http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/647 Recent articles about Jason Varitek en-us 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 Does your team need a catcher for 2010? Well, you might be in some trouble. With Victor Martinez’s option picked up today (and Jason Varitek exercising his player option), here’s a list of free agent catchers who received more than 200 PAs last year. Rod Barajas TOR (B) Josh Bard BOS Henry Blanco SD Ramon Hernandez * [...] Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Zaun_on_the_Market/1537316 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Zaun_on_the_Market/1537316 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Zaun_on_the_Market/1537316 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/b/bb90f271463193e199d5496decc8e94a88ac9049/small/peavy.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 Boston picks up the option on V-Mart while possibly saying bye to Jason Varitek. See what else happened at the GM meetings so far. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:38:57 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Latest_from_the_GM_meetings/1536101 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Latest_from_the_GM_meetings/1536101 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Latest_from_the_GM_meetings/1536101 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/0/a002b3e1b525d4301f7ff0ab13a7096f1d8fa3d2/small/db.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.Bradford also reports that the Red Sox have come to terms with Tim Wakefield on a two-year deal worth $5 million. He will receive $3.5 million in 2010 and $1.5 million in 2011, and could earn up to $7 million with incentives. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:33:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Red_Sox_Make_Minor_Moves/1535931 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Red_Sox_Make_Minor_Moves/1535931 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Red_Sox_Make_Minor_Moves/1535931 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/0/a002b3e1b525d4301f7ff0ab13a7096f1d8fa3d2/small/db.jpg by Andrew JohnsonFiled under: Red Sox, MLB TransactionsThe Red Sox made a flurry of contract decisions on Monday as they hurtle headlong into the Hot Stove season. Boston picked up its 2010 option on Victor Martinez, and declined options on longtime catcher and captain Jason Varitek and knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield, renegotiating a two-year extension with Wakefield at a low average annual value. There's little surprise about Martinez or Varitek. The former, a catcher/first baseman wh... Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:43:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Red_Sox_Make_Decisions_on_Martinez_Wakefield_Varitek/1535909 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Red_Sox_Make_Decisions_on_Martinez_Wakefield_Varitek/1535909 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Red_Sox_Make_Decisions_on_Martinez_Wakefield_Varitek/1535909 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/b/bb90f271463193e199d5496decc8e94a88ac9049/small/peavy.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 The Boston Red Sox picked up Victor Martinez’ option for 2010 but declined Jason Varitek. Varitek has a player option for $3 million that he will now almost certainly chose. The Red Sox also resigned Tim Wakefield to a new two-year contract. While, shortstop Alex Gonzalez became a free agent Monday after the team declined [...] Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:38:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Damon_Feliz_among_free_agents/1534871 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Damon_Feliz_among_free_agents/1534871 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Damon_Feliz_among_free_agents/1534871 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/3/43c75c22862fe6b325ff846f55074498d258cf7d/small/PicImg_Cincinnati_Reds_v_e5c7.jpg More photos » by LM Otero - AP 3 months ago: Boston Red Sox's Jason Varitek unsuccessfully tries to lay down a bunt in the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Monday, July 20, 2009. (AP Photo/LM Otero) Browse more photos » The Red Sox have officially brought back Victor Martinez for the 2010 season, while declining the team's 2010 option for Jason V... Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:38:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Red_Sox_Exercise_Victor_Martinezs_2010_Option_Decline_Jason_Variteks/1534002 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Red_Sox_Exercise_Victor_Martinezs_2010_Option_Decline_Jason_Variteks/1534002 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Red_Sox_Exercise_Victor_Martinezs_2010_Option_Decline_Jason_Variteks/1534002 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/a/4a03cba0c67725125c015c299e3952133f76aeb9/small/62.jpg Sure, there are other sports like football, hockey and basketball to enjoy while you're waiting for the return of major league baseball. It's hard, we know. But the offseason is the critical time when your team's general managers make their moves -- smart or not -- in an attempt to inch closer to their ultimate goal: a World Series Championship. That is the ultimate goal, right? Sometimes we wonder.So here's what's up. The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a $5.5 million, two-... Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:20:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Offseason_Movin_and_Shakin/1534824 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Offseason_Movin_and_Shakin/1534824 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Offseason_Movin_and_Shakin/1534824 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/8342eb4fac2a874ea027c93b6222ac42e8722b59/small/PicImg_MLB_APR_15_b981.jpg Rather than exercise the annual $4 million option on Tim Wakefield, the Boston Red Sox have re-signed him to a 2-year deal worth $7 million. They also announced they have declined the $5 million option on Jason Varitek’s contract. Varitek still holds a $3 million team option that includes $2 million in incentives based on [...] Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:27:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wakefield_Re_Signed_For_Two_Years_Variteks_Option_Declined/1534738 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wakefield_Re_Signed_For_Two_Years_Variteks_Option_Declined/1534738 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wakefield_Re_Signed_For_Two_Years_Variteks_Option_Declined/1534738 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/d/2dcc9cf0a07dfa58c2b667f9c9ca25b7380eb104/small/PicImg_MLB_APR_15_aaeb.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