Wally's Weekly Jan. 26, 2009: Who Will Catch for the Boston Red Sox?

I'm sure I speak for all of Red Sox Nation when I say I want Jason Varitek back.

Well, good news, Sox fans! Boston has made an offer to Varitek. They offered a one-year deal with a team and player (not a mutual) option for 2010. The contract would pay Varitek $5 million for the '09 season, and the amount of the option depends on who would pick it up.

The team option would pay $5 million for the 2010 season, but the player option would only pay out $3 million.

Not only do the Red Sox want him back, and Varitek wants to be back, but the Red Sox are not playing Scott Boras' games. This deal comes with a deadline, but the date of the deadline is not known.

Varitek is the real loser in all of this. After declining Boston's offer of arbitration, he set himself up for the following options: Play with the Red Sox for far less money than he would have made in arbitration, or retire.

In arbitration, Varitek could have made up to $12 million. Now, if he accepts the Red Sox offer, he will be making $5 million. Also, in declining arbitration, he set himself up for either the Red Sox or retirement.

Since players offered arbitration cost a first-round draft pick to sign, no team in the majors wanted to send their first-round draft choice to a 36-year-old catcher coming off the worst year of his career.

'Tek's only hope was the Red Sox.

And even those hopes seemed dim, after Boras announcing early in the offseason that he was looking for a "Jorge Posada-type deal" for his client Varitek. The previous offseason, Posada inked a four-year, $52-million contract to stay with the Yankees.

Theo Epstein has not had a problem letting go of veterans asking for far too much money or who just cannot play very well any more. As a consequence, most of the 2004 team was gone by the 2006 season, and right now David Ortiz is the only man left from the 2004 25-man roster (Kevin Youkilis was on the 40-man roster, not the 25-man).

If Varitek isn't brought back, the options at catcher look bleak for the Red Sox.

Josh Bard currently is the starting catcher, and he is constantly battling with injuries, preventing him from being a full-time catcher. In fact, the Red Sox once had Josh Bard, and they promptly traded him because he could not catch Tim Wakefield's knuckleball.

George Kottaras is another option on the depth chart. He crushed the ball at Pawtucket this year, belting 22 home runs and driving in 65 while hitting .243 in 395 at bats.

However, those are unprecedented power numbers in his Minor League career, so they may not suggest that he could come to Boston and have the same type of production.

Also in the minor leagues competing for that catcher spot is Dusty Brown. He is an excellent defensive catcher, boasting a great arm. He is very able to work with pitchers and call a good game. He is disciplined at the plate with good power, tough, and athletic.

However, he is a streaky hitter, something he needs to work on. He finished the year hitting .290, with 12 home runs and 55 RBI, so he could also compete to be catcher when spring training rolls around.

Then, of course, there is the trade market. Talks between Boston and Texas are expected to resume shortly, but the Red Sox still won't cave in to Texas' demands. The Red Sox are salivating over acquiring Taylor Teagarden or Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but they still refuse to give up Clay Buchholz in return.

I don't half blame them. The last deal they made with Texas turned out to be horrible. Eric Gagne almost blew the season out of the bullpen, and outfielder David Murphy became a very good left fielder; hitting .275 with 15 home runs, 74 RBI, and seven stolen bags.

Finally, the Red Sox have been trying to pry prospect Miguel Montero away from the Diamondbacks. Again, the Red Sox have been hesitant to give in, balking at the Diamondbacks' asking price of Michael Bowden or Justin Masterson for the offensive catcher.

However, some rumors indicate the Red Sox may be able to pull off this deal for relief pitching prospect Daniel Bard.

The Red Sox have suggested that they will be done making moves this winter when they solve the catcher position, so this will probably be wrapped up within a week. Pitchers and Catchers Report is on Feb. 14, so expect this to end soon.

Stay tuned.