Varitek talks moving slowly

lets get serious... forget about varitek (and boras) and let's sign up manny back where he belongs... i know he acts like a 12-year old kid but i'd take a kid who literally frightens opposing pitchers, than an old man who can't connect at all

I find it amazing that Tek did not know a team would have to give the Sox a 1st round pick if they sign him. How can you not know that? This is all Boras' fault and Tek needs to fire that bastard!

And yet another door closes...Gregg Zaun just signed with the Orioles.

Brad Ausmus 1 year $1 mil; Russell Martin 1 year $3.9 mil; How can Varitek be worth more than Martin? By the way is there anyone who believes that when this process started Varitek's intention was to really retire as a Red Sox?

Why can't we get a younger, better catcher? Varitek is done.

Why is this so difficult? Listen up, everyone...

#1 INCENTIVES
#2 VESTING OPTION FOR 2ND YEAR (and maybe 3rd)

A one year guaranteed contract for $6M.

See #1 - Add salary for 100, 110, 120 and 130 games started. Add salary for top 20 MVP finish (won't happen). Add salary for Glove Glove, Silver Slugger, PITCHERS finishing near the top of MVP and Cy Young voting... add salary for World Championship. Make all incentives worth another $6M or so.

See #2 - Vesting option for 2nd year of contract when he starts a certain number of games in 2009. 115-120?? Make it a number that, unless he is doing well enough, he won't reach. EARN the 2nd year. If he gets to year 2, he starts at the salary he ends up with in year 1, and gets the same incentives and vesting option for a 3rd year.

It's not a big commitment for the Sox & could potentially benefit everyone.

Also... #3... Guarantee him a job in the organization when he retires.

Easy!

Jim

Funny how a player thinks he's worth 45 millions for 3 years and has to accept a salary for 1 year and about 4-6 millions, wow his feelings must be hurt.
I think having Scott Boras as your agent hurt your value.Not everything he touches turns into gold.

I have a way to speed up the negotiations and get Tek back::just have Heidi tell Varitek to dump Boras and I'm sure that will speed things up.According to Heidi Jason is "a very loyal person" and I'm sure he's pretty loyal to her as well!!

Time to move on.

1 yr only.

Just sign him 2 yrs 11 Million. 5.5M each yr. He's earned it and he's not horrible. He is still good reciever and he can hit .240 with 15 HRs. Last yr could have been a down yr because of his divorce. We paid Julio Lugo 7M and he's horrible. Keep Varitek in a Sox uniform for 2 more yrs until he retires.

You want a 2-year contract elsewhere, go to Japan. Time to face the fact that Boras led you down the wrong path, the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason - you should have accepted arbitration. If the Sox are offering 1Y @ $4M sign it then do the following : fire Boras, hit .260, 12HR, 6RBI in 2009 then you will get your 2 year deal in the $7M range.

Just what we need, an old ungrateful .220 hitting catcher that "calls a good game". I love that he now tried to play stupid about the draft picks...the same guy that is at times referred to as a "computer" behind the plate....See ya.

This guy is probably the most overrated athlete in Boston sports history. People talk about him like he's Garnett, Brady, or Beckett. I have yet to hear someone fully explain how his "intangibles" cannot be replaced. You mean to tell me the other 31 teams have catchers who don't know how to "call a game"?

Agree with Johnny... 2 years, not much more than 11 or 12 million.

Bob G, younger, better catchers are pretty rare. Can you think of an available young catcher who can handle the pitching staff like Tek does and hit well? Yeah, neither can the Red Sox, or anybody else.

Bluesboy, I loved Manny when he was here, but he quit on the team and made it quite clear he does not want to play here. Time to move on. Let Manny poison some other clubhouse.

1 year at 2.5 m from the Sox. Let Borasshole make up the 7.5 mil differential that Tek lost by listening to Borasshole reccommend no arbitration....

Boras represents two-three guys in the marquis deals every year, and the rest of them hope to coat-tail that action. Not anymore. If you aren't young and in possession of the big numbers, in the future market we're looking at - which has begun - you are toast.

Tek may actually be confronted suddenly with the end of his career and he has a decision to make - fast.

Boras represents two-three guys in the marquee deals every year, and the rest of them hope to coat-tail that action. Not anymore. If you aren't young and in possession of the big numbers, in the future market we're looking at - which has begun - you are toast.

Tek may actually be confronted suddenly with the end of his career and he has a decision to make - fast.

It's going to pain Theo to admit this, but Tek is the best of the remaining lot. The Sox will have to pony up more than people think to bring him back. He's going to end up with with a deal around $10M for 2009 with a club option for around $12 M in 2010. The club will have no intention of picking up the option, but it will save face for Tek.

Tek still does have some leverage here. There's no way the Sox get to St Patty's day without a legit catcher and Tek still has the holdout option. If he sits until after the June draft, then the draft pick compensation issue goes away and he’s a totally unrestricted free agent. It’s a virtual guarantee that some team will need catching help by that point. the

First, why compare talks with Varitek to talks with Manny? Ridiculous comparison. Secondly, I'd still like to see them give him short money plus incentives, but he's got to get over the 'I don't want to be pinch-hit for," issue. Finally... comparing him to what Russell martin makes? martin is a 3rd year player, his earning hasn't maximized yet. Fransisco Cordero was paid about 15 times what Papelbon got last year... you can't compare veterans' free agent contracts to new players.

How about a little Loyalty here...Varitek was a huge part of getting this team 2 WS in a freaking 100 years. We got other guys that can hit the ball...the way Tek handles the staff is like no one else...big deal he can't hit the majority of the catchers in baseball can't hit they are here for defense and what they do for a staff. I would take tek over any of the slap dicks out there.. remember he is the one who calls the pitches, locations etc pitching and defense win we can score 1 run a game and still win if we dont let up any.

If he's so valuable, why have there been no other legitimate offers from other teams? Any team? And don't give me the compensatory draft pick excuse. The fact is that Boras and Varitek tried to overplay the market. It worked with J.D. Drew when the Sox essentially upped the ante against themselves when there were no other offers, but it didn't work this time.

Tek turning down arbitration and Manny shooting himself out of town in hopes of getting a contract worth more than the $20MM option the Sox held will be the two biggest player's union fiascos of this offseason. Bar none.

Tek has something to do with Heidi? Who knew!

SAY NO TO VARITEK!!! he batted a .220 last year and was TERRIBLE. he is 37 and wont get better with age. PLEASE DO NOT SIGN VARITEK BACK!!! you fanboys need to realize how bad he is now. did you watch any red sox games last year???

I wish Varitek could hit a horrible .268 like Lugo who was a few hits short of .280. Mark my words. Julio will surprise many this year to the point where Lowrie plays as many games at 3B as SS.

RICK...love that loyalty thing...my wife KAREN and I agree.

resign manny.

i wonder if his terrible last season had anything to do with his martial problems he was going through he might need the money sooner than later as he is heading fro divorce court tomorrow in georgia

Never in a million years would I pay him what he wants. If he is such a good catcher, how come he won't catch Wakefield? Mirabelli or Cash is better? No way, he just doesn't want any passed balls on his record!!

Odd to hear that varitek did not know about the consequences of not accepting arbitration?? Did he really think Bor-as would get him Posada money?? I continue to have faith in all of this happening in 09: Theo ties up Papelbon LONG-TERM, Varitek decides to follow his heart and not what comes out of bor-as' mouth, and signs with us for 2 yrs.-9.5-10 mil. Smoltz is back on the mound for US! by mid-May, and turns into a strong number 4 starter. Youk and Pedroia continue to be the heart and soul of our lineup/team. See you in Ft. Myers!!

Odd to hear that varitek did not know about the consequences of not accepting arbitration?? Did he really think Bor-as would get him Posada money?? I continue to have faith in all of this happening in 09: Theo ties up Papelbon LONG-TERM, Varitek decides to follow his heart and not what comes out of bor-as' mouth, and signs with us for 2 yrs.-9.5-10 mil. Smoltz is back on the mound for US! by mid-May, and turns into a strong number 4 starter. Youk and Pedroia continue to be the heart and soul of our lineup/team. See you in Ft. Myers!!

Give Varitek a 1 year deal to prove himself. Look what Carlton Fisk did at 38 after a season he 21 hr 43 rbi and 231 avg,he came back and hit 37 hr 107 rbi despite hitting 238. So don't completely give up yet.

Bring back Tek , BUT only if the pitchers hit and the DH bats for him!

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If Varitek was serious about his retiring for Boston, he would not have hired Boras. Now he's got this whole nobody else wants me, so can I come back home thing going on. boo hoo. And all this is from someone who does like him and glad he played for Boston. Hiring Boras is a strong statement. Nobody hires him to arrange a home town discount or to come to amiable contractual solutions to close out one's career with diginity and respect for both parties. When he hired Boras, he was letting everyone know that he was out to cash in the most he could, not go the way of Wakefield. Hence, any language used to the effect of being a team player and love for the franchise is two-faced and only partially beleivable.

Why doesn't any of the talking heads or green shades point out that Boras optimizes his agency according to its ability to generate revenue. He is a business and not some plugging stiff. Unquestionably he has a staff who studies the willingness and ability of the baseball corporations to pay premium salaries and fit his players into their needs and desires. He knew that Texierra would be the big bang for his pocketbook and he knew that Tek would only bring nominally more than 5 to 6 mil. However, he knew if he accepted Sox arbitration they would not bid up Texierra.

GUY CAN'T HIT HIS WAIT LOOK ELSEWHERE

tec does't scare anbody at the plate .they don't call him captain k for nothing.give him 1 year @5mill.and make him bat right handed.

Personally, I would rather watch a losing season or two than have any Boras clients on my team. Don't care who they are (Ellsbury, Bay, Drew), if they are with Boras, their in it ONLY for the money. I know it's a business and you have to make while you can, but a sense of pride in yourself and some loyalty to your team should mean something. (See Manny Ramirez)

Isn't Pudge Rodriguez a good short term (one year) option?

part of the contract........
He CANNOT bat left handed .

Look, Tek is one of the main reasons why we have rings in 04 and 07! There is no one better behind the plate than him, he gives us so much more behind the plate than his bat. You morons that say he is done have no clue, we need him this year for our pitchers and to train the youth. Shut up and let the negotiations work out.

1 year incentive-laden contract. And keep Boras out of it.

Bluesboy, regarding Manny, you do realize that Boras is his agent as well?

I can't believe I have read about 8 articles about how tek and the sox aren't any closer to a deal. man do I need real baseball to start. 3 weeks till picthers and some catchers, can't come soon enough!!!!!

Exactly Erik... "the same guy that is at times referred to as a "computer" behind the plate" No leverage means take it or leave it. No need for sox to bend.(1yr/$4-7max)
Just saying... I like Varitek, and he was one of the Best Sox catchers ever, but c'mon. He is supposed to be the smartest catcher in the league behind the plate, but then he doesn't even know the basics of arbitration. This either proves he is not as smart as everyone thought, or he already has so much money that this is not an issue for him. I find it hard to believe someone could be so ignorant of their own situation and be completely unprepared... C'mon he was going to arbitration. Do your homework Tek, or maybe you did and want to play dumb?

Varitek is worth only 1 YR with 50% playing time to mentor a new and younger catcher. The only incentives on the table should be low team ERA and his batting AVG above .265, otherwise you may as well pay him to sit on the bench - where he wont be an automatic out OR double-play casualty.

Why does a so called intelligent athlete need to pay an agent 15% to ruin his career? Tek should tell Boras (Korlof) to take his check from the yankees and stick it and negoiate his own deal. It would be settled before the sun goes down.
Tek, there is no need for an agent in arbitration. Of course the fee Boras gets , 15% of his eventual settlement, won't be that much so Boras can say he saved him money. He will turn it in to a win-win.

Varitek is desperately trying to save face, so let him stew. Didn't know about the draft pick that came with arbitration? Yeah, sure. Scott Boras didn't know to tell him? Yeah, surrrrrrrrrrrre. Sign Varitek on Feb. 12 for $600,000, incentives, and Boras' Fenway parking pass. I don't think he'll need it anymore.

What good is it to bring back the ungrateful, contemptuous, arrogant, less than mediocre Tek just to have the "younger" catchers watch him for a year or 2? What do they gain from that? Sooner or later you have to cut the cord. Do it sooner! Give them the on-the-job experience. So they make some mistakes, maybe, early in the season. By the All Star break they'll be more than adequate and I'm sure not the worst in the league. Even if they bat Tek's .220 you will at least have a better arm throwing to second. GET IT OVER WITH!!!

"He's going to end up with with a deal around $10M for 2009 with a club option for around $12 M in 2010. " ???????????????????
Posted by EzJD

You really need to put down the crack pipe! Theo will not pay" The Captain" a dime more than his current Market Value;
Some top 10 Salary MLB Catchers;
2. Joe Mauer, $8,250,000 (2007-10) / 4. Ramon Hernandez, $6,875,000 (2006-09)5. A.J. Pierzynski, $6,250,000

4. Ramon Hernandez, $6,875,000 (2006-09) 5. A.J. Pierzynski, $6,250,000 (2009-10)
6. Benji Molina, $5,333,333 (2007-09)
7. Chris Snyder, $4,750,000 (2009-11)
8. Brian McCann, $4,666,667 (2007-12)
9. Ryan Doumit, $3,833,333 (2009-11)

GUYS, Why in God's name should Theo/John Henry even think about giving " The Captain" anywhere NEAR $ 10 Million ?! Smart Business on the Red Sox end !!

Jonas Whale,

You need to rest your starting catcher 30+ times a year, so not having Tek catch Wakefield is logical.

I do agree with the concept of loyalty, but how much loyalty did Tek show when he accepted Boras' advice to decline arbitration? I could be wrong but I do believe that Tek is washed up. He hasn't been a quality defensive catcher for years and his hitting has declined precipitously over the last 2-3 years. I am in favor of sacrificing the farm system a bit to entice Atlanta to part with Brian McCann, who MAY have "Joe Maurer" potential. Tek would have to understand that he is not being brought back as the starter, but to nuture someone, like McCann, to prepare him for an everyday role. If Tek is brought back, I would only offer $2MM guaranteed for 1 year, plus incentives for hitting and games caught, that could get him another $3MM. I'd give a club option for 2010 at $5MM with a $1MM buyout, plus a guaranteed job in the system after retirement. If Tek declines that kind of offer, he is stupid and has no loyalty to the team, and I would then dump him.

Contracts are for what lies ahead, not for what a player used to be. Tek is an old catcher with diminished skills. While well known in MLB circles, he and his agent have yet to accept these facts. This explains why Tek has no takers as spring training approaches. Red Sox should resist anything more than a modest guaranteed contract with incentives for production, while still pursuing a trade for a young catcher who can provide a long term solution.

bah bye Tek!

Time to move on, we've beaten this dead horse to death on Tek - Just think of the comments if Tek comes back and we don't put a "C" on his chest

The Sox should sign Varitek for 1yr at $6MM plus a club option for an additional year at $6MM with a $1MM buyout. Seems like a nice compromise for both sides. If Tek performs well, it could be assumed the Sox pick up the option for a total deal of 2yrs at $12MM and thus he gets his two years. If Tek duplicates last years performance, and or the Sox find a younger alternative, buy him out and give him $1MM as a parting gift to ride off into the sunset. Seems fair to me. Let's be honest, his best days are behind him and the Sox would be better served finding a young starting catcher now. However, I do not think under any circumstance the Sox should trade young top of the rotation starters like Bucholz or Bowden. Clearly, young top end starters are the most valuable chips in baseball period.

I have lost so much respect for Varitek both for his post 08 season contract negotiations and his wife cheating ways. I'm tired of hearing about his "marital problems" causing his poor stats/performance last year. That's pure BS! The guy caused his marital problems and was probably high on Heidi vibe all season while is poor wife and kids were left with the aftermath and heartbreak.
I used to defend this guys catching savvy, but I am so over that. We'll be fine without Varitek in the catching Dept.
Let him go or sign him for next to nothing with heavy perfomance incentives batting right handed only.

Hey Maz:
"Even then, Varitek could resist being in camp from the start, though that would go against some of his general principles and philosophies. In the past, Varitek has taken great pride in maximizing time with his pitchers during camp."

Really? Let's ask the Minnesota Twins how Tek feels about hurrying up to sign, eh?

And "billsox", according to the CBA, agents may only get a maximum 4% of any players contract. Not sure where you get this 15% number.

if i had a "down year" after every divorce i sure wouldn't have a reason to get up in the morning and head to vegas now, would i? and then who suffers but those dazzling, unsuspecting strippers who could gain so much from being, you know, called up? same with varitek. there is no reason the sox oughta give up a 1st round stripp... draft pick because of his marital predicament, and at heart he must have known this. i mean it's no secret the sox like 'em young (what, give up the pick AND re-sign you to multiple, top dollar years? cause you're cute right, in a rugged, chisseled-jawed scumbag who don't call kind of way?). the aging-athlete-loyalty fixation got the best of him and, if anything i wait on him and the other 2004 idiots (lowe, ramirez) to allude to the prevalent indecency of boras' dirty tricks (no, that one's not a vegas pun!) in the name of the game they claim to love so much that the thought of retirement is, what, unthinkable?

VTtoNC (29): He didn't just hire Boras! He hired him when he was still at Georgia Tech!!!

And give the "hometown discount" a break -- you see how far that has gotten Lowell, right?

The guy takes a "discount' to stay in Boston and the Red Sox would have had him traded and out the door in 48 hours had they signed Teixiera! Talk about loyalty, where is the Red Sox front office loyalty??? there isn't any, it's a business!!!!

Tek - Last time I checked you were an adult. Take responsibility for your actions. If your agent steered you wrong shame on you for not knowing better. Your worth has diminished due to a poor season, a horrible agent, and bad choices made on your part. If I were the Sox I would not offer you anywhere near $10M. You want a 2 year deal here's my offer $5M a year. Take it or leave.

think back to what veritek looked like in his last 2 at bats in game 7 vs tampa.....i don't ever want to see that again....it was painful to watch.....

"Personally, I would rather watch a losing season or two than have any Boras clients on my team. Don't care who they are (Ellsbury, Bay, Drew), if they are with Boras, their in it ONLY for the money. I know it's a business and you have to make while you can, but a sense of pride in yourself and some loyalty to your team should mean something. (See Manny Ramirez)"

Jason Bay is not a Scott Boras client. He is represented by Joe Urbon.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again. If Varitek was serious about his retiring for Boston, he would not have hired Boras. Now he's got this whole nobody else wants me, so can I come back home thing going on. boo hoo. And all this is from someone who does like him and glad he played for Boston. Hiring Boras is a strong statement. Nobody hires him to arrange a home town discount or to come to amiable contractual solutions to close out one's career with diginity and respect for both parties. When he hired Boras, he was letting everyone know that he was out to cash in the most he could, not go the way of Wakefield. Hence, any language used to the effect of being a team player and love for the franchise is two-faced and only partially beleivable."

Varitek has been "advised" by Boras since he was playing in Georgia Tech. He did not just recently sign on with Boras.

Its time to trade for Jarrod Saltalamacchia!

Wow, Unfaitful fans were better than that yes way too much for the grizzled vet but ask the boys hurling who they want back. Defense wins championships just ask the Yankees lasy year. I ll take a hit in the lineup if i knew Clay and Lester our going to through no hitters again. And for Scott Boras man i'd love to run into you on the street. Go Sox, welcome Smoltz.

Just give him a 1-year $60 billion dollar deal and be done with it.

If he wants more than one year, move youk to catcher and trade lugo to the yankee's for teixeira to paly first instead.

I just saw the 2007 world series on MLB Tek with the bases loaded STRUCK OUT. Two innings later with a runner on third base FLIED OUT. How can you say he won us two series. He didn't do it the rest of the team did.Forget him he was after the money not for the team. You call that a CAPTIAN?

You could have Ruth, Aaron and a juiced up Bonds hitting in the middle of your lineup, but if your pitching sucks, you are going nowhere. Without Tek the pitching is going to be a deadly combination of floundering young kids, Asians who are just getting in the groove of American communication and veterans who are not going to take direction from an inexperienced backstop that's not even sure of himself. You are staring 3rd place in the AL East in the face. Let those who are hired for their bats do the hitting and bring Tek back with short dollars and incentives for 2 years to keep this team together and let him be the mentor for Mark Wagner so we don't have to give away half of the young pitchers to get a 'potential' star catcher.

Theo needs to make a deal for Mitch Canham, San Diego's sandwich first round pick two years ago. Canham was a two time All American catcher at Oregon State and was a Cape League All Star catcher for Falmouth. He is a good defensive catcher, left handed hitter with power and average and could be a young Varitek in the making. He's in San Diego's farm system and could be ready for the Major's later this year.

Loyalty is a 2-way street and the Sox showed it, along with class, when they reportedly made a fair offer early in the process. Varitek showed neither. He held a gun to their heads last contract time because really, who the heck thought he was worth $10M a year back then, either?

I also don't get all the 'he's a great game caller'. It's not like any of us really know that. We're just being minah birds (speaking of which, that's where a guy with 'Tek's batting average belongs - in the minah's...I kill myself).

$2M, 1 year, thanks for the memories.

Come home Tek. Ignore the delusional Boras. Work out a fair, short term contract that acknowledges 2009's still unstable economy while recognizing your historic importance to this team, your current offensive skills, and your changing role as you platoon with Bard or train your successors; and one which segues directly into coaching by 2011.

It's time to cut ties with Tek. Yes his pitching coach role is nice, but we have pitching coaches. The cost to the team of his completely unacceptable defense is ... well ... unacceptable. Cut the ties and move forward. He can always come back for alumni events.

I have to laugh at all you guys who think you know better than the pitchers what they want. Did you see what Papelbon said? "Bring Tek back!"

I'd rather go with a young catcher who may develop than an old veteran who can't hit, can't throw base-stealers out, can't run. That equates to a player you don't sign, at any price. Not only is he an inning/rally-killer and a .220 hitter who is likely to get worse due to age, he had the worst line-drive hitting average in the A.L. He simply cannot perform at an acceptable level anymore. Don't need him for his mystical "calling the game" ability. Call the pitches from the bench like Kerrigan did with Pedro.

Jason Varitek LOYAL????

Ask his wife and family about that.

Tell them, Heidi.

DUMP BORASS that will speed up the process and then Boraas wont be able to try and make a sales pitch to the Yankees

Hey, I'll catch for a half million. Gee, he only made $40 million over the last 4 years, don't you feel bad for these players? That he would be insulted to play for say $5 million? Insult me, please!

Aha -- so he is heading for a divorce court date tomorrow. No wonder he has not signed. That way the twisted divorce courts can not use that million dollar contract to up his alimony payments. Smart move, Jason! Guarantee he signs next week after the divorce is settled.

I am afraid Pap is only after big money and in a few years when Mariano Rivera retires, Pap will be wearing the pinstripe. I don't sense much loyalty of any sort from Pap - unlike guys like Pedroia and Wake.

I really want Tek back, but now that I think about it, I'm not sure he will do anything until his divorce is final. They go to mediation tomorrow, then trial if necessary. Since the jury is already being planned, most likely trial. They have bad timing, with spring training starting soon. Hopefully it will finish by then. The reason I stated that most likely he will wait, is because if he doesn't wait, she can claim that money.

Yall are idiots we would not have two world series if it wasn't for him. As for manny he can rot in hell. I'd keep Jason Bay over him any day he hits 30 HRs a year and actually PLAYS and is not a curse in the clubhouse

cmon Theo you played hard ball with veterans in the past so please don't cave into this clown and his bloodthirsty agent . Let him an his lead bat walk Theo he could hit below the Mendoza line for the full year , He has the slowest bat in baseball and personell problems aside it aint getting quicker 1 yr 2 mill. if we're desperate

Tek needs to break down & resign with the Sox, for close to whatever they are offering. Obviously, the ball is in the Sox court now. Much longer & the whole thing leaves a very bad taste & AURA going into the season if he should end up signing later rather than sooner. His one bargaining chip is that he is still better than anyone else that is apparently available. Salty is not the answer, but I would rather see the sox move on than to let this whole situation with Tek drag on. He & his agent clearly overestimated his value.

Bring back Tek on a one-year deal ($4 million) with an option year. An incentive-laden contract is probably a great idea. Personally, I don't want to see him in 120 games - 90 is plenty, with Bard playing the rest.

SS will not be an issue - I bet Lugo has a nice 2009 and Lowrie remains a superb utility man.

Forget Varitek as anything but a back-up catcher. Offer him the veteran minimum with bonuses on a minor league contract. Several catchers with much better bats ands better defensive capabilities have been signed for short money compared to what Captain Phoney wants.

As for Manny, love to see him back but at very short money with goal related bonuses and numerous behavior clauses.

This guy has made a ton of money. He is set for life, and so are his grandchildren. If this is all about haggling over a couple million dollars, then I begin to lose respect. He should consider himself lucky that one team is even interested in him at his age and poor performance. Enough is enough.

it's good that we all agree that he is not worthe the money and that if he were true to his word being a team guy, captain, etc he'd cut a deal outside of Boars for 2 years at 4-5m/year.

Here's my theory of this game- which is what it is. Tek plays dumb not knowing about the 1st rounder a team would give up in order to sign him. Sox willing to go to arbitration but Tek, via Boras thinking he's the smart one, declines and it blows up. Now the Sox wait and low ball a slightly above average, aging catcher with a good amount of wear an tear. Now the fun part, Sox move on and trade for a young full time player Boras starts the yelping that they SYSTEM is unfair as teams want Tez but are unwilling to give up the pick. Keep in mind Tek can control the situation - let's see if he does. My bet is no- he cries it out, it always seems to work this way with players who do not get their way.

Tek has no options, look at all the other catchers signing. Make a trade to get Salt, or Tea (Texas) or Montero from the ( Dbacks) surely any of them can hit better then 220 . If he wanted to retire as a SOX then he should have taken the $10 mil when he had the chance, Borass screwed you Tek, and neither one of them knew they had give up a drat pick. they had their heads seeing $$$ because they are greedy. Move on guys and get a young kid while you have the chance.

A Lowery, Tek, Elsbury 7-8-9 or 8-9-1 is a pathetically weak bottom of the order. The Sox need some offense, and keeping Tek in the lineup with chronically injured Papi, Lowell, Drew is unacceptable, and Theo knows this. They need a bat, and trading for a young offensive catcher will dramatically improve the bottom of the order. At the plate, Tek is no longer a major leaguer. If he had a different name, he would be paid the veteran minimum. Tek sux...move on old man.

What are all the numbers being thrown around on this board? Tek walked, Period. And then he spit on the Sox arbitration offer.

And now the EX-captain has sat around all winter watching all the young turks get well deserved FAT contracts, guys that Used to look up to him.

Sox management has been plenty right on these old sad sack injured bitter glue horses - Pedro, Nomar, Trot, Manny and Tek.

Why pay Tek more than he can get from someone else?, Oops!, there is no one else.

Theo is not about to compete with himself!

VTtoNC, Im sure Varitek had no intentions of retiring with the Red Sox when he hired Boras. Especially considering he hired Boras in 1994 before he was drafted by the Mariners. Way back before he was traded to the Sox.

I agree that a short money incentive laden contract with options for future years and vesting makes the most sense. But his incentives should be based on offensive performance. His defense is not in question. And reasonable incentives, maybe just below the averages he was hitting prior to last year. If more years guaranteed is what he is looking for, then it has to be at less money than is guaranteed in the short money offer.

I just think Varitek is washed up. So he calls a great game, make him a bench coach and let him call the game from the dugout.

Are some of you on drugs?

-Bluesboy and Anon: The Sox are not going to commit $45-$60 million and 2-3 years on a guy who already showed them he plays when he feels like it and lied about injuries. That's why the Dodgers are the only team even considering him.

-Classless: There are 30 ML teams, not 32.

-Boomer5: Give him incentive on games played-easy? That's the problem! Look at his hitting #'s:

.193 from the 7th inning on
.201 in 328 at-bats vs. RH pitchers
.211 away from Fenway
.175 with runners in scoring position (in 120 at-bats!)
.157 with runners in scoring position and 2 outs
.118 in the post-season

Plus, even if they do bring on a younger catcher Tito may play Tek more out of loyalty, and that's not the role he'd be there for.

-Kinger: Loyalty? Where was that loyalty when he could have taken a 1 year $10 million deal and refused? You must learn that you don't pay guys for what they did in the past but what thier value is to you present day. Why? Because players don't have the same loyalty when they become free agents-they are out there to make the most amount of money as possible. If some team thought he was worth the 2-3 years/$25-$30 million Boras was going after (notice that no one has) Tek would have been history months ago.

Remember all the crap we heard about Pedro demanding "respect" when he was looking for that long term deal with the Sox? No doubt he helped the Sox finally win it all, but you don't just give him loads of money for what he did in the past. The Sox knew his health wasn't worth longer years and the Mets paid him $50 million and he won just 17 games in the last 3 years of his 4 year deal.

Hey, I like Tek and I think he should be back in a limited role, but if he isn't going to accept that, can't accept that his offensive skills may be gone, that he isn't worth the money he once was and that no other team wants to even risk losing a draft choice over him, then you can't blame the Sox for moving forward.

VTtoNC, are you kidding me? "If Varitek was serious about his retiring for Boston, he would not have hired Boras." Varitek hired Boras when he was a college kid, years before he was traded to Boston. Keeping the same agent has nothing to do with his wanting to retire here or not.

'Tek wants to stay, and Boston still needs him. They'll get it done.

VTek was instrumental in BOTH of the Sox's world championships. Boston would be crazy to let him go. All you people saying he's washed up, why don't you ask the guys pitching to him if they'd like him back. My guess is that you'd hear a resounding YES!!!

I can buy Varitek not realizing that a team would have to give up draft picks to sign him. But there is no way that Boras (or any agent) wouldn't have told him that when they declined arbitration.

Any updates, Heidi?

varitek sucks now. we can survive without him. nice of him to show his true greedy self

Jason. I am a Red Sox fan and a long time supporter of all the good you have done for the Red Sox. As a fan I would love to see you stay with the Red Sox even though your numbers are declining and your age is increasing. You still have a lot of good to bring to the team. Please dump that Bor@ss and resign with the sox. Most of us love you and want you back but putting the team through more negotiations with Bor@ss is painfull to say the least.

It seems to me Boras helped influence Manny's way out of Boston, has Varitek perhaps not re-signing, and the rumors swirl that he gave the Yankees the last voice on Texiera-----sounds to me like the Yanks have Boras right where they want him---help weaken the Sox, but use any avenue to assist the Yankees---Is this a type "reverse collusion" between the Yanks and Boras?

At this point, I'd imagine Boras might welcome being fired. He's painted his client into a corner, and I don't think he wants to answer any questions when Varitek, in effect, takes a pay cut.

Give him a one year deal for 2 million with a club option for next year. Then throw in some performance numbers, $100K for a throw within 10 seconds of a base stealer arriving at second base.

Don't get me wrong, I recognize and appreciate his accomplishments to the team and the city. However he lost all claims of loyalty the minute he hired Boras. He told the organization, and all of us fans, that it would take top dollar to retain his services. He overplayed his hand and lost millions. BOOOOHOOOO.

manny, manny. Bring Manny back or forget the WS for the next 2 or 3 years. V would be a good sign but becomes of little value re world series without Manny.

Scott Boras is a great agent. The "Nation of Whiners" are the pathetic ones.

The issue of whether to sign or not to sign Tek is not a matter of loyalty or captaincy or anything else regarding the past. It's about the future -- and, like it or not, re-signing him is the best option the Sox have. There is simply no better catcher available, either through free agency or via a trade. There is no one presently in the organization who can take over behind the plate and put up numbers any better than what Tek did last year, which was his worst ever. And all the idiots here who say game-calling skills are unimportant, or over-rated, have obviously never played the game of baseball beyond Little League.