Varitek Has Good Reasons for Steep Decline

Much of the available evidence suggests that Jason Varitek is in sharp decline. But there is mitigating evidence, too.

Varitek, 36, filed for divorce on July 28 and dealt with previously unreported physical issues last season, according to his former Red Sox teammate, Curt Schilling.

"Jason would be the last, and likely never would, to make any excuses for the poor offensive year and a half he has had," Schilling wrote on his blog, 38pitches.com.

"I will tell you that what he had to endure physically and mentally absolutely impacted him in a negative way performance-wise. People don't know that he twice last year had a serious viral sickness. He was completely wiped out on two different occasions.

"Both times he lost significant weight and strength and he did so in the midst of playing. Back on the field in a time frame I would guess was not in his best health interest."

Schilling admittedly is biased in favor of Varitek. Scott Boras, Varitek's agent, also defends his client. But the Red Sox's approach to Varitek in free agency will provide a clear indication of whether the team believes that he can rebound.

Here's the problem: The impact of Varitek's defense and leadership is not measurable. Nor is the impact of his physical and emotional difficulties last season.

The best solution for the Red Sox is probably to sign Varitek to a two-year deal and trade for an eventual replacement, something they are actively trying to do.

Varitek was batting .290 on May 24; it's certainly possible that his failing marriage exacted a toll. He batted .188 after that date and .225 after the All-Star break in 2007 — neither an encouraging trend.

Boras, though, contends, "One bad offensive year at 36 doesn't mean he'll never hit again." As examples, the agent cites Bob Boone and Carlton Fisk.

Boone batted only .202 at 36, but hit .295 at 40. Fisk batted .230 from ages 36 to 38, but hit .293 at 41 and .285 at 42.

Of course, those two catchers were physical wonders. Chances are, Varitek's body will not prove as durable.

Still, the issue is hardly clear-cut. Some team in need of catching might value Varitek more than the Red Sox and risk signing him to a bigger deal.

Mrs. Griffey says, "Go for it, Ken!"

Don't worry about geography, Melissa Griffey told her husband, Ken Griffey, Jr. Sign with any team you'd like.

Griffey, a free agent for the first time, would prefer to join a club that trains or plays near his home in Orlando, Fla. But taking his cue from Melissa, he is more open-minded to other cities than in the past, according to his agent, Brian Goldberg.

"She's gone out of her way to tell Ken, 'Do what you want to do,''' Goldberg said. "She said, 'You're only going to play few more years. Since you have not won (a World Series), we want you, as a family, to do what gives you the best chance to play a lot or win a ring.'"

Griffey, who turns 39 on Friday, has sacrificed for his family, signing a nine-year contract with the Reds in 2000 in part to ensure stability for his children — Trey, 14; Tanya; 13; and Tevin, 6 — in his hometown of Cincinnati.

For years, he maintained that he would waive his no-trade clause only for a team such as the Braves or Astros; both train in the Orlando area and play in cities that are relatively short plane flights away.

But Griffey, who has never played in a World Series, consented to a trade to the White Sox last season and ended up in the postseason for the first time since 1997.

If joining a contender is again his priority, a return to Seattle seemingly would not to be at the top of his list of possibilities. Griffey, however, could rejoin his original team in 2010 or '11 to complete his career circle.

Now, about Griffey's knee ...

Tim Kremcheck, the Reds' orthopedic physician who performed arthroscopic surgery on Griffey's left knee in October, expects to see an improved Griffey in 2009.

Griffey had a .353 on-base percentage in 143 games with the Reds and White Sox last season, but finished with only 18 homers, including just three after joining the Sox on July 31.

His dropoff in power was attributable, in part, Kremchek said, to his weakened back leg.

"He gutted through this all last year," Kremchek said. "When he hit, he wasn't able to push off and twist. He had to use his upper body a lot more. Every time he would twist, he would feel a pop and pain in his knee."

The injury also affected Griffey's play in the outfield, particularly when he had to twist with his first step.

"He had to be careful," Kremchek said. "He had to think consciously when he was going to turn left and right rather than just do it instinctively. He was like a basketball player who can't play defense because he has to constantly think about where his feet are."

The prognosis?

"Over the next year or two, it's pretty good," Kremchek said. "Long-term, I can't answer that. He's got a beat-up knee. But certainly the prognosis next year is a heck of a lot better than it was last year."

The Peavy Chronicles, Chapter 614

The latest on right-hander Jake Peavy from Padres general manager Kevin Towers is this: No longer talking with the Braves. Not talking to the Dodgers. Not making much headway with the Cubs.

Peavy still could wind up with the Braves, but the two sides negotiated for more than a month without reaching an agreement.

What's more, Towers said that he was not certain Peavy would have waived his no-trade clause for the Braves, even though they are one of the team's on his preferred list.

"They've got a club policy that they don't offer 'no-trades,''' Towers said of the Braves. "That could have been a stumbling block. That's something Peavy probably would have wanted."

Peavy's contract includes a full no-trade clause through 2010, but only limited protection in '11 and '12.

Around the horn

The Yankees are not going to offer free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett a five-year contract — at least not initially, according to a major-league source. The team's initial offer is expected to be for four years, and probably will be in the range of $60 million. The Blue Jays have offered Burnett a four-year, $54 million deal.

No word yet on the Mariners' next manager, but two rival executives speculated on Monday that the team will choose Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills. Their reasoning: Mills, after working for the Sox, is well-schooled in statistical analysis, and the M's are forming an entire department devoted to sabermetrics. The department will be run by Tony Blengino, a longtime statistical analyst who came over from the Brewers with new GM Jack Zduriencik ...

The Cubs are trying to come to a resolution with free-agent right-hander Ryan Dempster within the next day or two. The two sides spoke again on Monday, but have yet to reach agreement on financial terms. The Cubs are willing to sign Dempster, 31, to a four-year contract. They plan to move on to other free agents if no deal is reached ...

More evidence that the White Sox will make a major play: The team has $92.185 million committed to 11 players for 2009, not including a raise for closer Bobby Jenks, who is eligible for arbitration for the first time. A trade of right-hander Javier Vazquez and/or a veteran hitter such as first baseman Paul Konerko would reduce that payroll number, leaving plenty of flexibility for a team that entered last season with a $121 million payroll ...

The Giants remain interested in right-hander Juan Cruz or another free-agent reliever even after awarding free-agent lefty Jeremy Affeldt a two-year, $8 million contract. Free-agent outfielder Pat Burrell also could attract the Giants' interest, but such a move would require the team to trade another outfielder, most likely Randy Winn. The Phillies gave Burrell parameters for a new contract. The Dodgers could be another possibility for Burrell if they lose Manny Ramirez ...

Don't be surprised if the Reds, after losing Affeldt, fail to re-sign David Weathers, another free-agent reliever. Weathers, according to friends, was upset that the Reds waited until late last week to make him an offer after club officials assured him in September that they wanted him back ...

And finally, the quote of the day comes from White Sox broadcaster Ed Farmer, who reasoned that free-agent left-hander CC Sabathia would not necessarily need to give up hitting if he accepted the Yankees' six-year $140 million offer. "He could buy his own batting cage," Farmer said. "He could buy his own reliever to pitch to him."

This article originally published on FOXSports.com.

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