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Jason Varitek | Catcher

Team: Boston Red Sox
Age / DOB:  (41) / 4/11/1972
Ht / Wt:  6'2' / 230
Bats / Throws: Switch / Right
College: Georgia Tech
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Latest News

Recent News

The Red Sox named Jason Varitek as special assistant to the general manager.
This confirms a report from earlier in the week. Per a release from the team, Varitek will be involved in major league personnel decisions, evaluations and mentorship and instruction of young players. Many believe he could be a managerial candidate before long. Thu, Sep 27, 2012 06:32:00 PM
Source: Boston Red Sox on Twitter

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Player News

Date:
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

Jason Varitek said Tuesday that he is close to accepting a job with the Red Sox.

"We're working on it," said Varitek. "We're close to having something. I'll be involved." Varitek has been mentioned as a possible successor to Bobby Valentine, but a baseball source says that he will likely be named a special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington, where he will be encouraged to educate himself about the Red Sox system from top-to-bottom. He could still be a managerial candidate down the road.
Source: ESPNBoston.com
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 08:38:00 AM
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

Jason Varitek officially announced his retirement Thursday at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.

It was an emotional goodbye for the 39-year-old backstop. "This last week," Varitek told those gathered, "is probably one of the hardest weeks you go through as a player. After months of deliberating what to do, I decided that it’s best for me and my family that I retire — that I retire a Red Sox." He'll finish with a .256/.341/.435 career batting line, 193 home runs and 757 RBI.
Source: Associated Press
Thu, Mar 1, 2012 07:21:00 PM
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

Jason Varitek is scheduled to hold his retirement press conference Thursday at 5:30 p.m. ET at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe was the first to pass along news of Varitek's retirement on Monday, but the Red Sox just officially announced when the press conference will take place. The 39-year-old backstop will call it a career with a .256/.341/.435 career batting line, 193 home runs and 757 RBI over 15 major league seasons. The three-time All-Star was a key member of two World Series championship teams.
Source: Ian Browne on Twitter
Wed, Feb 29, 2012 03:01:00 PM
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, Jason Varitek will announce his retirement Thursday in Fort Myers, Florida.

Varitek is expected to stay with the Red Sox in some capacity. The 39-year-old showed last season that he was still capable of producing as a backup, but with no clear role for him in Boston, he ultimately decided against continuing his career elsewhere. The three-time All-Star will hang up his shin guards with a .256/.341/.435 career batting line, 193 home runs and 757 RBI over 15 major league seasons.
Source: Boston Globe
Mon, Feb 27, 2012 05:07:00 PM
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that Jason Varitek is still leaning towards retirement.

Cafardo says Varitek "can’t envision himself in another uniform," but, at the same time, "feels he can still play and at least be someone’s backup." There's no doubt that Varitek is still capable of being a backup, but the question is whether it would be worth it to him to leave Boston for a cheap deal with little guaranteed playing time. He'll probably announce a decision before long.
Source: Boston Globe
Sun, Feb 26, 2012 09:38:00 AM
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports that Red Sox officials don't expect Jason Varitek to show up to camp.

The Red Sox have already had two mandatory workouts for pitchers and catchers, so Varitek would be there if he accepted a minor league deal. As reported last Friday night, it's increasingly likely that he'll opt for retirement.
Source: Scott Lauber on Twitter
Wed, Feb 22, 2012 03:40:00 PM
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe was told by a friend of Jason Varitek that the veteran catcher is leaning toward retirement.

Cafardo was told during Tim Wakefield's retirement press conference Friday. Varitek's agent, Scott Boras, said Friday that his client had yet to make a decision on his future, but given that Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington doesn't expect to make any additions before the start of camp, it's beginning to feel inevitable. If Varitek hangs up his shin guards for good, he could accept a non-playing role within the organization.
Source: Nick Cafardo on Twitter
Fri, Feb 17, 2012 06:11:00 PM
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

Jason Varitek's agent, Scott Boras, said his client has not made a decision yet on what his plans are for the 2012 season.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has said he expects to have a definitive resolution on Varitek sometime this week. The Sox have offered him a minor league contract, but with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach already expected to make the roster, the veteran would be a longshot to make the team. If he decides against playing, he could accept a position within the organization. Varitek's longtime teammate, Tim Wakefield, will announce his retirement later Friday.
Source: Scott Lauber on Twitter
Fri, Feb 17, 2012 12:29:00 PM
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday the team will have some sort of definitive resolution on Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield by next week.

The Red Sox don't really have a role for Varitek or Wakefield their projected roster, so we doubt this will end with either getting a contract. Varitek's agent, Scott Boras, was recently quoted as saying that the 39-year-old backstop was still "deliberating what he wants to do," but he is believed to have a job with the organization waiting for him if he decides to hang up his shin guards. Wakefield, 45, doesn't appear interested in pitching anywhere other than Boston, so the knuckleballer may also be forced to walk off into the baseball sunset.
Related: Tim Wakefield
Source: Boston Globe
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 01:28:00 PM
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that they have not made Jason Varitek a formal contract offer.

This refutes a report by Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com on Friday that the Red Sox invited Varitek to spring training. While the 39-year-old is also reportedly weighing retirement, he batted .221/.300/.423 with 11 home runs, 36 RBI and a .723 OPS over 250 plate appearances in 2011. Varitek isn't what he used to be behind the plate, but that level of production of offense would be palatable for a backup catcher gig elsewhere. It's believed he would have a job with the Red Sox organization waiting for him if he does ultimately opt for retirement.
Source: Nick Cafardo on Twitter
Fri, Jan 13, 2012 06:40:00 PM
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, the Red Sox have offered Jason Varitek a minor league deal with a spring training invite.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach are already in place as the catching tandem, so it's highly unlikely Varitek would make the Opening Day roster unless there's an injury. Heyman writes that the 39-year-old backstop is likely to either accept the invite or opt for retirement. Varitek batted .221/.300/.423 with 11 home runs, 36 RBI and a .723 OPS over 250 plate appearances in 2011. He has spent his entire 15-year major league career with Boston.
Related: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Kelly Shoppach
Source: CBSSports.com
Fri, Jan 13, 2012 04:20:00 PM
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the Red Sox are still considering re-signing Jason Varitek.

While Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said last month that he hopes Varitek will always be a part of the team "in some way," it's very difficult to see a fit given the current composition of the roster. Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach figure to split playing time behind the plate in 2012 and it's unlikely the club will carry a third catcher.
Source: CBSSports.com
Mon, Jan 2, 2012 10:48:00 PM
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald writes that the Red Sox and Jason Varitek "have kept the door open for further talks."

Varitek, who turns 40 in April, wants to return to Boston, but with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach on the roster, there simply doesn't appear to be any room for him. It appears as though the Sox will at least consider the possibility of carrying a third catcher, though. Varitek batted .221/.300/.423 with 11 home runs, 36 RBI and a .723 OPS over 250 plate appearances this past season.
Source: Boston Herald
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 11:35:00 AM
Jason Varitek - C - Red Sox

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said Thursday that he hopes Jason Varitek will always be a part of the team "in some way."

"As far as what that means immediately, what we want to do is keep talking to Tek and not discuss that in a public forum, but continue talking to Tek and [Boras] and figure out what’s best for the Red Sox and what’s best for him," said Cherington. The Red Sox already have Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach, so it's highly unlikely they'd carry a third catcher. Whatever discussions are taking place likely include a non-playing role. Varitek, who turns 40 in April, has spent his entire 15-year major league career with Boston.
Related: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Kelly Shoppach
Source: WEEI.com
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 09:36:00 AM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Jarrod Saltalamacchia
2David Ross
3Ryan Lavarnway
1B1Mike Napoli
2Mike Carp
2B1Dustin Pedroia
SS1Stephen Drew
3B1Will Middlebrooks
2Pedro Ciriaco
LF1Jonny Gomes
2Daniel Nava
CF1Jacoby Ellsbury
RF1Shane Victorino
DH1David Ortiz
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Jon Lester
2Ryan Dempster
3Clay Buchholz
4John Lackey
5Felix Doubront
6Franklin Morales
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Andrew Bailey
2Joel Hanrahan
3Koji Uehara
4Junichi Tazawa
5Craig Breslow
6Andrew Miller
7Clayton Mortensen
8Alex Wilson
9Felix Doubront
10Jose De La Torre