Sources: Initial offer to Varitek for one year
Posted by Rob Bradford
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the Red Sox’ initial contract offer to free agent catcher Jason Varitek this offseason was for one year. It was not determined what the monetary worth of the offer would be, although indications were that it didn’t approach the annual average commanded by Jorge Posada ($13.1 million). Varitek’s agent, Scott Boras, referenced the Yankee catcher’s contract as an appropriate point of reference when assessing his client’s worth at the General Managers’ meetings early this month. Red Sox officials refused comment on the negotiations, while Varitek’s representatives did not respond to inquiries on the matter.
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If a one year offer was given (and it was likely between $10 and $12?), I would think the tenor of these negotiations is a little more tenuous than I expected. I really thought a two year with a team option for the third would be the Red Sox offer and there would be no reason for the Sox to hardline the first offer in negotiations.
Tim Daloisio
24 Nov 08 at 6:45 am
Perhaps because Tek was god-awful this year? I would be surprised if they offered anything above $6-8 mil. Any trade they can make for a decent catcher is definitely better than getting Tek back for a year.
George Massey
24 Nov 08 at 7:53 am
I’m so sick and tired of Varitek “whiffing” with runners in scoring position. He’s “done” and Boras is trying to get the Sox to bid against themselves again. I was never a Tek fan nor did I ever buy into that “intangibles” bunk. Trade for one of the Texas catchers and sign Pudge Rodriquez for one year. Platoon them until the new catcher gets his feet wet. Sox pitching will never know Varitek is gone.
Mike Murphy
24 Nov 08 at 8:11 am
Seriously, Pudge is a bad idea, look at how godawful he was for the Tigers and Yankees last year. He had pitchers refusing to throw to him, if you want that type of guy on “your team” fine by me but Pudge has never been a team player and he isn’t looking for a platoon situation either… so thats a tough sell. Better off with one of the Texas guys, my votes for Salty.
sam
24 Nov 08 at 8:30 am
If Tek doesn’t want a one year deal after the way he played last year then let him walk and trade for a Catcher like Salty from Texas. Package Lowell in a deal with some young pitchers and then make Tex an offer he can’t refuse. Go Red Sox!
William Shows
24 Nov 08 at 8:31 am
They don’t want Tek back. They really hope someone signs him and they get the draft picks. Don’t you know Theo’s m.o. by now? C’mon.
BostonBill
24 Nov 08 at 8:34 am
Just read where the Japaneese Pitcher Tajawa or whatever his name is. Should do well only a 6 million dollar offer and i hear he took it. Out pitching looks great for years to come.
William Shows
24 Nov 08 at 8:37 am
Yankees suck! Hank and Hal is going to run that team in the groung. CC Sabathia doesn’t even want to play there. BWAHAHAHAHAHA Yankees can’t buy anymore championships…I love it….LOL
William Shows
24 Nov 08 at 8:39 am
One thing people haven’t really talked about is that we still need someone to catch Wakefield. Assuming we trade for a Texas Catcher of the future AND Tek to be his mentor (which was my best case scenario), who catches Wake? I don’t think either should. Tek probably cant’ and if The New Guy can’t, who cares? We’re certainly not carrying three.
MUNGHERO
24 Nov 08 at 8:56 am
Shut up, the whole “catching Wakefield” thing is overrated. Varitek used to catch him, Hatteberg used to catch him, it really isn’t that hard. Josh Bard was the only guy who couldn’t. Do you really think Mirabelli and Cash were the only two humans on earth who could catch the magic knuckleball? Pfft, and they came in during the middle of seasons with no problem. Give a guy an entire spring training to figure it out, they are professionals. If Varitek can’t hit, can’t throw out guys, and can’t catch Wake, why have him? So he can call a good game? Hmmm, let me call for Wake..guess what I’m calling? A knuckleball. Wow. Brilliant. Get me Scott Boras I want Posada money.
keystotherock
24 Nov 08 at 9:19 am
William Shows,
First of all, learn how to spell. Or are you just already drunk this early in the day? Lowell has to prove he’s healthy, has 24 mil. left on his contract, and a NO-TRADE clause. Getting rid of him won’t be easy. Tazawa hasn’t accepted any offer yet, regardless of what you “heard”. And Red Sox fans that have to bring up the Yankees right out of the blue, just to throw ignorant insults at them appear as obsessed fools who can’t get by their hatred of New York, even after winning a couple of championships.
John
24 Nov 08 at 9:27 am
Um, Pudge has a ring, and caught guys like Beckett and Burnett with the Marlins.
He also hit .293 for Detroit before going to the Yankees.
At least he’s not an automatic out.
RodfromCranston
24 Nov 08 at 9:34 am
Um, Tek has TWO rings, and has caught more no-hitters than anyone in baseball history. Any offense from Varitek is a good thing, but to say that Pudge is any kind of an upgrade is wrong.
Michael Christopher
24 Nov 08 at 10:24 am
A two year deal for Tek with a total of under $20 mil would be suitable to me.
Two Year Tek
24 Nov 08 at 10:30 am
If Jason got a one year 11/12 million dollar contract he should take it based upon his performance from last year. If his bat gets back to where it could be, then he would command more money and a longer term contract next year.
Bill from NH
24 Nov 08 at 10:50 am
John: 16 responses only 1 mentioned yankees. You looked past other 15 and the topic to talk about how obsessed red sox fans are. Hmmm sounds like someone has obsession of their>>>Hating Red Sox. Get a Life.
Back to subject: Varitek’s bat nightmarishly slow any pitcher with 92mph fastball can blow it by him. Tek we love you but its time to go. Time to see if our pitchers can pitch on their own.
TB
24 Nov 08 at 11:07 am
I think any discussion about signing Varitek should center around his free agent status, which based on my understanding he is a Type A free agent, meaning the Sox would get the signing teams #1 and a sandwich pick if they were to lose him. When you start to think thru the dynamics surrounding this, and the value the Sox place on draft picks, you might guess how the negotiations will go. The Sox could use those picks as replacement for two prospects (that can’t crack the ‘09 rotation) that they could certainly trade to the Rangers for one of their young catchers, which they could have under their control. That doesn’t mean they will lose nothing by letting Varitek go, just that they’ll let someone else go crazy years and money and take the picks. If you were another team how much would you pay Varitek if it were to cost you a #1? If you were the Sox how much would you pay for him if it were to cost you a #1 + a sandwich pick? That is the “cost” of the Sox signing him.
Sam from Wellesley
24 Nov 08 at 11:11 am
For those that don’t believe in the “intangibles” all you have to know is that it doesn’t matter if you believe, the players do. It’s not an accident that Yrk has caught 4 no hitters, and if the sox can pull off a contract for him, I think it will help get some of these free agent pitchers to seriously consider coming to Boston. Yek’s obviously not a long term solution, but I’m not so willing to juSt let the captain walk away. Not every batter in the lineup has to be a silver slugger if they can field their position.
Eric
24 Nov 08 at 11:27 am
TB,
There were 10 comments when I made my remarks. Secondly, my words were directed at W. Shows, none of the others. Thirdly, heh, I don’t hate the Red Sox, I hate knee-jerk babbling dorks. Finally, regarding Tek, just about every player in the Sox clubhouse would like to see him stay, and unless a much better option falls into their laps, I would think his defense and leadership would be worth more than a cheap, one year, slap in the face offer after all he’s done for them.
John
24 Nov 08 at 11:51 am
Wow. No love for Tek, eh?
You can’t judge a catcher - at least not this catcher - by merely his offense. That’s just ridiculous.
I truly thought two years would be the minimum offer made; seeing as Boras is touting 4, that was the half way point and they’d settle at 2+options with little to no haggling.
To start at one and work up is interesting — but not the tact I thought I’d see. Maybe it’s because they really don’t want to go further out than 2?
There really aren’t any decent prospects for that position out there; I personally would rather overpay for the stability, consistency (behind the plate) and leadership of Jason and slowly wean someone into the system - than to cut it cold turkey and have a new person try to take it all on at once.
Is that really too practical of a thought process?
rebecca
24 Nov 08 at 12:05 pm
It makes practical sense to sign Tek to a 2 year deal with a team option for the third year in the range of 9-11 mill a year. If the sox are willing to spend big dollars on bumbs like Lugo, someone they don’t know much about, and hesitate to spend that sort of cash on someone who they know can at least field their position, then I guess I don’t understand good business
Jay
24 Nov 08 at 12:10 pm
Right, and Dewey defeated Truman.
Bob
24 Nov 08 at 12:11 pm
The one year offer makes loads of sense. Tek had a horrible year at the plate and he can’t throw runners out. If he and Boras think he has something left, let him play another year for the team he is the “heart and soul” of and prove it - if he does, he’ll get Posada money next year (from somebody else). If he doesn’t, then he’s a back-up at best and maybe it’s time to call it a career. Sox can’t afford to negotiate against themselves.
If somebody else is willing to pony up big dollars to have a veteran presence who apparently can’t hit or throw any more - all the best to Tek. We’ve seen Pedro, Lowe and Damon go - the Sox coninue to win.
Sam from Wellesley makes an excellent point about the draft picks - sounds like he negotiates for a living. Maybe Theo should add him to the GM staff.
MikeNagy
24 Nov 08 at 1:54 pm
according to redsox.com…. boras commented on it saying he knew nothing of the like to the boston globe…. i would guess this information is pre-mature… i wouldnt believe it… this would be bigger news and official news everywhere if that were true…
ryan
24 Nov 08 at 2:03 pm
Give my boy Jason his money! He’s given you people everything and now you’re ready to push him out the door? That’s despicable. Have you no shame? Don’t you love his flat top haircut? It brings me back to 1990 all over again. That’s when life was good.
You people all suck. You’re talking about Varitek and Wonderboy Theo like you’re all best friends. Varitek sucks and has always sucked. But morons who post on boards make it sound as if the guy is worth $10 million a year. He’s worth less than the rookie minimum. You should bring back Rich Gedman before you waste another dime on Captain Flat Top.
Varitek's Mom
24 Nov 08 at 3:00 pm
PS - Screw the morons talking about the Yankees too. Why do you care about them? If you were so much better than the Yanks, then you wouldn’t even think about the team. Kind of like Yankees’ fans think of you people. We consider you our retarded half-cousins to the north. More of a nuisance than anything else.
PS - Tom Brady has Aids. He got it from Curt Schilling.
Varitek's Mom
24 Nov 08 at 3:04 pm
John: 10comments 15comments, big difference you still fixed on the one that had nothing to do with the subject. And as far your talking to one fan. You article say “Red Sox fans”. Since when is FANS singular? Maybe youve been drinking and seeing double. The subject was Varitek. You come to a Red Sox website and complain cause one guy mentions Yankees. You got issues.
As far as your ‘clubhouse wants tek’ and that bull. They wanted Pedie to stay and Mo Vaugn to stay. WHAT ELSE THEY GONNA SAY? “I think we should get rid of Tek cause he cant hit anymore” come on. Players are towing the line, any comments they come out right now are as relevant as “We have to give 110 percent” and “I’d give up 3 MVPs for One World Championship”
Variteks BA was no arbiration, check his numbers the past few years they dont lie. Neither do my eyes, his bat is ridiculously slow. Combine that with his percent throwing out baserunners (16 CS in 131 games 20%, Cash threw out 16 in 57 games 42%, AND HES CATCHING A KNUCKLEBALLER).
Handling pitchers is his one plus, and its a big plus but noway should he get more than one year. Time to work to the future, rather than mired in the past. Just ask the Yankees, you think they not regretting that Posada contract?
TB
24 Nov 08 at 3:25 pm
redsox should offer him a 2 year deal.He knows the pitching staff very well!! we all know he can learn any pitching staff.But why give another team his services.This team looks upto him and respect him.
rich
24 Nov 08 at 5:56 pm
This rumor has been debunked.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/11/red-sox-make-on.html
KenJr
24 Nov 08 at 6:50 pm
Boras denying this isn’t exactly “debunking” it.
Of COURSE he’d deny it. The news that the Sox are only offering Tek a year will make other teams wonder why they should bother offering him more than his own team is.
MAYBE it is just a rumor, but Boras saying it isn’t true is pretty meaningless.
Cyn
24 Nov 08 at 8:28 pm
Only a no nothing would put Pudge Rodriguez down, as not being an upgrade.
Pudge is a former MVP, 13 time Gold Glove winner, 7 time Silver Bat winner and a sure first round Hall of Famer.
He’s clearly one of the greatest catchers in baseball history.
Maybe some of you clowns should look at other team’s players and learn that there are plenty of other players besides those who play in Boston.
Tek was a good player, but never on the same planet as IRod.
RodfromCranston
24 Nov 08 at 11:05 pm
Given the Captains performance or lack thereof last year, it is no surprise that the Red Sox are making the one year stingy deal. Varitek’s intangibles are not soley captured in batting average but in getting pitchers to throw the right pitch at the right time. Varitek’s uncanny ability to settle youg pitchers down and get them to throw their pitch and not overthrow it is also quite valuable especially when you are going against high pressure teams like the Yankees.
Sure posada wasn’t woth the money he got, but the red Sox can’t afford to mess with their battery quite yet. I say offer Varitek a two year deal with two team options base dupon performance, wins caught, trips to post season( all that matters) and ability to lay down bunts, not just get hits.
Truthfully, my offer is very generous and Scott Boras does his client’s a dis-service by overstating his client’s true worth. Yeah Varitek can go and play for the Marlins, but there’s something to playing for something so I belive and incentive filled contract would suit both sides. if Variteks still has gas inthe tank, he should be able to reach incentives, i.e. games caught, if not, then no one loses. Unless he wants to play for the Royals and he won’t be captain there. The intagibles of playing and retiring in boston mean a lot especially when ballplayers bloy their savings and have to peddle their past reputation in fantasy camps and baseball card conventions when they run out of capital.
Varitek has always been a Team Player, but now he owes the team a hometown discount for his dismal offensive performance over the last year and one half. Let’s face it, any one who has watch Varitek swing at the plate over that period see’s a ball player whose bat speed is way down and who is over swinging and swing at bad pitches which also cost the Red Sox needed wins.
I didn’t think the Sox made a good choice shipping off Crisp given their shakey health of their other outfielders, but Varitek’s movement will depend on his own greed and not just the Team’s position.
Forrest Freedman
25 Nov 08 at 8:15 am
It bothers me that Boras seems to want to bury Bradford on this. This is the agent who did not want J.D. Drew talking to Bradford because weei.com was not a big enough or “reputable” enough for Drew. So, Bradford gets the scoop and Peter Gammons (who Boras can’t deny, ever) confirms it. What does Boras do? He runs to the Herald and the Globe because they are supposed to be the “paper of record” for Boston (well, the Globe moreso).
Boras thinks he can dick around good reporters by undercutting them through different publications. The Globe and The Herald should be wary of Boras offering them information (though, I do not blame them for publishing what he said. . . just be careful about stating it as fact). Bradford is one of the best sports reporters in town and when he finds something out there is definitely truth behind it.
WerenCole
25 Nov 08 at 8:29 am
well lets see what other catchers are there give somebody you no a 1 year deal for 12mill. with a 1 year option i will bet you tek will come through
mikes
5 Jan 09 at 3:50 pm