| Red Sox Decline $5 Million Option on Varitek | 11.09.09 at 2:35 pm ET |
CHICAGO — The Red Sox declined their one-year, $5 million option for the 2010 season on catcher Jason Varitek, according to a major-league source. Now, Varitek has five days to decide whether to exercise his one-year, $3 million player option (with up to $2 million in incentives) for next season.
Varitek hit .209 with a .313 OBP and .390 slugging mark, along with 14 homers and 51 RBIs, for the Red Sox in 2009. He played in 109 games, and was relegated to a part-timer with the Sox trade for Victor Martinez. Most notably, Varitek did not start any of the Sox’ three playoff games against the Angels.
Varitek signed his one-year, $5 million deal with both a team and a player option prior to last season. He has been with the Sox since 1997, and is the franchise’s all-time leader in games caught (1,439). The three-time All-Star is a career .259 hitter with a .344 OBP and .435 slugging mark, along with 175 homers.
3 Comments for “Red Sox Decline $5 Million Option on Varitek”
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November 9th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
This shouldnt be a surprise to anyone but as long as his shoulder/neck injury can be resolved (something that he will not admit)I am hoping that he will take his player option. Tek still has a lot to offer. It would be great for him to take over the Bench coach position but I think he wants one more year on the field..and if he takes his option then he already knows his playing time will be limited. And I believe watching how he great he was with Victor and his reduced playing time he has accepted his fate.
there is no doubt that TEK will be a major league coach someday if wants to but I believe he will do his best work in the Bullpen. I am NOT writing him off yet. I will NOT write him off yet. GO SOX!!!
November 10th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Tek is a team player, he ain’t the Captain for nothing. I’m hoping he’ll take the option and play a back up roll on the team for another year. Then retire gracefully from playing after next year then take some kind of coaching position somewhere in the league. Preferably within the Red Sox organization, Lets just hope the team has something for him to do after his playing days are over.
November 10th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Tek has so much still to offer the sox. He will prove to all that he is a team player and not just in it for the money. He is more thatn just a cather. He is a mentor and an al laround great guy.