By DAN BARBARISI, Journal Sports Writer
The Red Sox have made Jason Varitek's return official, formally announcing today that he has passed his physical and will return to the Red Sox in 2009.
The team agreed on a one- year, $5-million contract with Varitek last Friday, with a dual-option for 2010.
To make room for Varitek on the official roster, Jeff Bailey was sent to Triple-A Pawtucket. Technically, he became a free agent and then re-signed with Boston, inking a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training.
The official announcement ends a protracted offseason saga that saw Varitek and agent Scott Boras seeking big money initially, then coming to terms when it was clear they had misjudged the market.
Varitek, 37, is coming off a poor offensive season in which he batted .220 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI. But the Red Sox captain was also just finishing up a four-year contract that paid him $10 million annually, and he came out of the gate looking for a similar payday in free agency.
With a longer-term deal in mind, he rejected arbitration, which would have allowed a panel to decide his salary, and could have landed him a one-year deal at or close to the $10 million he was seeking. Once he decided against arbitration, any team that signed the free agent would have had to give up draft picks to the Red Sox, hurting Varitek's marketability.
With little serious interest, Varitek agreed last week to this deal, which pays him $5 million in 2009. In 2010, the deal provides a dual option, which gives both sides flexibility. If the Red Sox are happy with his performance, the team can bring him back at a cost of $5 million. If they do not want him, Varitek can still exercise his own option, and return to Boston for a guaranteed $3 million.
The Red Sox also have veteran catcher Josh Bard on the 40-man roster, as well as minor leaguers George Kottaras, Dusty Brown, and Mark Wagner. The team appears to see some long-term potential in Wagner, but has also spent the offseason trying to consummate a deal for a young catcher.
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