Update 1/30: From Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe.
If you’ve read the latest Jason Varitek update and are expecting an answer by 8:30 a.m., be advised: agent Scott Boras is based on the West Coast, which means an answer may not be coming until perhaps the middle of the day.
According to a source, Varitek today faces an 8:30 a.m. deadline to decide whether he will accept the team’s latest (and last?) contract offer, though the team would likely allow the benefit of interpreting the deadline as 8:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, which translates into 11:30 a.m. on the East Coast. As of late last night, the Sox and Boras were not expected to speak again until this morning.
From Dan Roche of WBZ:
Was just told by an MLB source that there was never an 8:30am deadline for Jason Varitek to make a decision on the Red Sox offer of 1 year at 5-million dollars or two years at 8-million or 10-million depending on options.
From Joe McDonald of the Providence Journal:
Word out of Fenway Park this morning is a deadline for Jason Varitek to accept or reject the club’s contract offer by this morning does not exist.
A decision is likely to be made by this afternoon, and even if that does happen, it’s unlikely a possible deal would be finalized today.
12:22 PM Update: From Tony Massarotti:
One week after Jason Varitek received a team letter that effectively served as an ultimatum, the Red Sox and their catcher are expected to talk into the afternoon hours today in hopes of settling their winter-long stalemate.
A resolution on the matter still is expected by the end of the day.
