Long-time Red Sox catcher, Jason Varitek, has agreed to one-year deal and an option to remain with the club.
Terms of the deal are yet to be released, but the Red Sox apparently offered $5 million in guaranteed money for 2009, and incentives that could push it up another $3 million to $5 million. He would be guaranteed at least $3 million in 2010, with incentives that could push that up to $8 million.
Varitek was given a deadline this morning, which may have been extended to finalize the negotiations, primarily the incentives.
The Red Sox had offered Varitek arbitration on Dec. 1, which he later declined, opting instead to enter free agency. But the fact that any team that signed him — he was a Class A free agent — would have to give the Red Sox a first round pick in return, apparently scared off a few potential teams.
Varitek had a face-to-face meeting, without his agent (Scott Boras), with Red Sox majority owner John Henry a few weeks ago. Varitek wanted to know why the Sox wouldn’t offer the estimated $10 million it offered in arbitration.
Varitek, who turns 37 on April 11, is also in the middle of a divorce, which his representatives apparently implied affected his play in 2008. His wife and three girls now live in Georgia.
He is coming off a season in which he hit only .220 with 13 HRs and 43 RBI. He ranked among the worst in the league in several hitting categories.
But several Red Sox players came to his defense, primarily for his defense and especially his handling of the Red Sox pitching staff.
“It’s a no-brainer that they bring him back,” said Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. “He’s too valuable to the team is no many ways outside of batting average.”
