http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/647 Recent articles about Jason Varitek en-us Over her brief time time in Boston with NESN, Heidi Watney or Slutney as the Twitter world calls her, has been linked to Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, NESN’s John Carter, former Red Sox grounds crew member Paul Williams and just last season Red Sox shortstop Nick Green. While Watney is on record as saying she [...] Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:25:13 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Rut_Ro_Raggy_Whos_Slutney_Going_to_Bang_Now/1605759 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Rut_Ro_Raggy_Whos_Slutney_Going_to_Bang_Now/1605759 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Rut_Ro_Raggy_Whos_Slutney_Going_to_Bang_Now/1605759 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/3/43c75c22862fe6b325ff846f55074498d258cf7d/small/PicImg_Cincinnati_Reds_v_e5c7.jpg Have you read the "Tek Issues" post on Extra Bases today?  The Globe already has one Dan Shaughnessy so they don't need another guy trying to find conflict where there isn't any.  In the post Christopher L. Gasper speculates that Varitek's presence on the team will be harmful to Victor Martinez: Tek's return for a 14th season with the Sox sets up Martinez's game-calling skills to be second-guessed at every turn by fans, media and possibly his own pitchers. Ev... Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:03:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/A_New_CHB/1552272 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/A_New_CHB/1552272 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/A_New_CHB/1552272 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/7/b771919e076e754b72a9d58f0e1d35b27a3cac11/small/2c.jpg Jason Varitek, who will be 38 this coming April, took the full five days he was allotted to decide he'd exercise his player option for $3 million and will be back with the Red Sox in 2010.But let's face facts. What other choice did Tek have?No one, and I mean no one, was going to give him that kind of money, especially to be a backup catcher. And that's what the Red Sox captain is right now. Nothing more than a backup to Victor Martinez.He didn't start any of the Red Sox posts... Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:21:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Where_Else_But_Boston/1550960 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Where_Else_But_Boston/1550960 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Where_Else_But_Boston/1550960 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/7/b771919e076e754b72a9d58f0e1d35b27a3cac11/small/2c.jpg Welcome to Dave's Dozen (because Kaduk's not here, man), a streamlined selection of 12 morning-fresh links and items to start your baseball day. It welcomes your e-mail submissions or tips via Twitter. 1. The captain's career will never die. It just fades away ... but with the Red Sox. Extra Bases2. Thanks for interviewing, but no thanks, Bobby Valentine (again). The Nationals name Jim Riggleman their non-interim manager. MLB.com3. Mr. Selig dislikes having World Series games in N... Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:30:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/D12_Jason_Varitek_heading_back_to_the_Red_Sox_but_as_what/1549753 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/D12_Jason_Varitek_heading_back_to_the_Red_Sox_but_as_what/1549753 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/D12_Jason_Varitek_heading_back_to_the_Red_Sox_but_as_what/1549753 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/0/a002b3e1b525d4301f7ff0ab13a7096f1d8fa3d2/small/db.jpg Red Sox captain Jason Varitek chose on Wednesday to remain with the only team he has known in the major leagues, agreeing to exercise his $3 million player option for 2010. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:41:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Varitek_exercises_option_will_stay_with_BoSox/1546808 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Varitek_exercises_option_will_stay_with_BoSox/1546808 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Varitek_exercises_option_will_stay_with_BoSox/1546808 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/0/a002b3e1b525d4301f7ff0ab13a7096f1d8fa3d2/small/db.jpg On Monday, there was report that Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek had exercised his player option after the Red Sox had declined their team option. This report turned out to be false at the time as Red Sox GM Theo Epstein stated he had not heard from Varitek or his agent Scott Boras. But on [...] Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:01:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jason_Varitek_Officially_Back_For_2010/1546541 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jason_Varitek_Officially_Back_For_2010/1546541 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jason_Varitek_Officially_Back_For_2010/1546541 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/0/a002b3e1b525d4301f7ff0ab13a7096f1d8fa3d2/small/db.jpg Last off-season it was rumored that the Mets were interested in Jason Varitek, the idea was to find a guy who was a great clubhouse leader and good with young pitchers. Tek fit both of those characteristics but ended up re-signing with Boston.Now Varitek, after having Boston decline his 5M club option, is contemplating whether to accept a 3M player option.If Varitek chooses free agency apparently the Mets won't be interested this time around...I also have spoken to two Mets officials in t... Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:23:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Mets_not_interested_in_Varitek/1541096 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Mets_not_interested_in_Varitek/1541096 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Mets_not_interested_in_Varitek/1541096 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/7/b771919e076e754b72a9d58f0e1d35b27a3cac11/small/2c.jpg Jason Varitek decided to stay with the Red Sox rather than test free agency. Maybe he figures it’s better to be a backup on a very good team than a starter on a poor one. I wonder how many teams had a part-time player as the captain? Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:51:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Exercising_to_be_a_Backup/1537849 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Exercising_to_be_a_Backup/1537849 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Exercising_to_be_a_Backup/1537849 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/a/4a03cba0c67725125c015c299e3952133f76aeb9/small/62.jpg In another example of no brainers, the Red Sox declined to pick up the $5mil option on backup catcher Jason Varitek. Evidently the notion that he "prepares hard for a game" and "manages a pitching staff better than anyone else" was all hocus pocus after all. But why would the Red Sox potentially let their team captain and emotional leader leave?1. Varitek hit .234 in June .231 in July, .135 in Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:06:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Grumpy_Old_Men_Red_Sox_Edition/1536992 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Grumpy_Old_Men_Red_Sox_Edition/1536992 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Grumpy_Old_Men_Red_Sox_Edition/1536992 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/a/4a03cba0c67725125c015c299e3952133f76aeb9/small/62.jpg Just hours after the Boston Red Sox declined their option on catcher Jason Varitek, he has decided to exercise his player option worth $3 million. He can make an additional $2 million in incentives based on the number of games he starts. The news was first reported by Adam Hirshfield of NESN.com. With Victor Martinez coming back [...] Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:50:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jason_Varitek_Back_With_Red_Sox_In_2010/1534995 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jason_Varitek_Back_With_Red_Sox_In_2010/1534995 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jason_Varitek_Back_With_Red_Sox_In_2010/1534995 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/7/b771919e076e754b72a9d58f0e1d35b27a3cac11/small/2c.jpg According to Rob Bradford, the Red Sox have declined Jason Varitek's $5 million option for the 2010 season. He now has five days to decide whether to exercise his $3 million player option (with up to $2 million in incentives) for the 2010 season. I assume he will. I can't imagine there's that big of a market for a washed up catcher.Also from Bradford is this report that the Red Sox have come to terms with Tim Wakefield on a two-year deal worth $5 million. He will receive $3.5 mill... Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:24:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/A_Couple_Red_Sox_Updates/1533184 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/A_Couple_Red_Sox_Updates/1533184 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/A_Couple_Red_Sox_Updates/1533184 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/a/4a03cba0c67725125c015c299e3952133f76aeb9/small/62.jpg The Red Sox declined the $5 million option on Jason Varitek, but the catcher can stay with Boston by exercising his $3 million player option (he can make up the difference in incentives). Unless Victor Martinez gets hurt, there’s little chance of Jason meeting the incentives. I wouldn’t mind seeing the captain go to a [...] Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:20:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Going_for_the_Low_Price_on_Varitek/1533054 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Going_for_the_Low_Price_on_Varitek/1533054 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Going_for_the_Low_Price_on_Varitek/1533054 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/7/b771919e076e754b72a9d58f0e1d35b27a3cac11/small/2c.jpg If Friday night's game didn't convince you that Jason Varitek's time as a starting catcher has passed him by, I've got a fantastic house with a view of the ocean for you in Wyoming. For some reason, dropped third strikes have become common with Varitek. I don't know if it's a problem of focus, an injury or plain old ineptitude, but watching Varitek lately has brought flashbacks of Game 5 of the 2004 ALCS, top of the 13th. Not to mention, the Yankees stole about 2... Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:23:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Stick_a_fork_in_Jason_Varitek/1248117 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Stick_a_fork_in_Jason_Varitek/1248117 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Stick_a_fork_in_Jason_Varitek/1248117 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/0/a002b3e1b525d4301f7ff0ab13a7096f1d8fa3d2/small/db.jpg Jason Varitek has been a great asset over the years. A notoriously great "game-caller," if that exists. A great leader in the clubhouse, which believe it or not, does actually matter--although impossible to quantify. Varitek has given the Red Sox pitching staff throughout the years, a sense of comfort that is only known by the players within the lines. He has been "The Captain." ...Again, an asset. But Victor Martinez needs to continue to catch most of the time. Four... Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:07:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Victor_in_Varitek_out/1027662 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Victor_in_Varitek_out/1027662 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Victor_in_Varitek_out/1027662 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/3/43c75c22862fe6b325ff846f55074498d258cf7d/small/PicImg_Cincinnati_Reds_v_e5c7.jpg