An Offer He Can't Refuse

MLB.com and the Boston Globe report that Varitek received an offer from the Red Sox:

A baseball source tells The Boston Globe that the Red Sox have made a contract offer to the veteran catcher and team captain. Without citing specifics, the report states the proposal given to Varitek's agent, Scott Boras, may include a second guaranteed season.

The paper says the Red Sox "could ensure Varitek a second year by guaranteeing it outright or making it attainable through an option."

Either way, after nearly three months, there is movement in the negotiations.

The Globe reports that Varitek could guarantee the second year of a contract through "reachable incentives," such as games played or at-bats. Another scenario could have the player agree to a "dual option." That would give the team first choice to bring Varitek back (at a higher number) for 2010, and also provide the player to either accept or decline a second salary figure (at a lower number).

Meanwhile, KFFL claims that Varitek did, in fact, get a two year deal:

Updating previous reports, the Boston Red Sox have formally presented an offer to agent Scott Boras, who represents free-agent C Jason Varitek, that could include a second guaranteed season for his client, according to a baseball source. The value and length of the proposal was unclear, but the team could ensure a second year by either guaranteeing it outright or making it attainable through an option, according to Tony Massarotti of The Boston Globe.

I cant wait for the numbers... A two year deal anywhere at $14m or above would be a huge win for Boras and Varitek, though I am skeptical that the second year would be guaranteed and not an easily attainable option.

Comments

[Gary in Indiana]

The numbers I've seen are $5M for 2009 and a dual option for 2010 with the club option being for $5M while the player option is for $3M. Indications are that there are performance incentives in the offer but no information as to whether they are a part of the $5M or in addition to it.

Even if you look at the two years at $5M per, that's still less than Tek made in 2008 and likely over $1M less than he'd have gotten just for 2009 if arbitration had been accepted.

That's hardly a "victory" no matter how you look at it. Frankly, I was hard pressed to understand how you characterized $14M for two years instead of a likely $11M-$12M for one year in arbitration as a "victory" for Boras. I guarantee you that Jason Varitek won't see it that way, either.

[Jumbo]

A smart negotiator needs to know who holds the upper hand. In this case, Boras misplayed Varitek's weak cards. Scottie B. ends up wearing a dunce cap.

[Gary in Indiana]

Just an update. The deadline for Varitek to accept or decline this offer is Saturday.