Jason Varitek will be 37 years old on April 11, 2009. If he were a banker or a lawyer or a doctor he would be just beginning his most productive years and might look forward to a glorious and distinguished career. Varitek however, is a major league baseball player and his position is catcher. Glorious careers as catchers end around the 37 year old mark, not begin.
Unfortunately for Varitek, he or his agent seem to be uninformed of this reality by virtue of the most recent contractual decisions they have made. Varitek finished a four year deal at roughly ten million dollars a year. He was captain of a team that won two World Series and generally speaking was revered in Red Sox Nation.
Despite the fact that Varitek barely hit his weight this past year, he was still considered a vital cog in the club's plans. Although not coming to agreement on a new long term contract the Sox did offer him arbitration which in all likelihood might have resulted in a one year deal worth nine or ten million dollars. Certainly not chump change in the view of us working stiffs.
Varitek's agent, the despicable Boras advised his client to reject this insult. The result of that decision was that if another club chose to offer Varitek a free agent deal then they would have to compensate the Sox with their first round draft choice. This turn of events had the effect of forcing clubs to make a hard analysis of Varitek's declining skills. Would a 37 year old catcher who is a guaranteed out at the bottom of your line up be worth a big long term contract and giving up a future pick?
So far that answer has been a resounding no. Boras' reasoning on all of this came about as a result of the Jorge Posada signing by the Yankees. On November 12, 2007, Posada signed a 4-year, $52 million contract to remain with the Yankees. Some of the comparisons between Posada and Varitek are worthy. Posada is one year older than Varitek however he is a much better hitter. But statistical comparison are irrelevant when talking about these contracts. Posada was with the Yankees and the Yankees can pay stupid money for an aging catcher. The Sox have tended to be much more prudent in the spending of their money. It was also a much different economic condition in baseball and in the nation generally when Posada signed.
There is another back ground element to consider here as well. Boras is also Manny Ramirez's agent. In what will go down in history as infamous behavior, Manny refused to play last year until he was shipped out of town and his 20 million dollar option was lost by the Red Sox. In addition to losing his bat for the play off run the Sox also had to contribute part of his salary to the Dodgers in order to get his cancerous presence out of the club house. Can there be any doubt that Boras was behind this ploy?
So far the strategy has not worked for Boras in either case. Manny's brag last year that "gas was up and so was he" is a bit prescient because now gas is down and so far Boras has no takers for Manny. Wouldn't it be wonderful that after refusing the Dodger's reported 46 million dollars for two years that Manny has to take say 30 million? For us mortals that would be a fine pay day but for Manny and Boras it would be enormous blows to their egos.
Which brings us back to Varitek. Do the Sox punish Boras and Varitek by simply passing on him and go in the proverbial "other direction?" We shall soon see as it was reported last night that Varitek had requested a meeting with Sox owner John Henry, apparently without Boras present. When the player comes back hat in hand to the owner without agent representation it generally means capitulation.
It is too bad that the situation has gotten to where it is. Varitek is highly regarded and could have finished his career with class in Boston with all the accolades he deserved. Instead he went for piggy money and now he and his agent should be made to pay the price. Replacing an old catcher is inevitable so the Sox might as well do it now rather than later.
