Projo Sox Blog

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

LAS VEGAS _ Agent Scott Boras admitted yesterday afternoon that the Red Sox offered catcher Jason Varitek a contract.

"Varitek is a winning player," said Boras. "We're listening to other clubs but Boston has let us know they want him back."

Boras did not give the length or the amount of the offer. Red Sox GM Theo Epstein would not confirm that he has officially offered the captain a contract, but he did say he has been in communication with Boras.

"We don't comment on specific negotiations," Epstein. "We are in contact with Scott about Jason."

The Red Sox offered Varitek salary arbitration but it was declined by the veteran backstop. Plus Boras believes his client will be able to sign a long-term deal.

"I'm not going to talk about values, but obviously Jason Varitek is a guy who teams know what his value is," Boras said. "It's clearly an easy question to answer that he's going to be employed and do very well. To whether or not he would do better at arbitration, I don't know if arbitration would make a very good case for him."

Boras admitted he never considered arbitration.

There have been a few catchers dealt this week - Gerald Laird to Detroit and Ramon Hernandez to Cincinnati -- during the winter meetings at the Bellagio Hotel, but Boras is not concerned that the market is shrinking.

"The catching market is probably the hardest one to predict," he said. "The fact is team's that have existing catchers don't come out and say they are unhappy with their catchers because they can't find better catchers.

"It's a very experienced-based position," Boras added. "It's the one position in baseball that there are so few candidates for positions, and the subject analysis is so great for that position, that a lot of what is said about catchers and the importance of catchers, is left off the page. Representing a catcher is like buying submarines. You have to look way under the water to find out what's really going on."

Varitek, 36, just completed a four-year $40-million contract in Boston. He hit a career-low .220 with 43 RBI and 13 home runs.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said earlier this week that he's talked with Varitek only a few times during the offseason because he wants to give him his space. The manager did say he's very interested to see how this situation plays out.

The Red Sox and Epstein have contingency plans in place for the catching position in case Varitek does not return. The veteran and his agent want a long-term deal whereas the Red Sox are seeking a shorter contract to retain Varitek's services.

Other GMs have said this week that once the Red Sox offered Varitek arbitration, clubs lost interest in him because of the compensation they would have to give to Boston.

Boras was very clear and confident when he met with a horde of media late yesterday afternoon that Varitek will get what he deserves.

 Tags  Jason Varitek Red Sox Scott Boras

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