The Herald: If the Red Sox [ team stats] were entertaining thoughts that their efforts to re-sign free agent catcher Jason Varitek [ stats] were going to be easy, they learned otherwise yesterday. Agent Scott Boras told reporters that New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada’s four-year, $52.4 million deal, which was agreed to last offseason, will serve as a benchmark for any team looking to land Varitek. “It’s probably representative, age-wise,” Boras said, “and it’s also representative of what a player on a winning team (is worth). You’re not going to have many catchers who have the performance levels and a 60 percent winning percentage on a franchise and have won two world championships and caught four no-hitters. The idea of it is that there just aren’t many in the marketplace that can lead a club like Jason Varitek and that’s going to be his value.”

When Theo Epstein first heard Varitek was looking for a four year deal, he had to have thought it was a joke. I'll bet he even wrote it down in his diary: "Scott Boras had a very funny joke today" and laughed about it later that night. But they're serious? Really? Look, no one has had his lips more firmly air-locked on 'Tek's buttocks than I have. I'm on record as agreeing with every point Boras makes about the championships and the four no-hitters, none of which would've happened if the Sox had just some random Molina brother behind the plate. And I've said that even while Varitek's been getting annihilated for being a confirmed .220 hitter. But around Opening Day of next year he turns 37. Boras can't honestly think Theo is interested in being committed to a 41 year old catcher for any kind of money, much less $13 mil a year. I love how people get all intimidated by Boras like "Oooh, he's such a tough negotiator. He's not going to go for the hometown discount. The Sox will have to meet his demands, oooh..." Why? The best deal Boras can get is the best deal that's out there. Does anyone honestly think there's a team out there willing to cough up that kind of a deal for a guy who hits like he's swinging a souvenier novelty bat? If so, then more power to him. Thanks for everything Jason. But I say the Sox will the only team making a bid, they'll offer two years maximum, and if that's not good enough than Varitek and Boras can both piss up a rope. Heidi Watney will be sad about it, but there'll always be other players to seduce.