Who Will Succeed Jason Varitek As Captain of the Red Sox?

Whether officially recognized by the executives of a given organization, all teams have a captain. He provides leadership both on the field and in the clubhouse, and his ability to keep a team together through the good times and the bad are what sets him apart from all other players.

It’s no surprise Jason Varitek fills that role currently with the Boston Red Sox.

While his individual season starts are far from impressive on their own, his intangibles are what really tell the story.

Varitek is the only man in MLB history to catch four no hitters, from pitchers Hideo Nomo, Derek Lowe, Clay Buchholz, and Jon Lester. All with the Red Sox, and all from 2001-2008.

He is one of only two men (Ed Vosberg is the other) to play in a Little League World Series, College World Series, and MLB World Series.

He also holds several Georgia Tech career records, including games played, runs scored, base hits, and doubles.

More importantly, Varitek officially holds the position as captain for the Red Sox—the title was bestowed upon him after the 2004 World Series. Only Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice have previously held this position, and both currently reside in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Getting to the point: Jason Varitek is getting old.

In his 13th year for the Red Sox, Varitek’s offensive numbers have long since begun to slide. A career-high .296 batting average in 2004 has dropped considerably since, including a miserable .233 this year. His home run production has remained in the teens since 2005, and his RBI totals have yet to reach 70 since the same season.

Varitek currently has a club option for next season for five million, and an option of his own for three million. However, if the Red Sox don’t exercise this option, I don’t see him returning.

Potentially starting next season at 38 years old, Jason Varitek is getting too old to play catcher. That comes as no surprise. And with the acquisition of Victor Martinez from the Indians last week, this could signal the end for Varitek’s career.

So the catcher position is likely already filled. But what will the Red Sox do about replacing their captain?

Only three years passed between Yastrzemski’s retirement and Rice’s promotion to captain. On the other hand, it took 15 years and the club’s first World Series in 86 years for Varitek to get the nod.

Let’s take a look at the likely candidates in the off-chance Boston wants to name a new captain immediately.

First, and foremost, the role should be given to Dustin Pedroia. A second baseman that hits for a high average (over .300 in all three of his full major league seasons so far), the 2007 Rookie of the Year, 2008 MVP, and a two-time All-Star, everything about Pedroia screams team leader.

Not to mention having a family man, who took a few games off to be with his wife (experiencing pregnancy complications), named as captain is great for public relations.

And in an era where new names surface almost on a daily basis of players who used performance-enhancing drugs, Pedroia has remained clean.

That’s the reason I won’t name David Ortiz as a possible captain in spite of his past leadership.

If the Red Sox opt to replace Varitek with a grittier, even tougher captain, Kevin Youkilis is their man.

Unlike Varitek, Youkilis has actually improved his batting average every year since 2004, his rookie year. He also holds the major league record for most consecutive error-less games at first base with 238.

Youkilis, like Pedroia, has PR on his side.

He formed Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids in 2007, which focuses on the health and safety of children in not only New England, but also his hometown of Cincinnati. He also works to raise awareness about childhood diabetes and youth suicide.

Youkilis, who comes from a Jewish background, also does work from within his religious community.

I don’t believe a pitcher will ever be captain of the Red Sox, mainly due to the fact that they aren’t everyday players. But to make things interesting, if any pitcher has a chance, it’s Jon Lester.

As much as I like Papelbon, Lester is the obvious choice. His story (being diagnosed with lymphoma during his rookie year of 2006, recovery and return to the majors the next year, winning the final game of the 2007 World Series, and throwing a no-hitter in 2008) is nothing short of remarkable.

It’s much more likely the role of captain will lie dormant for awhile after Varitek retires, but don’t be surprised if any of these three men carry the torch sometime in the future.