Beckett Gets His Binky BackVaritek exercises $3 million option for 2010
Once again, the obvious has happened.
As first reported by the Globe's
Peter Abraham via Twitter, Red Sox captain Jason Varitek has exercised the $3 million player option on his contract to return to Boston for the 2010.
As Theo Epstein mentioned, Victor Martinez is, in fact, the starting catcher for the 2010 Red Sox. Whe Varitek inked his two-year deal this past offseason, he was informed that depending on his production in the early-going in 2009, the Red Sox would go after a starting catcher if need be. If the Red Sox had to
do that, then the team was going to play the better man, regardless of the C on his chest.
The $5 million club option on Varitek's contract would only be picked up if the Red Sox still felt that Tek was still viewed as a starting catcher. After an abysmal 2009 season, the decision to demote Varitek to the backup catching role was a no-brainer.
While Varitek is guaranteed his $3 milli...
Billy BluffWagner claims he might consider accepting Boston's potential arbitration offer
Baseball is a business. You know it, I know it, and so does Billy Wagner, apparently.
Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reported that the Wagner era in Boston may not be over just yet. I, on the other hand, call BS on that report.
On Tuesday, speaking on behalf of Wagner, the left-handed relievers agent, Bean Stringfellow, said that Wagner hasn't ruled out accepting an arbitration offer from the Boston Red Sox, should they make one.
"Will Billy reject (arbitration)?" Wagner’s agent, Bean Stringfellow, said yesterday. "I just visited with Billy and his family the other day and I can tell you this much: Billy thoroughly enjoyed his time in Boston. It was one of the best experiences he has ever had in baseball. So, does he rule out accepting arbitration? No, he doesn’t."
Do I believe that he enjoyed his time here in Boston? Absolutely. What player wouldn't? (cough, Manny...
Theo's busy dayVaritek, V-Mart, Wakefield and more!
We've got a handful of things to talk about, following an eventful day initiated by Theo Epstein and company on Monday.
We'll start with the captain. On Monday, the Red Sox declined the $5 million club option that remained on the contract signed by Jason Varitek this past offseason. However, still remaining is a $3 million player option, which Varitek can exercise himself and return to Boston no questions asked.
If and when Varitek exercises his $3 million option for 2010, he has performances bonuses in his contract that could potentially boost his 2010 earnings to $5 million.
On top of being guaranteed $3 million, the 37-year-old will receive $400,000 each for reaching the plateaus of 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 games played. It's only reasonable to assume that the most he could make would be in the $400-$800K range, if that.
I can almost promise you that Varitek will be with the Red Sox on Opening Day, maybe not starting, but definitely on the roster. There is absolutely n...
Is A-Gon, A-Gone? (again?)Red Sox decline Alex Gonzalez's $6 million option for 2010
If I told you that the Red Sox and A-Gon were making some headlines in the Hot Stove column, your eyes would more than likely light up, thinking that the "A-Gon" that I was referring to was
Adrian Gonzalez.
I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but this one's about the other A-Gon.
On Sunday, the Globe's
Tony Massarotti shared that the Red Sox have declined the $6 million option that remained on
Alex Gonzalez's 3-year, $14 million contact that the shortstop signed with the Cincinnati Reds back in 2007.
Now, more often than not, a player whose option is declined by the team in which he was previously under contract with does not return. However, the Red Sox have specified their interest in bringing Gonzalez back in a Red Sox uniform, just not for $6 million.
FanGraphs listed Gonzalez's...
Sox land Hermida from MarlinsHot Stove kicks into action less than 24 hours after the WS
Less than 24 hours after the final pitch of the 2009 World Series, Theo Epstein began what hopes to be a pivotal offseason that will hopefully bring the Red Sox back atop the American League East.
Just before 6pm here in Boston, Epstein completed a deal with Florida Marlins' Vice President and general manager, Michael Hill, that sent outfielder Jeremy Hermida to Boston in exchange for a pair of left-handed pitchers. Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez will pack their bags and head down south to the Sunshine State.
Jones, who spent most of his 2009 season down in Triple A Pawtucket, posted a 9.24 ERA in just 12.2 innings at the big league level with Boston. Alvarez had better fortunes in '09, as the left-hander was tried as both a reliever and a starter (12 starts, 14 relief appearances). Jones posted a 2.26 ERA in Class-A ball in the Red Sox's farm system.
In return for the pair of southpaws, the Red Sox receive a former first-round draft pick in Hermida. As first reported by
Five Years Ago Tonight...An excerpt from One Fan's Story: If This Hat Could Talk
The following is an excerpt from Jared Carrabis' debut book, One Fan's Story: If This Hat Could Talk
I felt like I was living in a dream, it all happened so fast. I didn’t have any time to soak in the significance of each game one by one. One second I was staring up at my ceiling trying to figure out where this team went wrong as we stared an 0-3 deficit in the face, the next I’m celebrating an American League pennant. Then it felt like less than a day later that the Red Sox had a 3-0 series lead against the Cardinals in the World Series. It was just all too much to take in at once. I had just seen a slugfest of a World Series opener, the bloody sock part II and my dream of seeing Pedro pitch in the World Series and dominate. Putting things into perspective, I had to come to terms with the reality that my team was one win away from winning a World Series title. Even the slightest thought of such a thing could not process in my ...
It's Pedro TimeThe Fall Classic sets up a Pedro Vs. NYY rematch
Just after midnight, the New York Yankees punched their ticket to the World Series for the very first time since Aaron Boone launched an extra-inning, season-ending and heart-crushing home run into the left field corner at Yankee Stadium that sent the Red Sox packing in Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series.
That game, which was started by Pedro Martinez, was all the motivation that was needed to help drive the magical run of the returning Red Sox players who were part of the miraculous October the very next October en route to the 2004 World Series Championship. But, before I get to that 2004 season, let me take you back to that Game 7 in 2003, as much as it may make you cringe.
Holding a three-run lead with just five outs standing in the way of the Red Sox and a trip to the World Series, Pedro Martinez stood atop the mound in the center of Yankee Stadium. Thinking back on that night, it's hard to understand why the Red Sox didn't win that game.
After four ...
One Fan's Story: If This Hat Could Talk Now On Sale!Jared Carrabis' debut book hits the online store today!
Here it is folks, the long awaited, 352 page book by Red Sox Massachusetts Governor Jared Carrabis. 2 years in the making, we're proud to finally offer it for sale to the fans of Red Sox Nation. Foreword by Jerry Remy! Pick one up and support Jared's efforts today!
Each ordered book will ALSO receive a FREE 12"x18" full color poster of the book's cover!
Want Jared to sign your book? Want a short inscription written to someone by the author himself? Write your one sentence or less inscription copy in the comments at checkout, and Jared will personally inscribe and sign your book!
Teaser:
One Fan’s Story is just that – the story of one Boston Red Sox fan, Jared Carrabis – but it’s everybody’s story, really. Through Carrabis’ experiences we get to live out our fantasies as a fan of the Sox, the game of baseball, and even the game of life. From the first time the author walks up that ramp as an eight year old boy and gets his first view of the green grass and th...
Where He BelongsJim Rice honored with his number retired at Fenway Park
After 20 long years, Legend Status: achieved.
On Tuesday, Jim Rice became the eighth player in Red Sox history to have his number retired by the storied franchise. It was Johnny Pesky, the last player to have his number retired by the Sox, who raised the red banner to unveil Rice's number 14 for all of Red Sox Nation to see.
In his sixteen-year career, in which he spent all 2,089 games in Boston, Rice amassed 382 career HR, 1,451 RBI and a .298 career batting average. The right-handed slugger who took over for the legendary Carl Yastrzemski, collected 406 total bases in 1978. It was the first time anyone had rounded up over 400 bases since the great Joe DiMaggio had done so decades before. Rice would go on to win the American League MVP in 1978, while playing in all 163 games that season (including the one-game playoff against the Yankees).
After leading the league in total bases in his MVP season, Rice went on to lead the AL in total bases for three consecutive seasons ('78...
Welcome Home, NomarThe legend of Nomar Garciaparra through the eyes of a fan
In the 1994 draft, the Red Sox used their first round draft pick (12th overall) on a model student-athlete out of Georgia Tech by the name of Anthony; Anthony Nomar Garciaparra.
After spending the first three years of his professional career in Sarasota, Trenton and Pawtucket respectively, Garciaparra made his Major League debut with the Boston Red Sox on August 31, 1996. The very next day, Garciaparra croaked a home run off of John "Waaaay Back" Wasdin. Garciaparra's first longball in the bigs was the very first hit in his soon-to-be legendary Red Sox tenure.
At the time of Nomar's burst to the big leagues, John Valentin was not only Boston's starting shortstop, but he was one of the premiere names on the Sox roster. Valentin had finished in the top ten (ninth) in the AL MVP voting the season just prior to Nomar making his big league debut. Just a year after Valentin had collected some MVP votes, he watched as Nomar Garciaparra took over the job of full-time shortstop in late ...
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