BoSox offer arbitration to Varitek

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 2, 2008 9:54 AM CST Comment 40 comments

In a move that could have implications for the Rangers, the BoSox have offered arbitration to Jason Varitek, and David Pinto says Boston expects Varitek to sign elsewhere.

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Varitek will go to arbitration with Boston.

His signing elsewhere – IOW getting offered a contract of more than a year, and from another organization – makes no sense.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Dec 2, 2008 9:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

agreed

""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley

by ab03 on Dec 2, 2008 11:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A 37 year old coming off a horrific year offensively...

who is guaranteed 8 million in arbitration. Yeah I doubt he signs elsewhere. Some team would have to be extremely stupid to pay him that kind of money after this past season and at his age.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Dec 2, 2008 10:12 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I don't really see another team ...

giving Tek a multi-year deal AND forfeiting a first or second round pick for the privilege. He stays in Boston. Hopefully he’ll be mentoring a former young Texas catcher for whom the Sox overpaid.

by Athos on Dec 2, 2008 10:47 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The Sox have two catchers that are major league ready (Kottraras, Brown). They could definitely use an upgrade but they don’t have to. They would love to get a nice young catcher for Tek to split time with and mentor but there is no need to trade the farm for that person.

by drabidea on Dec 2, 2008 12:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i take it

you’re a red sox fan. how does Bowden and Bard for Salty sound?

by clark on Dec 2, 2008 12:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Pass

Salty is a project.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Dec 5, 2008 9:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

then you better start looking to another team for catching help.

After the Rangers deal Laird to the Reds/Tigers/whoever that would probably be the lowest offer JD would take for Salty. The price will only go up once Laird is dealt.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Dec 5, 2008 10:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Bah

there are several catchers available, they don’t have to get Salty. But to Drugs Delaney, so what if Salty is a project, I don’t think the Sox have to have someone ready to lead the team this season, they just need a young catcher with a ceiling.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Dec 5, 2008 10:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I never said...

they have to get Salty. Only that the price for him certainly isn’t going down once Laird is dealt.

I’m aware there are many catchers available. I’m not one of the LSBers that thinks the BoSox have to come to the Rangers for their catching needs. In fact I think they will end up going with a less expensive route (prospect wise via trade) than Salty or Teagarden.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Dec 5, 2008 11:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't see a trade happening between Boston and Texas.

And that’s probably not a bad thing, for either club, at this point. I’d love to see a trade centered around Buch and Salty, but it doesn’t look like Theo or JD are willing to make that happen, even if it means Texas adding a piece. And the next tier of pitchers Boston has doesn’t seem to be a sufficient upgrade over what Texas already has coming along in its own system. So my comment was more wishful thinking than anything else.

by Athos on Dec 2, 2008 1:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

by drabidea on Dec 2, 2008 3:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Neither of those guys...

…look like future starting major league catchers.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 2, 2008 1:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I would project

they will be backups in the major league level. The Sox would rather deal with a backup level catcher for a couple of years until Exposito or Wagner are ready, then deal away a top pitching prospect.

by drabidea on Dec 2, 2008 3:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why?

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 2, 2008 7:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

because

the main thing you look for in a catcher is their defense and game calling ability. The sox have players that are major league ready in that regard. Catcher is the most important defensive position. If we can get a player that hits well too, that is gravy, but it is not as much of an upgrade as a #1 or #2 starter would be.

by drabidea on Dec 3, 2008 7:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Also

Wagner is 24 and didn’t hit in AA last year.

Is there really much reason to believe that in a couple of years, he’ll be a starting caliber catcher?

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 2, 2008 7:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

because he's a huge homer

Its like me saying that its not too late for Nate Gold.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Dec 2, 2008 8:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Is he an milb FA yet?

This is an exciting time in my life.

The LSB CPP's are in full bloom.

by Chase Irwin on Dec 2, 2008 10:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They're the type

that backup the backups. These guys are 26th men.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Dec 2, 2008 8:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Career Minor League Numbers

Gerald Laird
1945 AB .269/.343/.403 44 HR

George Kottaras
1917 AB .269/.366/.444 66 HR

Dusty Brown
1876 AB .262/.341/.396 38 HR

Laird has been your starter for a couple of years, and you think that Kottaras and Brown can’t even be backups?

by drabidea on Dec 3, 2008 8:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, but Laird is a backup/platoon player really

Or at least that’s the only time he can hit worth a crap, is when he’s backing up or platooning. The part about him starting the majority of the games for us the past two seasons is simply a combination of travesty and not having anyone better.

"Somewhere out there, between 14-32 BBWAA NL MVP voters are trying to get cheaper winter heating by drilling a hole in the microwave." - Jeff at LoL

by lonestarJon on Dec 3, 2008 9:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He isn't as bad as you think

His OPS of .727 put him 15th for catchers with atleast 250 plate apperances. Their were 35 catchers who met the 250 plate apperance criteria, this puts him at above average. Teams are willing to trade with the Rangers to get him as a starting catcher not a backup.

by drabidea on Dec 3, 2008 9:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Heh, that's what we want people to think

Laird put up all his numbers in the first half when he was platooning with Saltalamacchia, posting a .306/360/.437 line. In the second half, when we handed him the full-time job again his numbers plummeted to .242/.294/.354 – pretty much what he was doing in 2007 when he had the full time job. By contrast, his career season of 2006 (which won him the ’07 starting gig) was spent platooning with Rod Barajas.

Laird is a fine platoon catcher, and would be a serious asset if he’d accept the role of backup catcher – but he should never be handed a full-time job, it seems.

"Somewhere out there, between 14-32 BBWAA NL MVP voters are trying to get cheaper winter heating by drilling a hole in the microwave." - Jeff at LoL

by lonestarJon on Dec 3, 2008 10:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's only part of the picture

How is their defense? Splits? Laird is a pretty good platoon guy. Kottaras I can see as a backup, though I can’t remember his defensive reputation. Brown is already 26 and hasn’t even had a cup of coffee yet, and his numbers aren’t as good as what Laird put up as a younger player.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Dec 3, 2008 9:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Defense

First the reason neither of them have had a “cup of coffee” is because we have had Varitek and Wakefield for the past 10 years. Wakefield requires a knuckleball dedicated backup catcher, who has been Mirabelli and Cash as of late. Varitek was one of the games elite catchers who was dedicated to his work. There just isn’t enough room on a roster for 3 catchers.

Brown is an elite defensive catcher, very strong arm, calls a good game, frames pitches well and blocks balls in the dirt well too. His big question mark is how well his bat will translate to the majors.

Kottaras is basically the opposite of Brown. His bat looks very good, great patience and shows power potential. His defense is the big question mark. He blocks pitches in the dirt well. His game calling was awful a couple of years ago, but has improved lately. He has a strong arm but is not quick at throwing out runners and only throws out about 20% of the runners.

by drabidea on Dec 3, 2008 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

None of this

supports your above post about the Sox being fine with backup level catchers, or that they’re sold on the younger guys as obvious solutions in a couple of years. The Sox will aim higher than that. Yes they’ll try to hold onto their favorite pitching prospects, but they will NOT go into 2009 with Kottaras or Brown as their primary catcher. It’s certainly possible Kottaras will be the backup in 2009, or for at least part of it.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Dec 3, 2008 10:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh

you are talking about Sox management not being fine with it. No they probably wouldn’t be. They would probably perform fine on the field with one of them, but it would clearly be the weakest point of the team.

The sox managment would rather sign a Dave Ross type free agent with a .744 NL OPS for 1 or 2 mil a year then trade away a top tier prospect for a player that might not even play the catcher position in the future.

by drabidea on Dec 3, 2008 11:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I believe the Sox management

sees the long term value of picking up a catcher they believe in and paying a fair price for that player. You don’t get something for nothing.

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by t ball on Dec 3, 2008 2:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

by drabidea on Dec 3, 2008 2:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

However I don’t think they have the same idea of fair value that many here do. I don’t think will give up Buchholz for Salty, and if it came down to it, they would rather play Brown/ Kottaras and keep Salty. (Although they would probably just go get a lesser option, like Montero.)

"I'd like to f*ck Sandra Bullock." - Pedro Martinez, explaining his secret ambition to Sports Illustrated for Kids.

by OCD SS on Dec 3, 2008 4:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

they have lots of options. Catching depth is great to have for trade value. It’s unfortunate for the Rangers that there are several catcher options out there right now. I think the Rangers end up dealing Laird to someone for a bullpen arm or prospect and playing Salty and Tea for at least the first half of 2009. Maybe a contender needs a catcher in July.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Dec 3, 2008 9:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Because last July went swimmingly.

meet me at the mawwl... it's goin dowwn...

by oc on Dec 3, 2008 9:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And?

The previous July was pretty nice.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Dec 3, 2008 11:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Boston expects him to go elsewhere?

In this market, hes not going to get a mult-year deal, and no one is going to pay him more than 8 million a year for a catcher on the decline.

At the end of this, I expect him to take the arbitration

In Smoak We Trust

by Smoak Some on Dec 2, 2008 1:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

And I expect

Boston is fine with that possibility. I think he bounces back slightly with the bat in 2009, has a halfway decent year. Maybe Boston acquires a young catcher for him to tutor, maybe they put that decision off until at least mid-season.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Dec 2, 2008 1:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Like you said, Boston won't care if he comes back or not

His bat really doesn’t make too much of a difference in that lineup (Ortiz, Youkilis, Bay, Pedroia, and Drew, among others carry that offense) but he makes a real difference with the pitchers and knows how to call a good game. If Boston was to get a young catcher in town for Tek for tutor him then they won’t mind at all

In Smoak We Trust

by Smoak Some on Dec 2, 2008 1:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

One question

Is Kotteras definitely not ML-starter quality?

I looked his numbers up and they’re not as bad as I’d expect.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Dec 2, 2008 1:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well, this is from Callis today

Otto (CA): Where do you got George Kottars playing on opening day? He don’t have any options left.

Jim Callis: He might be the backup in Boston, but no way he’s the starter and he might be a more likely candidate for the waiver wire. He’s an OK prospect, but he didn’t make the Red Sox Top 30 I wrote.

In Smoak We Trust

by Smoak Some on Dec 2, 2008 2:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes and no

He is offensive minded. He could be a decent bat, but his play behind the plate has been called into question. He isn’t great with the glove, arm, or game calling. The Sox don’t know if he will stick at catcher.

by drabidea on Dec 2, 2008 3:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs