FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Jason Varitek may be the backup catcher in Boston this season, but that doesn't mean he won't be getting his fair share of playing time in 2011.

Manager Terry Francona reiterated on Friday that Varitek will probably see more time than the average backup, going so far as to hint at a possible platoon.

"We want to try to take advantage of the way Tek swings the bat right-handed and the way [Jarrod Saltalamacchia] swings the bat left-handed," Francona said. "We'll look at things like that."

Varitek, of course, isn't the average backup catcher. The captain is entering his 14th season with the Red Sox, during which he's caught 1,420 games -- fourth among active backstops in the majors. A switch-hitter, Varitek has always performed better against lefties than righties, hitting 29 points higher for his career. Saltalamacchia, meanwhile, is 67 points better as a left-handed hitter.