Don't want to see either Texeira or Sabbathia in Boston.Is there a reason Texeira seems to change teams so often?

He changes teams for the same reason most guys change teams when they're good hitters: The cheap team that has him doesn't want to pay him the money he's going to get on the open market. It's why Texas traded him to Atlanta...it's why Atlanta traded him to the Angels.

I just think too much shuffling would have to be involved to bring Teixeria to Boston. Who would they get to take Lowell off of their hands? They'd have to pick up a good chunk of the $$$. They already have to try to find a taker for Lugo and will have to pay a major piece of that deal too.

I am thinking catcher is still most important right now, though. I don't think they want to go into 2009 with Kevin Cash as the starter. They may need to package a pitcher to Texas to pick up one of their catchers (my vote would be for Jarrod Saltalamachhia - if for no other reason than it's a fun name to say). There is NOT a lot of catching out there so they will be forced to overpay- either in $$$ to Varitek or in prospects to pick someone up. If Boras REALLY is looking for Jorge Posada insane money for Varitek I think the Capt has played his last game in a Boston uni...

What if Mike Lowell is done? That shuffling might not be necessary if this hip doesn't heal.

Varitek will likely sign a 2-year deal with a 3rd year option triggered by incentives. Boras can say anything he wants. It's part of the negotiating game. The market will determine what he can ultimately get. Maybe there's a team out there willing to guarantee a 3rd year for big money, but I'd be surprised. My hunch is Varitek is more valuable to Boston than he is elsewhere, as evidenced by the fact no team came in with buckets of cash when he was a free agent 4-years ago.

We tend to overrate our own. I mean, let's be serious...the Phillies just won the Series with Carlos Ruiz at catcher!

*IF* Mike Lowell is done and they collect the insurance $$$ then I'd say it's a no-brainer but I'll bet they just don't know about him and neither do any possible trade partners... If they did not have a guy like Ortiz that's only a DH then the odd man out could DH but that can't happen with the Sox. I'm not gonna complain if they sign him- I just think it takes a lot of dominos falling just right for them to feel comfortable doing it.

I agree 'Tek should take a 2 year deal w/ a 3rd in which he'd hopefully be a mentor to his replacement but I think it's going to take a while of the Boras sideshow before we can get to that point. He's certainly valuable only to Boston or other contender in the AL- wouldn't make sense for him to go to the NL. Only possible good team that needs a catcher is Detroit since Yanks seem to be saying Posada is their catcher for 2009. Maybe sign 'Tek and trade for another youngster with eyes on mid 2010 or so??

Hey, Ruiz is not a bad catcher at all :-) He had more hits in one game than Varitek had in the whole postseason, didn't he?? He had more RBI in one game than 'Tek did in the whole postseason!!