Jason Varitek: Red Sox Leader Will Announce Retirement Thursday

Jason Varitek, the Boston Red Sox captain who won two championships with the team, will reportedly announce his retirement on Thursday in Fort Meyers.

According to the Boston Globe, the veteran catcher is expected to stay with the Red Sox "in some capacity."

Varitek has spent his entire career with the Red Sox, from 1997-2011. During this time, he's been named an All-Star three times and won two championships in 2004 and 2007.

Selected No. 14 overall in the 1994 draft by the Seattle Mariners, Varitek became part of what will be known as one of the greatest trades in Red Sox history. During the 1997 season, he was dealt alongside Derek Lowe for reliever Heathcliff Slocumb.

Varitek has a career batting average of .256, but it's been his work behind the plate and his leadership that's made him an invaluable part of the Red Sox throughout the years. He also caught over 1,000 games with the Red Sox, most in team history, and caught an MLB-record four no-hitters during his career. He also won the coveted Gold Glove award in 2005.

Beyond his work in the regular season, Varitek was a staple for the Red Sox playoff teams. He's played in more playoff games than any other Red Sox player in team history and has the most postseason home runs by a catcher in MLB history.

Varitek is also the only player in history to play in the Little League World Series, the College World Series, the World Series, the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic.

If this really is it for the 15-year veteran, what a glorious run it has been.