Baseball Musings: Why Varitek Probably Comes Back

October 31, 2008

Why Varitek Probably Comes Back

Jason Varitek filed for free agency on Thursday. The Red Sox don't appear to have many options for replacing Jason:

Catching is the Sox' biggest question mark. No minor leaguer are ready and there is little help in the free agent market.The Sox could try to sign Varitek to a short-term deal or trade for a young catcher, with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden of the Rangers and Kelly Shoppach of the Indians (formerly of the Sox) the most frequently mentioned. Saltalamacchia might be destined to play a position other than catcher, given his lack of defensive skills. And any young catcher will be very expensive to acquire, given the deficit in talent at the position.

Talent deficits tend to take care of themselves eventually as teams work on developing and paying for those rare skills. Will Jason be open to a short-term contract while the Red Sox develop a replacement?

Posted by David Pinto at 09:17 AM | Free Agents | TrackBack (0)

Comments

Letting Shoppach go with no good future catcher in sight is one of many negative Epstein moves, almost as good as Hillenbrand for Boom Boom Kim when B. Colon (prior to Cy Young season) was available. Letting B. Daubach walk for Jeremy Giambi was another gem. Giambi couldn't even slide like a MLB player. Future bat champ F. Sanchez for Sauerback & Mike Stanton for 2 prospects for one day-end of season (not used) are other gems.

Posted by: Bob S at October 31, 2008 09:39 AM

guess he just got lucky with the two championship teams, eh? Bitter much?

Posted by: ponch at October 31, 2008 10:00 AM

Bob S it is so easy to point out the negatives. Theo is a very good GM, as evidenced by trading HanRam for Lowell and Beckett, which led directly to major WS Championship contributions. Also, he avoided overpaying for Johan, which should help down the road (Lester/Ellsbury, Lowrie, Bowden/Anderson/Masterson all still here). He is a very astute GM who has assembled a cohesive team with a bright future, and a top farm system still intact. Anyone could look at a Wall Street fund manager and say they stink by pointing to their losing transactions, but that's not the point. Balance everything out, and tell me who is a better GM in all of baseball? Maybe the Tampa Bay GM, but I don't think Gillick, DePodesta, Cashman, or anyone else really outshines Theo.

Posted by: Chris at October 31, 2008 11:42 AM

What did the Tampa GM do, specifically? You get that many top first round picks, I'd bet on average you'll do pretty well someday down the road (unless you're the Pirates).

Posted by: Mike at October 31, 2008 12:52 PM

There's been plenty of teams that have stayed pretty bad for a while despite the high-first-round picks that accrue during that time - Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Baltimore. They develop a good player or two, but that's not enough to win, and they wind up trading them away before losing them to free agency, which is just a treadmill.

The ones that break out of that cycle are those that are able to get multiple good players out of a single draft and then trade their surpluses for something that will get them over the top.

Tampa's Friedman & Hunsicker have done a pretty fantastic job of that over the past few years. So, for that matter, has Epstein, even though he maybe doesn't *need* to, since he can use money as a blunt weapon.

Posted by: Jason Seaver at October 31, 2008 01:46 PM

You don't need to pay Scott Boras level rents to find a catcher to hit near the Mendoza line and complain about being pinch-hit for. Not even in the short term. Varitek is 100% finished being a starting quality MLB catcher. Done. Cooked. The end of the road. Someone will pay him anyway, based on his reputation, but not anyone smart.

Posted by: Matt Davis at October 31, 2008 03:36 PM

I'm really missing Brian Daubach and Shea Hillenbrand - where are they now? - they had shoppach and needed mirabelli at the time - no indication he was going to slug .540 at the time. Agreed they threw him in for coco but he didn't really get a chance with them and it didn't look like he was going to.

Posted by: Bandit at October 31, 2008 03:42 PM

For Chris: Epstein was out when Lucchino dealt for Beckett, that was not Epstein's deal. For Bandit, who would you rather have had when Hillenbrand was traded, Kim or Colon and Daubach had 4 straight Sox years with 70 or more RBIs and 20 or more HRs. Jer Giambi once reached 20 HR. Hillenbrand was a lousy 3B and hung in at 1B when Sox traded him, I'm just saying who was available when he was traded & Colon was available.
Epstein is good, but Terry Ryan at Minn was better with far less $.

Posted by: Bob S at October 31, 2008 09:38 PM

When Boston traded Hillenbrand it was the best move they ever made - set up 2 WS wins and 5 playoff appearances in 6 yrs - it doesn't matter if they got a broken bat for him - In the immortal words of Shea " trade me now faggot" - The worst deal Theo made was Arroyo for Wily Mo Pena - and the signings of Renteria and Lugo

Posted by: bandit at November 1, 2008 12:04 PM

Above trade of Arroyo (who signed for less to stay) is right on. Another gem was McCarthy & Gebbard for Gagne (a totally unnecessary bust 2nd half 2007). Above citing of Renteria & Lugo is also right on-if Epstein played the game, he would know that you don't play musical chairs with the most important field position. I'm still wondering what the hell was wrong with O. Cabrerra? Look at the fine seasons he's had at Angels & CWS. When I think back at Yawkey's drinking buddies short changing the Sox so many times, Epstein looks very good. Cronin couldn't stand the thought of Pee Wee Reese replacing him & sent him to Bklyn for 18 fine seasons & then Cronin as AL president froze the AL rosters for expansion a year before NL and shafted Sox out of SS Jim Fregosi.
Epstein is good, not great like some think.

Posted by: Bob S at November 1, 2008 04:56 PM

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