they came to an agreement.... This guy Boras is ruining sports, its just sickening. Tek, if you had any brains you'd take the 5 mil!

I know it's hard to believe, but teams have won world series without 'Tek behind the plate. Lots of them.

If he's so smart, why didn't he know about the first round pick compensation? If he's so cool, why is Boras his agent? And if he's worth more than $5m, why didn't he hit better than .220 last year. Other teams know he's not worth it- or they would have ponied up. The Sox know he's not worth it. And us fans - who ultimately pay his salary - can't all be fooled, all the time. He should have taken the $10m. He should take the $5m while he still can.

Let's not make any assumptions about Jason and his position. The reporter simply states that one source has made the statement about sitting out the season. We only have until tomorrow morning to hear something factual. Stay calm, don't resent Jason until the actual details are aired.

Our society has a tendency to make perception reality. I am sure we will hear Jason's side.

What a tragedy this has become for Jason Varitek, a true fall from grace. He was once admired by all of Red Sox Nation, now his legacy is irreparably tarnished because of his greed and lack of humility. I have not seen one pro-Varitek post here, which isn't at all surprising since it is impossible to be pro-Varitek at this point.

I blame Boras, of course, for leading Tek down this route - but Tek hired Boras and Tek is ultimately responsible for making his own decision here. He was a hero and considered a true class act. Now he is a chump.

Tek don't let the door hit you in the rear ,your luck they offered you 5 mil you stiff.

Someone wrote: "Last year he had many passed balls and dropped balls in contact with runners at the plate.I would NOT resign him and spend the money to acquire another catcher."
If you won't find out the facts you shouldn't post comments. Tek had FOUR passed balls last year, same as Joe Maurer. You can hardly do better than that. At least argue from the facts. Also, runners steal on the pitcher, not the catcher. See Schilling's recent comments to that effect.
Finally, Lester and several other RS pitchers have said they really want Tek back. Too bad he hasn't got the stones to tell Boras to pound sand.

Looks like the tide is turning against the captain.....c ya!

Boo hoo Tek. You made a huge mistake and turned down arbitration and totally misread the market. Now the Sox offer you a $5 million deal when that is even more than they have too and its not good enough??? What the hell do you think .220 hitters make in this league??? Sorry, but when his only plus is that he "calls a good game" then you aren't good enough. Go ahead and retire or sit out and make nothing. I've had enough of your ego and I'm sure everyone else has too. The Sox are not the bad guys here. They are doing business. thats all it is. Grow up Jason and do the right thing, because if you decide to sit out or retire you are going to lose all the goodwill you have built up in this town over the past decade then no one will be on your side except your brilliant agent.

Mr. Varitek is quickly destroying both his reputation and his career. Somehow he seems to think that he deserves better treatment based upon his career. Perhaps we should remind him that he has been overpaid for at least the past two years. Let he and Mr. Boararse start their own team....or better yet, purchas the Pirates and play in oblivion.

1 month from now:

Varitek very upset with his decision because he didn't understand sitting out or retirement also meant not getting paid.

See you later, Tek. I'm happy to even have a job these days, never mind one that pays me twice what my father makes. If $5M isn't enough for you considering all the scratch you have in the bank, then retire and spend more time with Heidi Watley.

Or do you need the extra money to pay the alimony you're going to be paying after cheating on your wife?

Either way, you look like an ass. Which according to my inside sources at the Sox, is exactly what you are anyway.

After all this, one can only imagine how nasty the boos will be as he hits his bat to both cleats, stands in the box, and wastes another out. Again, and again, and again, and again. Heck, even HE might feel ashamed. He needs to remember the day when $50 meant something before he scoffs at 5 large.

JV,
So Boras cost you 2 years of service time to begin your career and is ready to forfeit your last year or 3? That's a lot of money, and time, my boy. 3-5 seasons of bupkus...and it cost you at least 5 mill on the arbitration front this year alone, not to mention the tattered remains of what was your reputation. Tek, We like you and you helped the team win, but you really blew it by hitching your horse to this scumbag's wagon.
Way to do right by your client, Scott!

Let him walk and move on - why waste the time and effort on a sub .225 hitter

This has reached the Teixeira level for soap operaness. Who cares? Tek is showing his ego and it's as huge as most of these athletes who think that they are better than almost anyone around them. Unfortunately Tek doesn't seem to understand that he has no one to feel sorry for him except himself. Boras could only feel sorry for Boras.

So the Red Sox should look ahead and grab a catcher in trade. I still claim the J.R. Towels (Houston) is good and couls be had more cheaply than either of the
Texas guys. Texas

Give him 20% more if he ditches Boras.

If, and I mean "if" Tek walks away he will have joined the ranks of Manny and left Sox fans with a bitter taste in their mouths. Now, Tek is not really another Manny but, this BS with BoraS is getting tiring.

I personally feel this is also Boras' last chance with the Sox brass. He's picking a time where a lot of New Englander's may have to choose between a Sox game or groceries and perhaps stocking up for winter fuel. Tek is getting the only offer he has had and it is above market value for him. If he thinks it's an insult then I beg to differ. Boras has turned sports into an auction for players and tarnished it's image forever. Screw him. I say the Sox have stepped up and done a good thing here. That Boras and Tek think not, n these times, is pretty telling.

I'm going to side with Varitek on this one. The funny thing is, I think he is not being greedy. If in fact, he does sit out the year, or retire, isn't that the opposite of greed? He would be saying he'd rather stand up for himself, than get that $5. I'll tell you what though, if he does come back to the team, I don't think he'll take any crap from anybody. Alex Rodriguez, you ain't seen nothing yet!

It's not 5 million dollars!! First the gov't takes 40% which leaves the greedy captain with 3 mill.Then his ex wife gets half for him cheating on her which leaves 1.5 mill and then add in the fact that he has to spend most of the rest on Heidi and basically Varitek is playing for free.That's what happens when you're a playboy!!!

He hit .187 after May 21! Let no one forget how he and the bottom third of that order MURDERED the Sox all year. I'm still amazed they made the playoffs, let alone forced a Game 7 in the ALCS.

I hope he realizes that refusing to take arbitration is what got him into this spot in the first place.. if he had at least taken that, he would be looking at a one year deal close to what he made last year... that was a very very costly mistake, and Boras should have known that, arrogant a**hole that he is...

o where o where will we ever find a catcher that can hit .220 and get 5 million this offseason? I am so sick of tek and boras. Theo get ANYONE else! For god's sake bring Mirabelli back or Gedman.

Go ahead and sit out if that's what you want to do. Will really show your true colors that being a greedy SOB who cannot make an important decision without having his ho agent make it for him. Best of luck finding a team to top $5M a year.

We are all off base. Jason thinks he will be eligible for some of the bailout money from Washington if he stays out. See he is/has been a very good major league ball player, not necessitating great intellect. The shame is Bozo Boras has convinced him he has chips left on the table.
Was he Duston Pedroia's teammate once? I think so. I guess they never talked.
JASON, CALL DUSTON, HE WILL EXPLAIN HAPPINESS.
Oh by the way, family still gone. Did you hold out something on them too?
Thanks Theo

If this situation doesn't tell you what sports has come to these days, then nothing will. Dice K had to tell Boras to stuff it to get his deal. He was happy with the 52million he got, but Boras wanted more to increease his cut of the deal. Tek has a 2year offer on the table, and in trying times to be making more than 40k a year , your doing ptretty damn good. Boras sucks, and he is bad for sports !!!

I wish Tek would read all the above comments. Even a yankee fan is in agreement that Boras screwed his client (102).

Gotta remember, his ex-wife just took half of his stuff.

Who cares? Why are we making such a big deal out of Tek? The guy cannot produce anymore. People who think he is some kind of linchpin are delusional, including Boras and Tek.

I used to be a fan of Teks but he just made me sick. We have thousands of people being layed off everyday. People are losing there houses and struggling to feed their families and this clown in insulted at $5 mill/per. I don't ever want to see you in my beloved Red Sox uniform again. You are a greedy, selfish man and a disgrace to this country. There are young kids dieing to defend your freedom- you should have been born in Somalia and had to beg for scraps of food, you certainly don't appreciate what all us HARD WORKING FANS HAVE PAID TO WATCH YOU PLAY A GAME- JUST GO AWAY JASON- WE DON'T WANT YOU ANYMORE!!

Sign 'Tek...

Sitting out a year is a joke...if he sits out at 37, he's retired. And while I've always enjoyed watching Tek play, nobody should take his side in this thing. He was offered arbitration, which would have netted him $10m. He and his representative declined, believing he'd be able to get multiple years at that rate. They were wrong, and now they both have to pay the penalty. If Tek doesn't take the $5m plus a possible option buyout for at least $3m, then he's made another mistake. For those that say the Sox should pay him more than that, let's remember: Tek isn't offering any refunds on last years $10m when he hit .220.

Ok this makes me very angry. All along I've been hoping for Tek to return. I've believed in his 'intangibles', his leadership, and the fact he was a good teammate. But this is ridiculous. Jason is ultimately the one who has to make this decision, not Boras. And it is absolutely ridiculous that he wouldn't accept this offer! When you look at all the things his teammates have said about him in this off season, how they all expressed their wish for him to come back, and now he's just going to be an idiot about it? Seriously Tek, it's time you decide if you want to stay loyal to the team you've played with your whole life, or just be another egotistical, greedy, ungrateful athlete.

Jason, it's hard to feel much sympathy toward you these days. First you take up with the bimbo, and your season implodes. Now you want more money when most of us schlubs have bigger worries than your ego.

Suck it up or say goodbye.

At this point, I'd take Gary Allenson.

5 Million was too much money for a has-been that can't sustain a batting average higher than his weight. Like many other pro athletes, it's too bad his average isn't as large as his ego.

Get rid of him. Trade for someone else. Case closed.

And if anyone here seriously thinks these spoiled brat out-of-touch millionaires care one bit about people out of work or losing their jobs, you need a reality check - just like they do.

Varitek is dummer than I thought. He's so lucky to have received any offers after his pitiful hitting the past two years. Go ahead and retire you ungrateful moron. Pro athletes live in a dream world. They make more $$ than almost any other profession including people who are actually trying to save lives like cancer research scientists. There is NO way anyone can feel sorry for Varitek. How can he look himself in the mirror and be proud of his accomplishmenst the past two years. I'm so sick and tired of the fans who say he calls a good game. So What? He and Borass can take a long walk off a short bridge as far as I am concerned. Get a catcher

Put on the uniform and get behind the plate

Let him walk!!!!! Bye. Don't want 5 Million, then later.

NO wonder he got divorced!! He is such a jerk! If he does not take the offer, I will lose all respect for him.

This is why you shouldn't put a 'C' on the chest of a baseball player. Most are egomaniacs and have an exagerated belief in their own worth. Tek obviously overestimated his worth on the market.

Wait, wait...

I have an idea, Tek can play in the over-40 men's slowpitch softball league down in Georgia, where he can finally get around on a pitch.

Instead of $5 million dollars, first class travel, adoring fans, and more skirt than Wilt Chamberlain...he'll get all the Coors Light he can drink.

Deal?

I'd walk away from $5M if I had to play for the Red Sox .... NOT.

If he walks away from the Sox, he's a fool. And he has his overconfident agent to blame. Where else will he have a comfort level anywhere near to what he has in Boston. Why the fans love a .220 catcher is beyond me but they do. Let him see how the other 90% of baseball fans treat their .220 catchers. See ya' Tek!

Although I respect Varitek for his service and his leadership he can go hiss up a rope and take that idiot Boras with him. In light of the economic situation in this country where the fortunate are measured by if they can keep their homes and their jobs - Mr. Varitek can get as far away from Boston as he he possibly can and while your at it please stay there. It's really absurd to see and any indidual turn down 5m per year to do anything let alone play baseball. I'm so tired of ahtletes I could vomit.
Midland, TX

Scott Boras success seems to come when his clients are in demand and have an upside. Boras got Teixeira a huge a payday. Given that situation Boras can wait, negotiate and be patient for some over anxious ball club (or greedy owner) to bail him out.. ie the Yankees with Tex and Damon. Boras does have some decent clients that earn their money, but most are WAY OVERPAID. Regardless we see in the paper that his negotiation tactics are the same regardless the player. Don’t pretend to make a market for player like you did with Tek it doesn’t work! Everyone knows the exact commodity they are getting for Tek, and given his numbers the past couple seasons, 5M seems reasonable. Heck, John Smoltz earned 14M last year but given his situation Smoltz knew the sox made a reasonable offer and took the pay cut and seems happy, why, because it was a reasonable deal. Wake up Tek, look in the mirror, who do you think you are and what do you think you are really worth? You had your chance at arbitration and you, at the advice of your agent, walked away. You made your bed, now you have to sleep in it. And don’t expect to get any sympathy from the fans, not in these times. Jason, you’re not a victim here, stop acting like a selfish fool.

The list of Boras clients … the busts are frightening: Barry Zito 14.4M, Jarrod Washburn 9.8M, the Weaver brothers, Kevin Millwood 10.3M, Andre Beltre 13.4M, Carlos Beltran 18.6M .. the list goes on …other Boras “holdout” notables waiting for their big Boras payday: Many the head case, Ivan Rodriguez and Tek … the list goes on..

When it’s time say goodbye Jacoby, goodbye Dice-K, goodbye JD … fool me once, shame on you … fool me twice, shame on me.

I have a general rule not to get too caught up in player contract negotiations. I'm really into sports but not into conversations like 'he wants x amount of dollars, I hate him now". I call this the Mo Vaughn Rule.That said.....Varitek started all of this by insisting that he be paid what Posada is, and for 4 years. This is absolutely ridiculous as Posada can DH and Varitek can't hit, and won't play 4 more years. Yes, I know what a negotiation is, but he and Boras have really played hardball on this. No home-town discount, no meeting half-way with the team which he has led for over a decade. Pay me. Now that's it's obvious that he overplayed his hand, (had no hand really), he wants the club to be nice to him. Hey, how can you do this to me? I'm the captain, think of the fans back-lash!The Mo Vaughan Rule dicatates that you never worry about contract negotiations, you just wait and see who shows up on opening day. Looks like Jason ain't gonna make it. This should pump up his value for 2010.

Tek has got to go now. If he doesn't he will be boo'd more than any other Sox player in recent memory. There's so many people hurting out here now and BorAss/Tek could care less. Goodbye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

V-Teck is not even worth $5 million for this year. Andy Pettite took $5.5 million from $16 million and played better than Veritek. The Red Soxs were being nice giving him a $5 million salary, nice actually they were being very, very, very generious. Veritek deserves $2.5 million salary with a chance to make it higher with performance enhancers. That's the only way I would give him a contract.

Sox should say "thank you for the last 10 years", and have a nice day.

Captain Kangaroo, how can you turn down $5M in today's world. You don't even deserve 1M, but the Red Sox feel bad. I hope you turn it down and walk because the Red Sox don't want anymore GREEDY jerks like you. Hope the door slams you in the face.

Maybe Vaitek can get a job at Dennys, and insist that every time he comes out of the kitchen they have play that Superman song he likes to hear as he steps into the batter's box.

Captain Kangaroo, how can you turn down $5M in today's world. You don't even deserve 1M, but the Red Sox feel bad. I hope you turn it down and walk because the Red Sox don't want anymore GREEDY jerks like you. Hope the door slams you in the face.

Captain Kangaroo, how can you turn down $5M in today's world. You don't even deserve 1M, but the Red Sox feel bad. I hope you turn it down and walk because the Red Sox don't want anymore GREEDY jerks like you. Hope the door slams you in the face.

Finally, a Varitek article with some teeth. I did not know that arbitration would still allow the Sox to dump Tek in Spring Training. Further connecting the dots was mentioning that the Sox did just that last year with Mirabelli. This all makes more sense to me. Thanks.

If Tek was not wicked smaht enough to dump Boras after his A-Rod contract extension fiasco, then Tek deserves everything he gets.

Hey Tek: 50% of something is better then 100% of nothing. Oh, and if you don't retire, at least be smaht enough to get a new agent.

Well here we are typical red sox fans turning on yet another loyal player that in terms of years and loyalty alone deserves to be paid. At least Jason HAS earned this right with hard work and being the consummate teammate. Or maybe we should just pay MANNY and have HIM back. Fickle fans. As for management, why would you try and squeeze the life out someone that has bled Red Sox red and blue. Jason isn't asking for the world just a two year commitment. Instead we have to listen everyone assassinate his character. I'll take Jason on my team any time. And my team will be better for it.

go ahead and retire. sick of these athletes. do they pay attention to the news at all? think the guy at boeing, home depot, microsoft, etc. care? f you varitek.

go away you greedy ex captain

Not a good time to be turning down $5 mil. I still don't understand why he was batting lefty when he was an auto out. Some people just can't see it.

No one has sympathy for you, Tek.

Mo...Pedro...Roger...Nomar...how could we possibly get along without them? Just fine, turns out. The Sox'll get along okay with or without Tek, too, so if he chooses to turn down $5-mil, well, thanks for the memories and let's move on.

Maybe he's more motivated to deny his ex-wife the money.

Divorce is an ugly business..between the thankless ex-wife, Bore-ass, and the blood sucking divorce attorney's, you have to wonder where this guys head's at at this time.

maybe it is best if he just grab's his fishing rod and chills out in the forest for a couple years.

Will Varitek really do this and ruin all the years he has spent with the Red Sox? If so, Boras really has a hold on him.

To paraphrase Citizen Kane..."A guy like you needs more than one lesson and you're going to get more than one lesson"...never saw a guy so anxious to beome a cautionary tale...one final thing, don't socially and publicly "act up" in the workplace while having a below average/ overpriced year...no matter what you're occupation....guess that's two cautionary tales...give your agent a bonus!

It's pretty obvious to everyone but 'Tek that BorAss is now driving the Veritek/BorAss boat, and what 'Tek signs for will determine what BorAss gets for representing him. 'Tek should start making his own decisions. Flash To Jason: BorAss can't be trusted! Take the deal and fire your agent for costing you at least $5MM next year.

I THINK JASON SHOULD FIRE HIS AGENT , AND THEN SIGN

Ahrrrrrrrr. 'Tis time for ye Captain to go down with his [pathetic] ship. Ahrrrrrrrr.

I THINK JASON SHOULD FIRE HIS AGENT , AND THEN SIGN

Varitek is drunk on Pride. Scott Boras whispers in his ear like as he slips him another roofie. "Just one more time sweetie. After that I'll take you right home. come on drink up...it's ok." Varitek sobs quietly as Scott Boras approaches from behind and gently massages his ego. Scott's been here a thousand times and he knows that the reward is all his. He bites his tongue trying to supress the episode of involuntary laughter that has suddenly overtaken his sensibilities. There is something utterly hiliraious about using another man like a pawn and then watching him break-down. Scott Boras savored the moment and though of his next ballplayer.

Well,what do you do.On one hand you have a Dunn,per Chad.The other,Varitek.What Im getting out of it is they are Type A players,so choose your poison.I'd go with Dunn and one of the Kids.At least Dunn has the stick and the youth.......Get him for a discount.....8 mil....and let the kids have their go at it,If that dose'nt work,maybe Jason will still be available.The season is young.There's time......So get Dunn at a sale and bring let the kids fight it out in Spring Training

I believe Ellsbury chose Boras as his agent. I'm leaning toward putting him in a package for a catcher.

I have loved baseball since i was 5......season ticket holder for the last 6 years.....but I cannot enjoy baseball...or for that matter, any sport because of the ridiculous money being paid....it is Wall Street all the time...greed ....I 'd rather watch slow pitch softball...at least they play for fun....Jason V cheats on his wife and wants $10m.....what a country..

buh-bye Jason.

Put simply, Veritek has no leverage. There is a huge difference between sitting out instead of accepting an offer you don't like (and I agree with the previous comment that Veritek should be thrilled a team is willing to pay him $5 million given the way he has hit the last 2 years) at age 37 and doing so when you are first drafted. The later perhaps will gain you leverage and a better contract down the road, the former will only get you that much closer to no income.

To paraphrase Citizen Kane..."A guy like you needs more than one lesson and you're going to get more than one lesson"...never saw a guy so anxious to beome a cautionary tale...one final thing, don't socially and publicly "act up" in the workplace while having a below average/ overpriced year...no matter what you're occupation....guess that's two cautionary tales...give your agent a bonus!

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers too" Judge Smails

Lemmings...you are all lemmings...ready to believe anything that is thrown at you by the media!

This is from a "baseball source"! Where does it say Varitek said anything?

60% winning percentage?? Of course! It would be for any catcher on a winning team who doesnt catch the one steady .500 pitcher (Wakefield) !!

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers too" Judge Smails

Boy, these comments disappoint me. Do you think the Yankees would ever stream a blog of hate and unappreciation like this for Jeter? How did Tek ever get the "C" on his jersey. Oh. I remember.

Yes, his bat went weak and it could be that he's done or that maybe, his personal life took a toll on him last year. We didn't get to the World Series in '08, but look how close we came. While close is never good enough for most, myself included, under the circumstances of last season, I feel really good about our chances for this year.

Tek has been extremely important to the success of our pitchers. Ask Beckett. Ask Dice-k. Ask any pitcher. Further, he has demonstrated a true commitment and loyalty to the Red Sox for many years, and I for one would love to see him back to catch and to mentor his replacement. It would serve the team so well. Then, he should coach.

We don't know any of the "true" details of the talks between the Sox & Tek. All we know is what we read. Why not let Tek's many years of service speak louder than what writers write and trust that Theo will do the right thing. He usually does.

Andy Pettitte swallowed his pride and took less money because he wanted to stay a Yankee. Lets see how much Varitek wants to remain a Red Sox. Actually, the Sox are better off without him, but hopefully he will sign.

I WILL NOT COMMENT ON WHETHER JASON IS WORTH 5 MILLION OR MORE OR LESS BUT WHAT I FIND NOTEWORTHY IS THE UNANIMITY OF OPINION AGAINST VARITEK., AMONG RED SOX FANS I JUST READ OVER 100 COMMENTS WITH ONLY ONE FAVORABLE TO JASON.BOY, WHAT A LOYAL FAN BASE.ALSO, THEO AND CO. ALWAYS KNOW HOW TO DENIGRATE, INSULT AND OSTRACIZE LOYAL LONG TIME STARS. WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND TO CURRENT PLAYERS GOING FORWARD? ALSO, RED SOX FANS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED FOR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE. THEY JUST DON'T CARE ABOUTABOU.JOHTHTHEIR PLAYERS

Thanks for the memories Jason. We loved you while you were here, so take the $$ and stay for one more. Be remembered forever or go the way of Roger and Nomar. Your choice.

Varitek is way overrated and this soap opera is getting so annoying.
i hope he refuses the offer and we turn this page once for all like we did with the other prima donna Manney.
The red sox should never have made him this offer, 5 Mil is too mush for what he has left in the tank, the red sox should go after a catcher for the future now and not next year.
greedy spoiled brat, 10 Mil was not enough, to hell with him.

I think its Boras who has corrupted Tek - Tek isnt that stupid.

Honestly, I love tek, but let him sit out the season. Think he'd take arbitration now? No one else is interested and now Boras and co are trying to get the Sox to bid against retirement?? Stand pat.

It looks like Boras finally overplayed his hand with the Sox, & really screwed his client, Varitek, in the process. I feel bad for Varitek, but hey, no one forced him to to sign with the evil Boras, who proves beyond doubt that he cares more for his own well-being than his client's. I can't blame the Sox for playing hard-ball with Boras after the Mark Terciera embarrassment which Boras created, using the Sox as pigeons in order to suck more money out of the Steinbrenners.

With his attitude regarding this offer, the Sox should take the offer off the table now or before the deadline so he does not accept and then pull a "Tek being Manny" and come up with some phantom injury. I have questioned his leadership deserving of being captain, with the nonsense that was going on with a former left fielder should not a true Captain, help a kangaroo court and gotten this player back into line for the good of the team. Tek has the every right to not accept the offer and if thats the case ... Thanks and see ya around sometime

If I were in the Sox front office I would pull the current offer off the table now and let the Captain take a year off. Then I would offer him a minor league contract for 2010! I have enjoyed watching 'Tek over the years but c'mon $5 mil is still a lot of dough for a catcher in his twilight years. Come to think of it Varitek and I are almost the same age how about paying me the $5 mil to play catcher and hit .225? I played high school baseball but decided to take a few year off to work in the real world!

..Please no further negotiations, it's gone to far. Hopefully Tek doesn't respond by 8:30 am Friday, and the sox can pull the offer. He's been great, but who would want a malcontent on the team, which obviously he would be since he didn't jump on the arbitration offer, and had to think for a week about the $5 Million offer when there no others. Wake up Theo, go with the young catchers, there ARE 24 other capable members on the team. And no more Captains for awhile.

just another greedy sports player...maybe if they lost there jobs or got laid off like mocy people they would not be so damn greedy...bye bye jason..hope you and scott enjoy your time together

if jv made these comments,i do not want him back,i am barely making enough money to feed my children,the country is moraly and financialy bankrupt and 5-8 million is not enough for this clown to play a game,god help us all

Sounds good to me. Sit out a year. It follows your recent trend of decision-making:

dipping your pen in the company ink and getting divorce papers handed to you.

stubbornly thinking you are still a legitimate switch-hitter

pouting over being PH for in the ALCS.

Declining arbitration.

Keeping Boras as your agent.

Jason. It must be about the principle, as nowadays, there certainly is not any interest.

So let me get this straight, the Red Sox offered him arbitration and he turned it down. The Red Sox offer him $5 Million and he is willing to take $0.00. This guy is no captain, he is a moron.

Varitek's personal performance is to blame here and his ego will cost him more. Clearly no other team is interested in an aging catcher that can't swing a bat.

Great comment SkyeGuy - one of my favorite quotes.

At this point, I want nothing to do with Tek. That offer was more than fair. Retire you dumb frick. It should be clear to Sox management at this point that if Varitek did accept the offer it would be grudgingly. We don't need the drama. Obviously Jason is a blithering idiot.

I totally agree with post #122. Obama tax plan, divorce lawyer, Heidi's allowance, child support, Boras's percentage, union dues, etc. This is not to mention the cash he pays the pitchers to say he is the best catcher in the league to throw to. Give me a break. Do you think Dice-K, Lester, Beckett, Smoltz, etc. will be worse without him?

I think they have proven themselves enough without needing Varitek to save them. Boras screwed him, he screwed himself, and his wife made him pay for it. I imagine Heidi is good, but is she that good? Even at 5 mil, he would be taking home the league minimum.

Walter, this is a two-year deal! He can exercise the player option and make 3 mil next year....by the way, why should we be loyal to the players when the will bolt the next town over for an extra 3 mil?? You root for the jersey, not the name on the back.
And tek is lucky he is getting that much...did you watch any games last year?? I bet in 1/3 of his at-bats he either struck out or grounded into a double play. That being said, I would love him back, but sometimes it just ain't in the cards...

I've always been a fan of JV but he clearly doesn't get it. He blew it when he passed on arbitration. No one is making an offer because he'sworth the most to the Sox because of his history here. He is not going to do better than this so I hope the Sox stay with "Take it or leave it"

Two questions for ya......

Tek - Is it worth losing your legacy over 5 Mil?
Manny - Will it be worth the extra 5 Mil having lost your spot in RedSox lore?

DUMMIES!!!

That 5 Mil number may be the down fall of two guys that would have had their numbers up in right field someday.

Maybe John Henry should contact BorASS and tell him that he'll give him 30 Mil for both players and BorASS can decide how he wants to split it between the two players!

Why should the Sox pay much more just for feelings? $5m should help those hurt feelings. You want more -- sue your agent.

The Sox picked up Pedro's option to build goodwill and look where that got them.

Adios, Jason. No hard feelings. Good luck.

Maybe Tek can get a job mowing lawns in the neighborhood. 20 bucks a lawn times a kazillion lawns should bring him in the neighborhood of the one year 5 million offer. Go for it Tek. Screw the Sox !

Type your comment here...Jason varitek, I always thought you were a class act person. Even when you either pop up or struck out. it look like you took it like a man. If you do come back, let it be without the C on your uniform. Your no captian to us anymore. Stay home and watch the Sox on your TV.

Tek will be joining Manny while watching the Sox from home for the 2009 season.

I'm sentimental; all I really want is for this to end amicably. That's looking further and further away. Oh, and I'd also like for it to END! I mean has there ever been this much non-news reported?

Jason has been one of my two or three favorite players for many years, but reluctantly I see that he is out of his mind. Yea, sit out a year Jason. Maybe you can have coffee in your free time with John Thain, that dope from Bank of America, who also doesn't get it. I think the Red Sox are also out of their minds for offering five million to a catcher who has hit below.220 for one and a half seasons. Baseball is a ridiculous sport with inflated salaries for prima donnas who don't get it. In the end, the only thing that could salvage baseball is a hard salary cap of about 50 million per team. You don't even want to root for these guys anymore.

it seemed that you stood for certain values that i admire. Negotiations are rough and boras is a hard person to partner with because he squeezes every dollar out of management. Your divorce may require you to have more money but if you dont take the deal you will have lost an auwful lot of people's respect. im a sox fan in new york and i would feel bad if you left but the team is always more important than any player.

Father time has clearly caught up to JV. He should kiss his career and ass goodbye, because he will not be returning to baseball.

Who does he think he is for 9 million, Julio Lugo? (another reason not to keep signing overachieving free agents).

We absolutely don't want another "Bonnie Situation" with this aging catcher.

Fine, go home and sulk because you made a bad business decision. "Loyalty" goes both ways, it's not as if Tek took a pay cut with his last contract. The Red Sox have been more than fair with their current offer and he'd really be foolish to just walk away from it. It's not as if a year from now, his value will be any higher.

Long time fan of the Captain, but it's "what have you done for me lately." If you continue batting .200, then you need to retire. If you get your act together, and hit .275, then you might be worth the 5 million. Smarten up, can that a$$ clown Borass- he's ruining you like he's ruined others...... Oh yeah, I'd spend some time in the batting cage if I was you....

Guess Tek is toast. Ain't going to happen. Thanks for the good years and wish you and Scotty the best. The Sox can win it without you. Maybe the rest of the SOX pitchers could take up a collection so Jason doesn't starve on the $5m.

I really cannot stand delusional Red Sox fans... Boras did not corrupt Varitek. Varitek has ALWAYS been a "get the most money I can" player. He could be the poster boy for greedy athletes. That takes nothing away from his days as a player - that is reality. He hired Boras in college because he wanted the most possible loot he could get, he sat out when drafted because he wanted the most possible loot he could get, he has stayed with Boras for his whole career because guess why? He wanted the most possible loot he could get. Shoot - Boras got him 4yrs/40M/ and that stupid "C" on his uniform without anyone else making an offer for the Sox to bid against. He was worth maybe 4/32M - so Boras already made him 8M and a stupid "C"..

As for firing Boras - while that would be in the character of a man who would cheat on his wife with a younger hotter woman - it would actually highlight Varitek's lack of character. You do not fire a person who (at your bidding) has made you more millions than people like us will ever see.IN the 20 years or so these two greedy bums have worked together Boras has probably pulled at least 20M extra dollars for Captain Show Me The Money.

Jason has become very boring.....................on and off the field...................You had a good run, but you have screwed yourself pretty good.......Boros has been a lot of help, I am sure..............Also, if you choose to go to another team, please try hitting left-handed all the time....LOL.

Better find a way to get Mauer now. Next year will be too late as the Yankees will tire of Posada. Give the Twins pitching and go get the best catcher in Baseball. He will make up for the Texiera loss.

Why does everyone talk about team loyalty to players and not being respected. Where is the players loyalty to the team and the fans. I love Jason's work ethic an attitude, but why shoild we pay anymore that what we are offering. An aging catcher, offensive is questionable.

How the heck can anyone be asked to live on $5 million for about 130 days work?

If Tek was smart, he would've fired BorASS for telling him to turn down arbitration. If he did, a deal would be struck the very next day. Instead, Tek continues to show his stupidity by sticking with this guy. PLEASE THEO !!! Just trade for Miguel Montero and put an end to this soap opera. And in doing so you'll be sending a message to the rest of the league that if Boras is your agent, then the 2nd richest MLB team will not be interested in your services. How someone with obvious deteriorating skills can walk away from 5M? THEN GO AHEAD AND RETIRE YA DUMBASS.!!!

I hope Heidi Watney can find another Red Sox player to call her "boyfiend."
What will she do without the captain? 4.7 million unemployed and is balking at only $5,000,000 or $30,000 per game. SICK country we live in.

Tek had the correct analysis of the arbitration process. He was at risk of getting a lower arbitration offer or being cut or both. However, he was wrong on his analysis of his marketability. If he had been cut, someone would sign him. Now no one will because he not worth the draft pick. Tek is also wrong that he will be worth more in the future. A 38 year old catcher who had not played in a year coming off a .220 BA (and sliding) is not worth much.
The unknown is how much Tek hates his ex-wife. I have seen couples destroy assets and wealth just so the ex-spouse does not get a share. Why has no one else mentioned this?

Fair Deal? Varitek sucks, plain and simple. ' Intangibles' my @ss. Take Montero because he has some defense. Saltamalachia can hit but can't catch. Montero's .265 will be better than V-Tek's sorry .220. It'll be a pleasure next year to see the catcher stroll to the plate and not have to moan and grumble about "Here Comes The StrikeOut Artist". Gimme A Break! V-Tek Sucks! BuhBye!

if he follows through and sits out the year, would he still be considered a Type A free agent if signed by another team in 2010? ie. would Sox get a first round draft pick?

Tek.....Moron..........guess we know what your about now........$$$$$$$$$$$.....go home and cry ya idiot....you and Borass go screw.....go give Heidi more of the"scoop", cheatin' chump....finally, we know what the "C" stands for......

" Don't let the door hit you in the . . ."

...in the Borass?

Tek,
You earned that "C" on your jersey because you brought pride and leadership to the club. You are one of the best game calling catchers to ever play the game. It would be a shame for you to retire as anything but the captain of the Red Sox. As a fan who has had the opportunity to watch you for your career in the Sox jersey I am grateful. That being said, I would hope you would take the offer presented to you by the Red Sox, I think that is is more than fair based on your recent struggles at the plate. Guys like Manny, Roger and Johnny have tarnished their legacy in this town and I would hope that you will consider this offer and secure your place as one of the best and classiest players ever to don the uniform in Boston.
-Ben
Section 24, Fenway Park

Love seeing how the Red Sox fans turn right away. This is typical Boston. I know most of the people in Boston live their whole pathetic lives through this baseball team that it hits them especially hard. Tek should turn down the offer, and he'll eventually get a call from the Yankees. It will be funny when he returns to The Fens in pinstripes

I never knew that Tek was so arrogant. To be so willing to walk away from $5 million because you feel disrespected. I call that pretty stupid. I get the feeling that the Sox should make that trade deal for a starting catcher very soon.

To #228, don't quit on Ellsbury; I predict (and yes, what do I know) that Ellsbury is going to have a great year, i.e., .310, 25, 100, 110 runs, 50+ steals, great D in center. I think he will emerge as the best leadoff hitter in the AL. As for Tek I hope he takes the deal.

Jason, thank you fo all the great yeas in Boston. You have been a model player and a real asset for the Boston Red Sox. Howeve my fiend, you are not the player you were. Based on the last couple of years, I think 5 mil is more than fair. I think your agent has really hurt the game, and in this economy where people are losing there jobs and homes, I am losing respect for you as a person and player. The best thing for you to do is retire and enjoy the time off....and to keep your mouth shut

5 mil is not enough for a 37 year old catcher? SO he is seriously considering sitting out 09 or retiring.. yeah the market is WIDE open for washed up 38 year old catchers. What sickens me is people are losing their houses and jobs and these PRIMADONNA crybabies are whining that 5 mil is not enough..... Jason.. remember Latrell Sprewell?? 15 mil wasn't enough to feed his family and now he is bankrupt.... my god GROW UP and either sign the deal or JUST go away... you won't get CLOSE to 5 mil from anyone on the open market.

I can also see the handwriting on the wall with Borass and the Sox... I would not be shocked to see Ellsbury traded in the next few years.
Borass has burned his bridges with a lot of teams, and he is cutting his own throat with some of these deals.....

Theo, I am going to boo and boo and boo again when Veritek steps to the plate this spring. At this point, I hope he doesn't come back. Thousands of people losing their jobs, and Varitek gets into a snit because he's being offered "only" $5 million?

Pull the offer now...he's coming in bitter.....suck it up, you and Borass are idiots....."Captain", what a joke.......great comment SkyeGuy...funny...

It is time that the Red Sox tell clients of Boras that they will not negotiate with him. If you are a client of his...you deal directly w/ the club or you don't get to first base here. Boras is a prime example of what is wrong w/ professional sports.

Baseball is a business and Varitek is a business partner. When the bosses win and reap the rewards of his leadership and stability they don't pony up any of their profits. Varitek has been the field general of this club and he deserves the respect he has earned. If slaries weren't public and you looked at this on just face value.,it would be a no brainer. Leaders like 'Tek don't come around often - pay up and win the pennant in '09.

I'm getting a kick out of the few who write in and say that the Sox are being disloyal by offering $5-million and a deadline to a veteran player. Could someone please be that disloyal to me?

Next I'm waiting for Curt Schilling to write in and say that players deserve all the money they can get because they have a skill at which they are better than anyone in the world. If Curt would say that about police officers, teachers, surgeons or nurses, that would be one thing. But with 80,000 hard working Americans losing their jobs this past week, Varitek is being ridiculous.

"We don't throw (more money) at .220 hitters!"

I hope he signs, I like the idea of the Sox having an automatic out in their lineup.

If Andy Petitte is man enough to realize his worth and accept a deal - what argument does Varitek have?

The five million was a charity offer out of respect for him and these two dopes think he will get a multi year offer after sitting out a year and being 38 years old?
Now it is time to make an example out of Boras. Pull the offer immediately and move on!

Rumor has it that Jason is considering an offer to become the new Celtics mascot. Boras is trying to get $10-million per year from the C's.

If this article is accurate - we should all be done with Varitek, and I was a 100% supporter of him even with the drop in his numbers last year. Get a grip Tek - 5 million is 5 million. Boras is a greedy idiot and is destroying your legacy.

Sit out '09 like his value would go up with another year of age on his body. He couldn't catch up to pitchers last year. How would a year of not facing major league pitching make him more valuble to anybody? If he signs the current offer great. If he decides otherwise great. Thanks for the memories Tek. I'll wear my St. Patrick's day green Tek jersey with pride for a long time to come but I won't be shedding any tears if he isn't part of the Sox lineup this year. Does anybody know if there has been a fund set up for us to send contributions to help Jason through these tough economic times he is going through? On another note is anybody else like the idea of FA Orlando Cabrera coming back to play SS for the Sox?

IT'S A REALLY SAD WHEN $13,698.63 A DAY ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY. IN 3 DAYS HE MAKES MORE THAN MY SALARY FOR THE WHOLE YEAR!!

JASON VARITEK, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!

varitek is so bad, he always got out last season and batted .220, just go away

I guess one of his "intangibles" is not contract negotiations.

You can't have it both ways Boras. Turn down $10M for something better, risk it all and then want it back because it didn't work out for you. Someone's gotta pay for the mistake. Losing $5M sends a long-term message to everyone who jumps on the Boras ship. Hopefully Manny will get less than $20M ... maybe even less than $10M. If the owners were smart, they'd show these greedy bums and their agents a lesson and not offer Manny anything. That'll cost Boras and the prima dona players. Ooops ... Steinbrenners will screw it up by offering a stupid amount of money.

This is such an obvious bluff its ridiculous. Why would an aging catcher sit out a year and get nothing but older? Like that would get him a higher contract the next year? Think again Scotty B!!

There's at least 5 million reasons to take the deal offered to him. If Varitek were to decline this contract, I would lose a tremendous amount of respect for the guy.

At some point in time, players will begin to get frustrated enough with Boras that they'll avoid him. It may be slow, but it will come.

CAPTAIN GREEDY

TEK is showing his SELFISH side again... did it to his family last year, doing it to his baseball family this year. What a DOPE.

If you sign I'm gonna tax you!

Yeah Jason, you can blame the Sox just like your former teammate Nomar did. Just like he never took responsibility for turning down $64 Million and then blamed the Sox, because he and his agent made a "BAD" business decision and the market turned, not to mention his skills & attitude, now you can blame the Red Sox for your problem. After all, it's got nothing to do with "BAD" decisions by you and your "Super Agent". No it's the Red Sox. Too bad George Bush still isn't President, because you could go to work for him. He never took responsibility for his problems either, remember that he said last week that he inherited the Recession. Too bad he didn't recognize it for 8 years. That along with your .220 average, Great advice form Borass and your "Dumb" decision not to accept Arbitration is why you're not even worth the Sox offer. Sit out, I'm certain Borass can give you a list of all the 37 year old Catchers with .220 averages came back strong after sitting out a year. Look what he did for Manny.

Come on Jason. At least keep your pride. It has never been all about the money if you truly love your sport, your team and your fans. Boras is nothing but a trouble maker. Think about going out with some class. Spend a year playing for whatever they'll pay you and go out on top. COME ON! MAN UP!

Dear.JASON,Do you know where the Red Sox get the 5 milion dolars from,that tou you ,it looks to me ,you think it's a small bag of penats,JASON the 5 milions are from the fans,that come to see the great red sox team,players that can hit the ball,not players that 4 or 5 time out of 10 at bat will take a fast walk back to the dugoutand the other 4 times the ball will go as far as one of the 4 infieders and some times a fly ball as far as 150 to 200 feet out to one of the outfielders.Do you and Mr BORAS have any knowledge how hard it is for most of the fans to come and see some of milionares play ball,I am 74 years old,have yet to make any where close to 5 milions ,the time i was at Fenway park 12-14 Year ago,love to come back but it's to expensive for me to come w/my wife or grand children,because you players every Year want more and more and we fans have to thank fellows like mr BORAS AND PLAYERS LIKE YOU,but red sox fans like you and will be happy to see you for one or two more years.even if the 5 or 8 milions are much too much,i for one will have to work onother 56 years to reach that figure, good lock ..

Why would the Sox offer him arbitration and release him? What's the point in that? No draft pick if another team signs him going that route. Plus, Doug Mirabelli wasn't an everyday player, and his salary dump was minimal. Varitek's salary dump likely would have been much steeper, thus less likely to actually happen. Sounds like Boras was feeding Mazz some info. I have been proud to wear my 'Tek T-shirt over the years, but I'm beginning to think it's headed for the retired pile ... right alongside my Damon T-shirt.

So sitting out a year with no 'playing time', improves his market value? Explain that one Boras....can't wait to hear this....

I think that he should retire. He has has a great career which can only be mared by another sub par year or two. Look at Jim Rice, if he had retired two or three years earlier he probably would have been elected to the HOF the first time he was on the ballot.

Good Bye Vari-jerk. You are a spoiled baby. Boras stuck it to you, and now you complain. Go back to where you came from. People are struggling to earn a living in this country, and you just came off 40 million that you were not even worth. The Sox offered you a contract in good faith. You and the peice of garbage you call an agent don't want SEE-YA.
I honestly hope you retire, sit out or do something else. I was sick of an automatic out anyway. You're a disgrace. Hit the road, and I look forward to getting a player that can hit above 220.

We love you Jason, and I know we don't see everything that is happing behind closed doors. Find a way to make it happen .

Boston fans are the most fickle fans in the country. The guy won two championships. Why not bring him back. With a pitching staff like that are you going to gamble on newbie? It's like putting bicycle wheels on a ferrari.

Let the greedy bastard retire. He can't hit anyway.

I'd bet that either Josh Bard, George Kattarras, Dusty Brown, or Mark Wagner can hit at least .220 this year...and their combined salary is about 1/3 of what is being offered to Tek. They also won't cry when they get pulled for a pinch hitter late in the game.

So what happened to the Jason Varitex who just two weeks ago met with John Henry and said how much he wanted to come back to the Sox in 2009 and how he wanted so dearly to retire as a Red Sox?????? Apparently that was just a big lie,and like many other players today -- he is only interested in the bucks and could care less about the Red Sox, his fellow team members, and the fans who supported him all these years. Granted he handles the pitching staff well, but $5 million is a more than generous offer considering he is a below average hitter, has a below average arm, is merely an average defensive catcher.

Too good for $5 million? Good riddance! There are people killing themselves because they lost their jobs and can't make ends meet. There are people losing their homes. This clown is insulted by a $5 million contract. I'm done with baseball. You want tough? Try paying student loans and a mortgage on my salary. All while you're praying that you can hold onto your job.

There are 3 reasons a player stops playing. You get hurt; you suck; or you leave on your OWN TERMS. Which do you want, Tek?

Play ball Jayson, 5 mil nothing to feel ashamed about...more ballplayers s/ be taking big cuts w/ way things are in the world~~don't care how good u are eaither. "Out w/ greed & in w/ whats best in these hard times". Your a great catcher Tek, hopefully offence improves this year~~ remember can't be great all z time. This c/ be a great year for u, never know. Always remember 7/24/04, twas @ game w/ u kicked A-Fraud butt & he cried like a baby I'm sure...get out there, we need u.

I hope Jason gets his head out of wherever he and Boras put it and agrees to this. He blew it when he took his agent's advice not to accept arbitration. If Boras blows this along with Manny's deal (after convincing Manny to act like an idiot this past summer) maybe athletes will look for a less greedy agent. Unlikely, but maybe.

Okay, people
1) this isn't Tek being greedy and selfish, this is so-called super-agent Scott Boar-A** trying to ruin yet another player, &
2) pleez, Tek, just fire this idiot and take the $$ if you don't get rid of this dirtbag soon he will tarnish your rep permanently, and then drive you off a cliff. You're a good person, don't do this. End your career on a high note.

Okay, people
1) this isn't Tek being greedy and selfish, this is so-called super-agent Scott Boar-A** trying to ruin yet another player, &
2) pleez, Tek, just fire this idiot and take the $$ if you don't get rid of this dirtbag soon he will tarnish your rep permanently, and then drive you off a cliff. You're a good person, don't do this. End your career on a high note.

There must be something more to the story that we don't know if he'd rather retire or sit out the season...I mean nobody is that stupid or stubborn to be "offended" by making $5 million a year, right???

OK, so New England is somewhat parochial. But do we need a skirt chaser who let his wife and daughters head back south, far away from his Newton home so that he could persue his latest 'trophy' Ms Heidi Watney?
Good riddence creep.
Say hello to Roger & his 16 year old flame on the way out.

Good bye Jason. Thanks for the memories & enjoy watching baseball on television.

I think Jason Varitek has been a great player who deserves the respect that comes with that, but it is sad to see this great career culminate in such a degrading way by listening to the ill advised advice of his so called "superagent". In a time of great economic strife, it is time for athletes to " cowboy up" as Kevin Millar would say! Good luck Jason

varitek couldnt call a ninth inning until papelbon came onto the scene.then still he called papel's second best pitch too many times until sept. eckersley laughed at all his disguised pitch calling antics behind the plate years ago. he is a tough nosed workaholic clown of a hitter. trade some arms for a natural bat that you can teach to catch (saltalamachia). did everyone forget the 7-8-9 production last year. varitek and your 8 million dollar shortstop killed more first and second no out situations. and you have a manager that doesnt bunt until october.

varitek couldnt call a ninth inning until papelbon came onto the scene.then still he called papel's second best pitch too many times until sept. eckersley laughed at all his disguised pitch calling antics behind the plate years ago. he is a tough nosed workaholic clown of a hitter. trade some arms for a natural bat that you can teach to catch (saltalamachia). did everyone forget the 7-8-9 production last year. varitek and your 8 million dollar shortstop killed more first and second no out situations. and you have a manager that doesnt bunt until october.

After all those years and being captain of the team, where is the team chemistry I always am hearing about?

Hell I know exactly where Varitek is coming from.If I was dating Heidi Whatney I'd take the year off as well!!Way to go Tek.You might not be able to hit a lick anymore and you might be the greediest SOB around but we all like your girlfriend!!!

When you get right down to it, this is Theo's fault. Duquette's even. There should have been a back-up catcher here years ago, and I don't mean Mirabelli. All teams have to plan for this eventuality, most with a fraction of the Sox's payroll. Apparently management has been planning for Varitelk to play 140 games a year until he was 40. Now they got nuthin. Who knew?

There’s been a lot of talk from Red Sox fans called Varitek “greedy” or whatever and hoping Varitek walks, but hold on a minute. His bat may be declining (though all statistical projections have him rebounding a bit next season, however we‘ll just ignore that for now), but his defense is still there, just look at his stats compared to the Gold Glove winner, Joe Mauer:

Mauer: Errors: 3, passed balls: 4, double plays: 1, Assists: 52, CS% .363, CERA: 4.22, RATE: 104, RAR: 31, RAA: 6, Fielding Win Shares: 9.2

Varitek: Errors: 4, passed balls: 4, double plays: 7, Assists: 42, CS%: .222, CERA: 3.67, RATE: 106, RAR: 29, RAA: 7, Fielding Win Shares: 7.9

Mauer has a bit of advantage in some categories (most notably CS%), Varitek in others (most notably CERA), Mauer was a little better overall, but clearly Varitek is still almost on par with the best in the game.

And say what you will about his "game calling" being over-rated, but just look at the red sox month by month team ERA splits for the last 3 years, clearly there's a trend:

2006 total: 4.83
month by month
Mar/april: 4.67
May: 4.62
June: 4.46
July: 4.60
August: 5.81
Sept: 4.70
--
2007 total: 3.87
month by month
Mar/april: 3.28
May: 4.07
June: 3.83
July: 3.66
August: 3.97
Sept: 4.31
--
2008 total: 4.01
month by month
Mar/april: 4.32
May: 3.66
June: 3.61
July: 3.92
August: 4.27
Sept: 4.30

Only one month in the last three years was the team ERA above 5. August of '06, when Varitek was on the DL (for the only time in the last three years). Schilling said it himself, when he came one batter away from having his first career no hitter:
"With two outs I was sure I had it," the 40-year-old Schilling said. "I shook off [Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek] and now I'll have to deal with a 'what-if' the rest of my life."
Varitek wanted a slider but Schilling wanted a fastball away. A's left fielder Shannon Stewart was looking for exactly the pitch Schilling threw. Schilling faced two batters over the minimum, retiring 27 of the 29 batters he faced. The only other A's baserunner was Dan Johnson, who reached on Julio Lugo's error in the fifth inning.

Of course that’s just one example of many quotes from pitchers praising Varitek’s ability to work with the pitchers.

Now as for Salty's case (and potential)… in '07 he had a hand injury and he was a rookie so you can't hold that against him for his early struggles.

He's only 23 and his OBP improved significantly (his k/bb was 74/31 last year which shows a lot of potential.) he spent some time in AAA last year where he .291/.391/.491.. he had no passed balls and no errors

Plus last season in the majors he hit .311/.426/.451 against RHP, which is a big plus (considering he's a switch hitter, and it would make a good platoon with Varitek if we bring him back because Tek hit .284/.378/.484 against LHP, a combined ops around .860)

In '07, despite his early struggles, he had hit .309 with a 1.021 ops in AA at age 22

His scouting report from BP reads:
"he has drawn comparisons to Joe Mauer, but switch-hitting Jason Varitek might be a more accurate comp

...

The other good news is that he improved behind the plate, throwing out 36 percent of opposing runners, so talk of moving him to first should be quieted."

his PECOTA projects him as being a .283/.365/.509 hitter in his prime.

Also salty played in the Dominican Winter Leagues this year and hit .364 AVG/.506 OBP/.848 SLG... the sox sent a scout down there to watch him:
"According to major league sources, Sox special assistant Allard Baird unfortunately watched Saltalamacchia on his worst defensive night in winter ball, though other scouts who watched him regularly thought he was fine behind the plate. "

And he wants to come here:

“Jarrod Saltalamacchia said Saturday that being traded to Boston ‘would be a dream come true..I'd love to go there and either work under Jason (Varitek) for a year or two or just go there and catch full-time,’ said Salty. “ (per RotoWorld)

Apparently the sox want him here too according to Joe Haggerty:

"The Red Sox love Jarrod Saltalamacchia," Haggerty said. "They feel like he's going to come to Boston, he's going to work with Gary Tuck and he's going to turn into another Jason Varitek-type catcher. They have so much confidence in Gary Tuck's ability to instruct catchers, that he's going to be able to come in, be a defensive catcher and be a very good hitter, and be a guy that's going to be able to catch 130-140 games."

Texas is looking for a pitcher and has a logjam three catchers (Teagarden, Saltalamacchia and Ramirez) They need to get rid of at least one of them soon before they start losing value. Ramirez is more of a 1b/DH type, and Salty would not only be cheaper than Teagarden, but also appears to be a better fit for Boston. Also signing Tek would increase our bargaining leverage, as the “need” to trade a catcher suddenly decreases. Texas wants Buchholz, but I wouldn't part with him. I’d say Masterson is off-limits too. Offer them Bowden + some lower level prospects (at this point anyone in the minors except the untouchable Lars Anderson is pretty expendable) and see if they bite, it should be a win/win situation for both teams.

Assuming Varitek accepts the $5 million offer, for $5 mill and an expendable pitcher with no immediate future on the active roster, with the platoon of Tek and Salty, we could potentially get a ~.850 OPS with above average defense out of the catcher spot (which is essentially what the elite catchers like Mauer, Soto, and McCann would give you), and you have Tuck and Varitek helping Salty with his defense and securing a great young catcher for years to come when Varitek’s time is done.

... Boras did not corrupt Varitek. Varitek has ALWAYS been a "get the most money I can" player. "

Varitek has played 12 years for the sox and averaged 4.75 mill a year to be the second best catcher in red sox history, and for a while was the best catcher in the majors

Bye Bye Jason, you greedy, out of touch jerk! If you haven't noticed your skills are not what they were just a couple of years ago. My 63 year old mother can hit better than you now!

" really cannot stand delusional Red Sox fans"

What's dellusional is thining that we have a better option, and thinking that Varitek is a greedy evil person for wanting a multi-year deal.

What is wrong with you people (#269 and everyone else like him)? None of you know crap about Varitek's personal life except what you have read on the internet rumor mill!!! Is it possible to keep his personal life out of your clueless comments?

He filed for divorce, not his wife!

Hey realitychecktime, what you posted only shows your lack of character!!!

It's not like Tek has played well. He hasn't, and considering he's coming off his contract year, when he should've been playing his best like Manny (of all people) did the last two months of the season, what is Tek thinking of? Why doesn't Tek just take the one-year contract as one last opportunity to prove himself still capable of being a top-tier major league catcher worthy of the multi-year, multi-million dollar contract he wants, instead of coming off like a self-entitled jackass? If Tek can look elsewhere so can the Red Sox, and he's gonna find that out really soon.

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out of Boston. You should pay the fans back for pain nad suffering having to watch you TRY to bat the last two years. How much is ever enough. Didn't want arbitration which would have netted you eleven million or so. You should be thrilled to come back for $200,000 after your performance. Maybe give the C to Pedroia or Youkalis. They acted more like Captains. Here are your at bats. Strike One.....Bang your ankle with the bat.....Strike Two.....Bang your ankle with the bat.....Strike Three....Run back to the dugout taking your helmet off on the way...See ya!!! Greedy Bastard

Tek getting short money is completely his own fault. Refusing arbitration for what would be 10 mil. In doing so creating the scenario that the sox would get draft picks from anyone who signs him... What the hell was he thinking. Boras screwed him not the sox. And now he wants to take his ball and go home?

I'm a fan but he was an automatic out and a rally killer all year long. Thanks for the years Tek, but you should be grateful for the 5 million and fire Boras

Jason, I thought you were a great captain. Your agent is only after a power and trying to remain the alpha dog and big shot. He really does not care about you. This you may not see but it is the truth. Remember how he srewed even A-rod and he had to beg the Yankees in the end... after you leave baseball Borass will still have lots of clients and you will have walked away. Don't you get it??? You are a client and there will be another one after you are gone. Borass lies and does not care a bit about the true ethics and values of fairness and loyality. These character traits used to matter. It's what I try to reach my children. I can't belive your head got so twisted by your agentWhatever happened to love of the game or is his just one big business and not a sport. C'mon offer to dumb Borass, I agree with others dump your agent and ask the Red Sox for a bonus.

"Bye Bye Jason, you greedy, out of touch jerk! If you haven't noticed your skills are not what they were just a couple of years ago. My 63 year old mother can hit better than you now!"

guy dedicates his entire career, to the sox, doesn't even negotiate with other teams. and like i said, salty and tek could easily combine for a .850 OPS with above average defense.

just wondering if the Yankees would give him more than 5 million? Posada is not able to catch anymore....just wondering...

scott boras is single-handedly ruining baseball.

My dad is 75 and knew enough to start working part time. Tek, loved ya, will miss ya, but see ya!

See ya later Tek... you are a MORON! You are overrated!

If the people writing these comments are Sox fans, I don't know why any player would want to play for the team. You folks are means and nasty. As a long time Red Sox fan, I am embarrassed.

Smart, we will see. We won't cry if you leave, we won't hate, we will simply forget you. And cheer on the new guy!

Cut off nose to despite face. .... Can you say Jody Reed

Tony M. just invents stuff just to piss people off and get them to read his articles and post comments. So I ask you Tony, who is this "source" or are you just inventing people and ideas like Boras invents offers?

I'm no psychologist, but I think 'Tek really doesn't want to play another season and embarrass himself. At the same time, he can't admit he's lost the skills he once had. The solution? Blame the Sox. It's not a manly exit, but it allows him to leave with his ego intact.

Hey Scott??????.how do ya like working for NOTHIN for Manny and Varitek???.haha..........First we had to put up with Varitek's complaints about being pinch hit for..........now $5 million isn't enough in an economy that is near collapse? I've stopped going to spring training because the only ones with tickets are the sleezy scalpers who want 60 to 80 dollars apiece to watch minor leaguers. Forget the regular season prices that are in the hundreds. Keep screwing the fans men..............the gravy train won't last forever.........cause when the music stops........they'll be no more chairs left.

I love varitek for $5 million . . . He calls the best game in MLB, is the most well respected catcher in MLB and to boot he'll have some offense as usual. So what, he had a down year in 2008 - in 09 He'll hit 250 / 15 / 60 ad you cannot ask for much more from a catcher that is allowing your young pitching staff to develop into the best in MLB.

SELL SEAFOOD AT HNNAFORD SUPERMARKETS FOR NINE DOLLRS AN HOUR.ON THE SIDE MT WASHINGTON.THATS WHAT I DO.JASON VARITEK CAN YOU LIVE ON NINE DOLLARS AN HOUR JUST TAKE THE HOPE THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WHAT WITH YOU ARE DOING..GO SOX.SPRING TRAINING IS SOON.

why is boras the fall guy here? doesn't varitek have the ability to think for himself? the red sox vastly overpayed varitek 4 years ago...tek is nothing more than a spong bat......and tony, what is up with the varitek has been extremely loyal to the red sox fluff? your supposed reporting tends to drift into fiction with alarming frequency.....

Enough already!!!!! 80,000people lost their jobs this past week , people who have busted their ass and don't have much to show for it except a mortgage and a boatload of bills.Varitek is complaining about making 5 mill this year and a possible 5 mill next year, but at least 8 mill over 2 years guaranteed. BOO HOO!!! What a crying little Bi@#h !!!. He hit what 220 over the last year and a half. He's lucky to make 1 mill a year. The sox should sign or trade for a young catcher and move on. Grow up Varitek!! You made close to 60 million in your career, Enough already!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't cry for this jerk.....he orchestrated his career and came up....BUSTED....what a dolt......he's all washed up anyway.....I hope his jilted wife takes him to the cleaners, too....what a JERK!!!

Tek has always gone for the money, even sitting out a season. He can't hit He can't throw out runners, the staff ERA has gone up. Time to say Bye Bye
I also agree if he comes back he will have Nomar attitude.
I hope the Sox tell Boras, thanks for the Texeira screwing, now you pay Jason the $10 mil he would have gotten from the Sox.

The Sox learned from Schilling, they take the money and run!!!

Some team player.....

hey Chris .... STFU!!! we are not delusional at all ..... he had the chance to get his 10-12 million dollar deal ..... he passed on it and has had zero suitors that want his services ..... wake up and watch some of those recap games on NESN ..... JV hit 220 ...... 5 million for one year/ another for an option is a gift ..... I guess it's really just JV, Borass, and you that's actually delusional ...... we all love JV but like everything else in life ..... everything ends and unfortunately it had to end this way because of greed ..... time to go get Saltzy from Texas

Good idea, Jason. Take a year off. .. or better yet, just take off.
Absolutely unbelievable.

I cannot believe a guy who hit .187 after May 21st could command $5 million per year, especially when NO ONE wants him. I think it is pretty generous of the Sox to offer him that kind of contract when there is no competition for his services.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE turn down the Sox offer. You're done. It comes to everyone eventually

If he comes back, please let the pitcher hit and have the DH bat for Tek instead.
.

Boston fans: typical self-righteous idiots! And you wonder why others laugh at you!!!

Varitek should be lucky that he has a job. The way he played last year, I think that he needs to take the money and play. Well, he does have Scott Boras as an agent . I sure Boras is feeding him a line that someone else will take him for much more money. I have to say Im disappointed in Varitek. He should have taken the arbitration. But, he listened to Boras again. If he doesnt take what the Red Sox are offering, he will be another statistic in the unemployment line.
SMARTEN UP, VARITEK..........

I wish Mazz would quit being the sound piece for Scott Boras and his lackey in the media. Grow a backbone Mazz and report with out bias. You were a good sports writer at the Herald. What the hell happened to you.

Insulted by $5 million? Try being downsized or laid off. Smell the coffee and do not let greed be your parting principle. We have enjoyed your years of service to the Sox. Don't blow it at the end.

I was sick and tired of seeing this stiff up with the bases loades everytime last year and never produce!! I'd rather cut ties with him completely and go after Montero.

wow..in an economy where people can't afford to put food on the table, this guy is turning down an opportunity to make $5 million, and all he has to do is play a game...Varitek you are a selfish man....you do not deserve the priviledge of wearing a boston red sox uniform....what ever happened to hometown discounts????

Sign Pudge for 3M with an option and he will give you 275/12/65 batting 9TH.Varitek game calling is overrated. Pitchers still need to executed.If he is that good,why he couldn't get Bucholtz straight.

Tek, take the $5, show MLB that a working man can take a pay cut like the rest of us and suck it up in a bad economy. As luck would have it, the economy can help hide your age based performance declines. Bat right handed, get your ave up above .250 in 09 and have a chance at a final year with the club you know you love, while leaving a classy mark on the next generation of sox catcher, probably Mr. Salty. Wifey's gonna get half of no matter what you've made, not what your gonna make so the $5mm is all yours. Be the Captain of class, not captain of nothing, tell Satan Scott...cya latah!.

You guys are idiots... Tek didn't abandon his family. His wife was a nasty person, ask anyone who works for the Sox. People don't always get divorced because the man cheated on the woman... and that is not the case this time. You so called "fans" are so quick to judge Tek when nobody really knows what's going on with the negotiations or in his personal life.

Who needs a 200 hitting catcher now anyway??? Enough is enough. Good bye Tek...

V-Tek is an automatic out. As much as I like him and thank him for all his good years, he flat-out sucked last year, and he wasn't all that good after the All Star break in '07. Retire Tek...if you do play, please play for the Yankees. We'd sure appreciate the 3-4 outs per game when we play them!

By the way, the greatest catcher in Red Sox history wore #27...Carlton "Pudge" Fisk.

Tek and Bora$$ are taking a knife to a gun fight. Sign or go home!!!

Pride before a crash !!!!!!!

II bet the market for a catcher who's turning 39 and sat out a year will be really hot in 2010. Good advice, Scotty!

I have read 1000's of articles here, never left a comment, I have been a devoted Sox follower since living in Milton in the 70's and 80's. I have to comment now ... Tek, c'mon bro, sitting out ... seriously? Get your head together ,take the offer. If your ego is as large as your showing, prove your worth in 2009, hit 280 and then move on to the greener pasture. Boras chill out and stop believing your own hype you "high-power" dork.

Absolutely ridiculous!! If Varitek sits, I will be furious and lose all faith in him as a player and a person. That to me shows GREED! He made his choices this year regarding arbitration. He gambled and came up short..Sometimes we need to swallow our pride and admit our mistakes and move on. Does he really think that by sitting out a year, he forces the Sox hand and someone, anyone, will want a 38 year old catcher who didn't play a whole season and offer him more than 5 miilion? Man, this sucks!

Boras is as bad for baseball's image as steroids.

Sox management must remember we need 'Tek's unquestioned team leadership, his superior skills behind the plate and even more so: continued magic with pitchers. Success with a wide and varied "new" pitching staff is essential in order to compete in the AL East this year! The added bonus of tutoring a young catcher (who can catch/block for Wakefield) would be all the better. The Sox will finish no higher than 3rd in the East if 'Tek isn't part of the puzzle. The Sox have a sizable needs list in 2009, catching, team leadership and pitching staff education/stability should not be on the list!

I am amazed at the nastiness of many of these comments after all the years of excellence that Varitek has given. It's true that Varitek's hitting and throwing skills have declined, but he remains a key player in other ways: his ability to handle pitchers, his knowledge of opposing batters and his stature among his teammates are intangibles that really count. I think he feels insulted by the size of the pay cut (and the deadline) in view of his past excellence and importance to the team. He clearly has a lot of pride, and I can understand his reaction.

Tek's a good guy but it's a business and the Sox offer is fair. At his age sitting out a year is the same thing as retiring. I bet this has less to do with the Red Sox and more to do with his divorce.

Absurd.....the puppet Tek is truly showing he is made of wood letting Geppetto..er Boras.. pull the stings on this situation.. if that's the best threat they (Boras/Tek) can come up with then the Sox should laugh until their bellies ache and say adios to Tek... Boras is feeding Tek the BS about how the Sox have no "established" catcher and if we hold out they will get desperate.. Please.. Though that is true, I'd rather see the Sox go into spring training with no catchers on the roster then Tek at this point..... Go ahead Tek, sit out the year and pass up 5 mil..good luck finding a team who even knows your name at that point..

Well here we are typical red sox fans turning on yet another loyal player that in terms of years and loyalty alone deserves to be paid. At least Jason HAS earned this right with hard work and being the consummate teammate. Or maybe we should just pay MANNY and have HIM back. Fickle fans. As for management, why would you try and squeeze the life out someone that has bled Red Sox red and blue. Jason isn't asking for the world just a two year commitment. Instead we have to listen everyone assassinate his character. I'll take Jason on my team any time. And my team will be better for it..

i've never heard Jasom

Have any of you ever heard Jason complain? Maybe his offensive skills have diminished. Is this reason to attack his person...his character? Has it been due to lack of effort? In my book, Jason should be canonized with Yaz and Ted. But no, he has to listen to all of you show your appreciation and find out how fast we can turn and how vicious we can be.
We as Boston fans ought to be ashamed. Jason has never wanted to leave Boston. And I'm STILL not willing to give up on his bat. But if I do, I will never forget what he's done for the Red Sox and the manner with which he's carried himself. hhhhhimself...WITH DIGNITY

If all the Sox want him for is his game calling, why dont they pay him to be the catchers coach? He can call the pitches in to the catcher from the bench. I love Tek as much as the next Sox fan, but its time to move on. Theo has the resources to do whatever he feels the team needs, but he's not going to do anything out of desperation. I think you'll see the roster go into spring training as is, but make a splash at the trade deadline. I cant wait for the season to begin!!! Go Sox!!!!

Hey Chris good posts man, I have to agree with you on most things you say, but the Boras factor is the one thing that is the "wildcard" in this whole situation. I just can't wait to find out one way or another. Hopefully when I turn on WEEI in a few minutes I'll get some good news. I like the Idea of Salty coming here,I Iwatched him play last year when Texas came in, thought he was damn good for a young catcher. I say do whatever it takes to get him, if that means trading Buckholz....so be it. Tek signing would be the best scenario along with Salty as his protige IMO.

I was a catcher and drafted by the Red Sox years ago, but decided to go to college instead, but an injury ended my career...I would have given anything to catch for the Red Sox...that was my lifelong dream...For Varitek to think about retiring rather than taking the $5 million offer from the Sox is absolutely sickening. Jason used to be my favorite player..I admired his grit, his tenacity and his loyalty, not anymore. He is the first player in club history who has worn a "C" on his jersey, but apparently that means nothing to him. How much does he think he is worth anyway? He had a terrible 2008 season and a not so great 2007. His numbers are declining and he isn't getting any younger. He should be ashamed of himself....Pony up and sign with the Sox

The guy in a wheelchair I give some change to a few days a week thinks Varitek is greedy. Maybe a lot of the anger and 'disloyalty' to the Captain has something to do with that during the economic times we live in. If Varitek does re- sign, I think the Sox should make the 'C' for Captain much larger on his uniform. It was a little too subtle for my tastes.

I'm going to enjoy just sitting back and laughing at all these same posters complaining and carrying on about how bad the catching tandem of Bard and a couple of AAA catchers are this season...oh wait...yeah, everything will be okay once one of the Texas catching prospects gets here!!

Oh and for those who have time to sit down on a news website and post comments like, "I barely have enough money to feed my family...." Give me a break - here's an idea: sell your computer or get a second job!!!

Very nice site!