Will the Boston Red Sox Grant Captain Jason Varitek a Contract Extension?

With the Fall Classic just around the corner, and the Boston Red Sox one game from elimination, many Sox fans are beginning to question if they will see their captain, Jason Varitek, in a Red Sox uniform again. 

If you look at the gold glover's history, you would have grounds for a decent argument on why the Red Sox organization should keep such a well decorated player.

Varitek's success began in 1984 when he lead his Altamonte Springs, Florida little league team to a 4-2 victory over Southport, Indiana in the Little League World Series. 

Varitek was also a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team, Baseball America's 1993 College Player of the Year, 1994 College World Series All-Tournament Team Catcher, and he was the only Georgia Tech baseball player to have his number (33) retired.

Varitek also holds numerous Georgia Tech records: most career games played (253), most career runs scored (261), most career base hits (351), most career doubles (82).  Jason was also awarded the 1994 Golden Spikes Award, 1994 Rotary Smith Award, 1994 Dick Howser Trophy, was a three time consensus All-American, and was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame.

After college, Jason was the 14th overall pick, in the first round of the 1994 amateur draft, by the Seattle Mariners.  Varitek was traded from the Mariner's farm system, along with Derek Lowe, to the Boston Red Sox during the 1997 season.  Jason made his first appearence in the big show was on September 24, 1997, where he went 1-1 at the plate.  After showing some promising signs during the 1998 season, Varitek became the Red Sox starting catcher in 1999.

In 2004, pitcher Bronson Arroyo hit batter Alex Rodriguez with a curveball, causing Rodriguez to argue that he was hit intentionally.  Varitek responded by shoving his glove in the face of A-Rod and claiming, "We don't f---ing hit .270 batters!"

The brawl resulted with both A-Rod and Varitek being ejected, however a charged Fenway crowd was on their feet cheering the Sox to a come from behind, bottom of the ninth, victory.  The fracas proved to be somewhat of a turning point for the Red Sox as they chalked the best MLB record after the scrap.

Boston's 2004 season was topped off by their first World Series victory in 86 years, making Jason Varitek only the second player to have played in the Little League World Series, College World Series, and Major League World Series.

The Red Sox organization must have took his accolades into consideration, because Varitek became a free agent at the end of the season and the Red Sox resigned him to a four year, $40 million contract, and made Varitek as team captain—a title which had only been given to two other Boston players since 1923, Carl Yastrzemski (1969-1983) and Jim Rice (1986-1989.)

In his 11 years with the Boston Red Sox, Varitek has been a three time All-Star, received the 2005 Silver Slugger Award, was a 2005 Gold Glove winner, and earned the 2006 Heart and Hustle Award. 

On May 19th, 2008, after catching Jon Lester's no-hitter, Varitek also became the only catcher in Major League history to have caught four no-hitters.  Hideo Nomo in 2001, Derek Lowe in 2002, Clay Buchholz in 2007 and Jon Lester in 2008.

Varitek also has a number of Red Sox milestones and achievements. 

On April 14, 2005, he became the 26th player to hit 100 home runs for the club.  He was the first Red Sox catcher to win Sliver Slugger, and the third Sox catcher to win a Gold Glove behind Carlton Fisk and Tony Pena. 

On July 18, 2006 he broke Carlton Fisk's club record of most games caught with 991, and at the time of this article has caught 1,330 games.

However, it is no secret that GM Theo Epstein, and the rest of the Red Sox organization, is not afraid to let blockbuster players go once they reach their mid-to-late 30s.  

Varitek's lackluster performance at the plate this year may be cause for some concern, however. But for a man who has been loyal to the organization, and played his entire major league career with the Red Sox, it would be nice to see him remain with the organization. Perhaps a shorter contract with clauses stating that he will mentor and split starts with prospect catchers, or even signing him to the coaching staff.

Diasuke Matsuzaka made his thoughts clear, through interpreter Masa Hoshino, when he said, "For two years over all those games that Varitek has caught for me, I've been able to pitch with less and less stress over that time, and that certainly has helped me in my performances as well."

I don't think the Dice-man is alone when it comes to who the fans, and players, would like to see behind the mound next season.