I can’t see it happening, but apparently Jason Varitek may elect to sit out the 2009 season or even retire.
According to a baseball source, the deadline by which Varitek must accept or decline the Red Sox’ latest contract offer is set for 8:30 a.m. on Friday, leaving less than a day for the matter to play out. According to the same source, Varitek is seriously considering the option of sitting out the 2009 season and/or retiring rather than accepting the contract offer made to him last week. (Boston Globe)
I don’t see the benefit to sitting out or retiring. You aren’t going to earn any money. Plus, sitting out for a full year will only serve to reduce your earning potential a year later… a year older.
Varitek should just take the $5 million, one-year offer and be happy that even in this economy where way too many people sit home jobless, he gets multimillions. I know that it’s through no fault of his that the market has been dictated for players to be multi-millionaires, but there’s got to be a line here, and sitting out because of $5 million doesn’t make sense to me. If he sits out, he’s ending his career. Period.
No, this is a ploy for some team — whether it’s the Red Sox or another team — to blink. Varitek will play in 2009, and the only way it’s for the Red Sox is if it’s at their price.