According to Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe, the Boston Red Sox have made a formal offer to their free agent catcher Jason Varitek.
According to a baseball source, the Sox have formally presented an offer to Varitek’s agent, Scott Boras, that could appease the catcher’s desire for a second guaranteed season. While the precise value or term of the proposal was unclear, the Sox could ensure Varitek a second year by guaranteeing it outright or making it attainable through an option.
In the latter scenario, Varitek could trigger the option through reachable incentives (like at-bats or games played), or the club could grant him a straight player option for the 2010 season. Another possibility would involve a dual option, first giving the Sox the choice of bringing back Varitek next season (at a higher number) and, subsequently, Varitek the right to return on his own volition (albeit at a lower number than the team’s option).
According to Massarotti’s source the deal was offered in the last 3 or 4 days which is interesting because Scott Boras said last night that nothing was going on.
Hopefully the deal that was offered is something that will appease Varitek and get him back with the Red Sox for 2009 and maybe 2010.
Don’t forget to vote in the poll in the left sidebar about Varitek’s situation.
