catcher would get $40 million

December 23, 2004 | ESPN.com

 

Catcher Jason Varitek is staying in Boston, the latest prize in a flurry of free-agent deals by the Red Sox since Pedro Martinez left town.

 

The catcher has agreed in principle to a four-year, $40 million contract, but there are details to be worked out, ESPN's Peter Gammons reports.

 

The Associated Press reports Varitek will receive a $4 million signing bonus paid over four years and annual salaries of $9 million. The sides compromised over his desire for a no-trade clause, working out a solution that will cover a large part of the contract but not all of it.

 

Scott Boras, Varitek's agent, had told other teams he would not discuss Varitek until negotiations with Boston had been exhausted because the catcher wants to return to the Red Sox. "

 

Jason is clearly a key asset we need retain. He is the rock solid leader of our club," principal owner John Henry said in an e-mail to The Associated Press, without confirming an agreement.

 

Red Sox president Larry Lucchino referred questions on Varitek to general manager Theo Epstein, who could not be reached for comment.

 

Since Martinez finalized a $53 million, four-year contract with the New York Mets on Dec. 16, the Red Sox have added shortstop Edgar Renteria and right-handers Matt Clement and Wade Millerand retained Varitek. Agreements were completed with Clement on Wednesday and Miller on Thursday. Varitek, valued for handling pitchers, will work with a revamped staff after Boston added five pitchers since winning the World Series for the first time in 86 years.

 

His agreement came a few hours after the Red Sox finalized a $1.5 million, one-year deal with Miller. On Wednesday, they completed a three-year contract with an average annual value of $8.5 million for Clement.

 

They also signed veteran left-hander David Wells for two years at an average of $4 million. That's an annual average of $14 million, excluding bonuses, for three pitchers. The Red Sox almost paid that much for Martinez, offering him a three-year deal with a $13.5 million average. They also chose not to re-sign Derek Lowe.

 

Varitek, 32, was Boston's top priority among its four high-profile free agents who included Martinez, Lowe and shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who got a $32 million, four-year contract from Anaheim after Boston signed Renteria to a $40 million, four-year deal.

 

Varitek hit a career-high .296 last season with 18 homers and 73 RBI. Since he was obtained from Seattle in 1997, he has a .271 batting average with 97 homers and 418 RBI in 832 games. "It's incredibly important" for Varitek to return, pitcher Curt Schilling said in late November.

 

"It would be devastating to this team if Jason Varitek didn't come back," backup catcher Doug Mirabelli said at the time.

The chance to pitch to Varitek appealed to Clement.

 

"A huge thing for me was the catching situation. Hopefully that's the same as it's been for a while," he said. "When I watch catchers, I think, 'Man, I'd like to throw to this guy.' I remember saying that a lot of times" about Varitek.