According to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, sources close to the negotiations between the Red Sox and their captain Jason Varitek indicate that the Red Sox first offer was for only one year. The dollar amount was not disclosed by Bradford’s source.
If this is true, I think it speaks volumes of (a) the ongoing tenor of the negotiations and (b) the Red Sox willingness to not go longer years than two on any contract with Varitek.
I did think the Red Sox would likely try and overpay in annual dollars by a small factor to keep the deal at two years. Don’t be surprised if the Red Sox final offer is in the 2 year, $22 million dollar range.
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I think this offer is the polite way of saying bye-bye to Varitek. I’m gratefull to the captain for the past, but the truth is I don’t want to resign-him. He is a class-A FA and we can land a very good couple of picks in the draft for him.
Nick Cafardo from the Globe states that Boras does not acknowledge receiving any offer from the Red Sox.
According to ESPN tonight, in a short segment showing Tek and his #’s (IT was soooooo gooood to see baseball on TV again) it was confirmed that Tek signed a one year deal for $13M.
Brilliant move. In one contract it gives Tek his due as one of the best catchers of the generation and a Red Sox institution; rewards him for taking a discount in his last negotiation against the best advice of Boras . . . and most importantly, for us, brings back the captain to mentor not only his proteges, but to help Buchholz, Bowden, Masterson, Lester, RRam, and hopefully Kawakami, Bard, Jones, Tazawa and whomever adjust to Fenway. It also demonstrates that the FO can be loyal and support its veterans.
The other side of this is it gives Tek a chance to think about his future from the catbird seat. If his hitting returns, he may play longer. If he decides to move into coaching, he retires a Red Sox and stays with the team, and this last big payday helps insure his future, and he will be more able to live on a coaching salary. If it is his last hurrah, he goes out with dignity. Good job Theo and Tek.
Um. They signed Tek to a one-year deal? Really? I thought Boras was denying the Sox even made an offer. Is this just a mixing of different reports? Or am I not seeing some late breaking news?