 |
 |
 |
| Mark
Wagner |
Dusty
Brown |
Mark
Teixeira |
The Red Sox are somewhat hamstrung by Varitek. The next catcher perhaps capable of playing 100-plus games a year in their organization is former Lowell Spinner Mark Wagner, who had yet to play an inning of Triple-A ball. Dusty Brown, another former Spinner, had a good year offensively and defensively at Pawtucket, but the Red Sox seem to envision him as more of a backup than a regular. There's really nothing out there in terms or free agents, or likely to be available in the trade market, that tempts the Red Sox. Josh Bard, who swung a hot bat for the Padres after being swapped for Doug Mirabelli a couple of years ago, has been let go. His bat cooled off, and some scouts aren't all that thrilled with his defensive work ... even when he wasn't trying to catch knuckleballs. There's some talk that Kelly Shoppach, whom the Sox traded for Coco Crisp three years ago, might be available. If so, that would almost certainly spark the Sox' interest. The Red Sox will probably try to sign the 36-year-old Varitek to a one-year contract with a club option for a second, and they might be willing to cave in and sign him for two years with an option for a third. Given his history, Varitek would likely reject both such offers. Don't forget: Varitek's agent is Scott Boras, who will likely be seeking a four-year deal akin to the four-year, $52-million deal Jorge Posada got from the Yankees last year at age 36. We've seen how that one worked out. Posada was injured for most of 2008, and there's some question whether he'll ever be able to catch full-time again. Posada can still swing a dangerous bat, however, and he could be a DH or first baseman for the Yankees. Varitek has no value to the Red Sox at any position other than catcher.
Varitek has always been about the money. He returned to Georgia Tech when the Twins drafted him on the first round as a junior and low-balled him. Even though he had no more bargaining leverage as a senior when the Mariners drafted him and low-balled him again, he refused to sign. Several months later Boras and the Mariners finally worked out a deal, but Varitek missed a year of pro ball.
He was so rusty when he began playing, the Mariners were appalled by how much he struggled, given Varitek's reputation as the best college catcher in history. He was soon tagged as a non-prospect, which is why the Red Sox were able to get him in a trade, along with Derek Lowe, for ineffective closer Heathcliff Slocumb. That turned out to be one of the biggest steals in Red Sox history.
Varitek gave the Red Sox a little hometown discount to re-sign after the 2004 World Series, and he might be willing to give in a little this time to stay. But if he's insisting on anything in the same universe that Posada's in, the Red Sox will probably have to pass and take their chances next year with some combination of Kevin Cash, David Ross, Brown, and George Kottaras.
As for Wakefield, watching him try to run down a routine ground ball in the ALCS was frightening. A pitcher who cannot run well enough to cover first base anymore is through. Maybe, not having pitched in 16 days, Wakefield was just rusty that night. The Sox will have Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden, and perhaps even Justin Masterson clamoring for a spot in the rotation next year. But I think the Red Sox will probably bring Wakefield back for one more year.
Elsewhere, the Red Sox are almost certainly going to say a long-overdue farewell to Mike Timlin. And Jed Lowrie showed enough spunk at shortstop that they'll probably try to find a new home for Julio Lugo, even though they'll probably have to eat most of the $18 million remaining on his contract. The free agent the Red Sox would like most to have?
Mark Teixeira. Who wouldn't?
The problem there is where to play him, unless they traded Mike Lowell. David Ortiz is still the DH, Kevin Youkilis is a Gold Glove first baseman, and Jason Bay and J.D. Drew are entrenched in left and right fields, respectively.
The only way Teixeira makes sense for the Red Sox is to trade Lowell and move Youkilis to third, or trade Youkilis.