I have had the good fortune to come in contact with a few of you over the last twenty four hours.  That is always a distinct pleasure.  It is good to see that you are able to find something of interest to deflect your attention from the sorry state of the current edition of your baseball team.

The news that ex-Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez had been suspended from Major League baseball as a result of failing a random drug test seemingly pumped new life into what has become a rather meek and troubled fan base.

Congrats.

There is this gleeful hope among you that this news will serve to undo what is such a painful period in your beloved team’s history.

“See? The Red Sawx cheated too,” you seem to be collectively shouting. “Now the World Series wins are tarnished!!!!”

Actually, very few Yankee fans use the word “tarnished,” because it is multi-syllabic but you get the idea.  I do admit that I admire your fighting spirit since you root for the American League version of the Washington Nationals.  That said, I am sorry to inform you that neither this new revelation, nor any that will follow will tarnish the World Series Championships won by the Red Sox in this decade.

You see, the sad reality of this baseball generation is that it will be forever tainted by Steroid use.   Performance Enhancing Drugs infiltrated the sport to such an extent, that no team should expect to have escaped the stigma of having juicers on their roster and no player should expect to escape suspicion of the authenticity of his statistics.   No one who enjoys the game of baseball likes this Steroid-induced cloud under which baseball finds itself but we all must accept that it has.

If and when the smoke clears and we have a more complete understanding as to just how many players used or are still using, it seems pretty certain that every franchise will have been implicated to some degree.

Your problem, dear Yankee fans, is that since 2004, you have become so fixated on the Red Sox that you simply cannot comprehend what is going on in the baseball world.  Thus, yesterday’s breaking news allowed you to rejoice in the fact that a former Red Sox player, and not a current or ex-Yankee had been implicated.

Perhaps, it might be useful to re-count the Yankees, past and present, who have been identified as having violated baseball’s policy on the use of PEDs: Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield and Kevin Brown.

Giambi, Pettite, Rodriguez and Sheffield were all members of that infamous 2004 Yankee team that will be forever remembered as having established a new low for choking in major league sports.  They have become the standard against which all post season collapses, in all sports, will forever be measured.

Given the aforementioned widespread use of PED since the mid 1990s, it is patently absurd to attempt to make a case that any of the World Series Championships are now somehow diminshed.  Yes, misery does, indeed, love company but you should take no joy in this.
Yesterday’s news painfully reminds all baseball fans that the gaping wound the players, and due to their complicity, the owners and player’s union, have opened in the fabric of the game will not soon heal.  It doesn’t, however, change history and no thinking person would attempt to build the case that any one team benefited or was harmed more than any other team.

The World Series Championships of 2004 and 2007 mean as much to Red Sox fans today as they did early Thursday morning.  Sadly, Yankee fans, there is no Time Machine in which you can travel back and revise history.  It is, what is.

How ironic that history, once your biggest ally (“1918!!”) now haunts you to such a debilitating degree.

According to MLB.com, the Yankees and Red Sox series this weekend “provided countless forms of excitement for their fans”.

There was a walk-off win on Friday night despite a two-run deficit with two outs in the ninth, a slugfest victory on Saturday to overcome a six-run deficit and finally a 4-1 triumph on Sunday that included an electrifying straight steal of home by Jacoby Ellsbury.

No only did the Red Sox sweep the Yanks this weekend, they extended their winning streak to 10 games.

Dustin Pedroia called it a fantastic weekend for the team, but acknowledged that he plans on seeing the Yanks in the end!

The World Series hangover just might have snapped this weekend, as Phillies swept “the Fish”  to boost the teams record over the .500 mark for the first time this season. Jamie Moyer capped out the series allowing only 1 run in 6 innings, as Phillies cruised to a 13-2 victory on Sunday.

MLB.com reports that the Phillies had little quality pitching before the weekend. They were 6-8 and carried a 6.31 ERA into the series, the worst mark in the NL. They had just four quality starts, the fewest in baseball.

Charlie Manual is optimistic that the Phils have busted out of the early season defensive slump.

Phillies fans can also expect Cole Hamels back on the mound this week.

Penny, who was signed as a free agent during the offseason, made his third Spring Training start on April 2nd against the Twins, throwing 79 pitches (49 for strikes) and allowed three runs on five hits.

According to Adam Kilgore’s Extra Bases blog on Boston.com, (http://www.boston.com/), felt better on the mound than he did at any point last season.

Penny told Kilgore that he never reached 90 mph last season but reached 96 mph on one pitch versus the Twins.

The Red Sox enter the season with as deep a starting rotation as there is in major league baseball. Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield will join Penny in the rotation with John Smoltz expected to return from rehab in early June.

As if that isn’t enough, top pitching prospect Clay Buchholz had a tremendous Spring but was demoted to AAA Pawtucket to begin the season.

Key Subtractions:  RHP Mike Timlin (free agent, unsigned), 1B Sean Casey (retired), RHP Paul Byrd (free agent, unsigned), RHP Curt Schilling (retired), C Kevin Cash (free agent, signed with the Yankees), OF Coco Crisp (traded to Royals), SS Alex Cora (free agent, signed with Mets).

A look at the lineup:

The Red Sox front office spent the first few months of the off season in hot pursuit of Free Agent 1B Mark Teixeira.  Ultimately, long time nemesis, Uber Agent Scott Boras orchestrated a mega deal for Teixeira with the AL East rival New York Yankees.

Surprisingly, to some at least, the Red Sox did not pursue other high profile offensive free agents such as Adam Dunn. Instead the Theo Epstein and company decided to gamble on the return to health of David Ortiz and Mike Lowell and the continued improvement of young stars Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis.

Time will tell if the Sox were being pound wise or penny foolish.

Catcher:  After a prolonged contract negotiation, free agent catcher and team captain Jason Varitek re-signed with the Red Sox.  There are many Red Sox fans who believe that was not exactly a positive development as Varitek (.220 BA, 13 HR, 43 RBI .672 OPS) suffered through a terrible year at the plate.  Long considered one of the best handlers of a pitching staff, Varitek’s defensive skill can no longer offset his weak hitting.

At this writing, prospect George Kottaras (.243 BA, 22 HR, 65 RBI at AAA Pawtucket) is slated to backup Varitek as well as serving as knuckleballer Tim Wakefield’s personal catcher.  It would not surprise anyone if the Red Sox traded for a young catcher, if Kottaras cannot convince the team quickly, that he is the catcher of the future.

First Base:  After losing out on Teixeira, the front office and fans could console themselves with the knowledge that rising star Kevin Youkilis will be playing the position.  Youkilis (.312 BA, 29 HR, 115 RBI) finished third in the AL MVP race and played stellar defense.  Had the Sox landed Teixeira, Youkilis would likely have moved back to his natural 3B position but given how well he fielded the position last season before Mike Lowell’s injury forced him back to third, Manager Terry Francona would like to see Youk stay on the left side of the infield for the entire season.

Last year’s regular season backup 1B Sean Casey has retired but Mark Kotsay is due back from off season surgery in early May.  Kotsay played a surprisingly crisp defensive 1B during last season’s post season and will likely be the main backup at 1B.

Second Base: Back in early May of 2007, then-rookie 2B Dustin Pedroia’s batting average was hovering around the .150 mark.  It’s hard to believe that a player could make the trek from being a prime candidate for demotion to 2007 AL Rookie of the Year to 2008 AL MVP but that is precisely what Pedroia did.   The diminutive but scrappy 2B put up an impressive array of offensive stats including a .326 BA, a surprising 17 HR and 83 RBI.   Given Pedroia’s competitive disposition and quest to prove wrong, anyone who ever had a disparaging word to say about him, one can imagine he continue to improve.

No slouch in the field, Dustin was named as AL Gold Glove winner at 2B. The backup situation is muddled by the injury to SS Julio Lugo.  It was thought that Jed Lowrie (.248/2 HR/ 46 RBI) would fill the utility role freed up by the departure of Alex Cora but he will now open the season in the starting SS role. Veteran utility IF Nick Green is the likeliest candidate to fill the utility role until Lugo’s return.

Shortstop:  There was an interesting battle brewing in Spring Training for the starting SS role, until Lugo suffered a knee injury and had to undergo surgery.  Now it seems certain that Lowrie will be the opening day SS.  Even when he returns in late April, Lugo is not assured of winning back the starting job based on his lackluster offensive performance (.268/1 HR/22 RBI) in 2008.

Third Base:  Losing starting 3B Mike Lowell to a season ending hip injury at mid season stripped the Red Sox of one of their leading offensive run producers and also a steady, if unspectacular defensive 3B.  Following off season surgery, Lowell was held out of exhibition games until late March.  Reports have been positive and the Red Sox seem cautiously optimistic about Lowell’s health for the 2009 season.  Even with his injury, Lowell managed to crank out 17 HRs and 73 RBIs last season.

Lowrie and Youkilis can each play 3B should Lowell need a rest from time to time or suffer another injury.

Left Field:  Jason Bay (.286/ 31 HR/ 101 RBI) filled in admirably for one of the greatest hitters of his time, Manny Ramirez following Ramirez’ shameful exit from Boston at last season’s trading deadline.  Despite the acrimony at the end of his Red Sox career, Manny is still loved by a segment of Red Sox fans.  A slow start on Bay’s part may result in him being the target of the fans’ disappointment at the loss of Manny.

Center Field:  Rookie CF Jacoby Ellsbury’s offensive numbers (.280/ 9 HR/ 47 RBI) weren’t bad for his first full MLB season.  Yet, there was a general sense that Ellsbury’s performance was disappointing, especially following his hot post season performance in 2007.  The Red Sox would like Ellsbury to hit the ball on the ground more and improve on his .336 OBP.  At some point, Ellsbury is going to have to accept that he is more leadoff batter than he is a #3 hitter.

Right Field: The ever-fragile JD Drew started only 109 games in 2008 due to injury (is anyone surprised?) and continues to be one of the more maddening players in MLB.  When he is on the field the guy is a prolific hitter ( as his .927 OPS will attest) but he just has never been able to remain healthy for an entire season.

With the uncertainty surrounding the health Lowell and David Ortiz, the Sox need a healthy Drew in RF for 140-150 games.  Things don’t look good in that regard since Drew has been complaining of back stiffness since he beginning of Spring Training.  Free Agent OF and Rhode Island native , Rocco Baldelli will back up all three of the OF spots.  Baldelli has not exactly been the picture of health over the past few season but received a positive diagnosis of his past medical issues, having been found to be suffering from Channelopathy.  The good news is that his doctors feel that the disease is controllable with medication and Baldelli hopes to see much more action in 2009 than he did in 2008.

Designated Hitter:  David Ortiz battled the injury bug as well in 2008, as a wrist injury sidelined him for seven weeks and continued to affect his swing once he returned.  Ortiz is still the key component to the Red Sox offense, especially with Ramirez off enjoying the sunshine in Manny-wood.   With a healthy, more fit Ortiz (he was clearly overweight last season but came to this Spring Training looking as if he spent his off season with Richard Simmons and Jared from Subway) prospects for a return to Ortiz’ pre 2008 numbers seem bright.

It’s as simple as this.  With a healthy Ortiz, the Red Sox batting order is murder on opposing pitching staffs.  Without him, they are a gritty group who will battle the opposing pitcher on every AB, but one that will not be nearly as intimidating as the 2004-2007 lineups that were among the best in MLB.

A look at the pitching:

Starters: Staff Ace Josh Beckett was not able to replicate his dominating 2007 performance in 2008.  Reportedly, Beckett was not in the best of condition when he reported to Fort Myers last February and got off on the wrong foot.  His stats (12-10, 4.03 ERA, 172 Ks and 1.19 WHIP) were not all that bad but he struggled through many of his starts and just was not as sharp as he was in 2007.

Beckett suffered elbow and back injuries last season which contributed to his drop off in performance.  All indications are that the big Texan is in excellent shape this year and has looked much more like his 2007 self this spring.

Daisuke Matsuzaka’s pitching line for 2008 is a study in contradictions, as were many of his starts.  “Dice-K,” finished with an impressive 18-2 record and a 2.90 ERA.  Cy Young stuff, right?  Not so fast.  Matsuzaka tends to run up his pitch counts early in the game and is prone to streaks of wildness (his 1.67 WHIP is testament to that) and seemed to be constantly pitching his way out of bases loaded jams.  It’s hard to argue with an 18 win season but Matsuzaka must learn to pound the strike zone with more frequency if he is going to join the ranks of elite MLB starting pitchers.  That said, most MLB teams would gladly slot Matsuzaka in the #2 slot in the rotation.

Jon Lester: One of the most inspiring sports stories to come along in some time, last season, Lester went from being best known as a cancer survivor to one of the best left handed starters in all of MLB.  Lester (16-6, 3.21 ERA, 152 Ks) put to rest any doubts that may have existed regarding his stamina as he pitched a career high 210 1/3 innings in 2008.  He was the team’s most consistent starting pitcher throughout last season.

Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (10-11, 4.13 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) continues to be an effective back of the rotation starter at the age of 42.  Despite a few nagging injuries over the past two seasons, Wake can be counted on to give the team 180+ innings.

The dentity of the fifth starter in the rotation is a bit uncertain at this writing.  The Red Sox signed Brad Penny and John Smoltz, both of whom are coming off 2008 seasons lost to injury, as potential 4th or 5th starters.  Smoltz was signed with the understanding that he would not be available until early June.  It was hoped that Penny would be ready for duty early in the season.

Penny made his first Spring Training appearance at the end of March, pitched well and may be on target for a start on April 12th, the first day the Red Sox will require the service of a fifth starter.  Smoltz is just beginning to throw bullpen sessions and is, as expected a couple of months away from joining the team.

Also in the picture is Clay Buchholz, a top pitching prospect who spent most of last season in AAA after a frighteningly ineffective (2-9, 6.72 ERA, 1.76 WHIP) early season performance with the big club.  After an off season in which he was rumored to be on the block as the Red Sox reportedly discussed a trade for one of the Texas Rangers young catchers, Buchholz has bounced back nicely and this looks very much like the pitcher who threw a no hitter in one of his first MLB starts in 2007.

The Red Sox, to date, have been unwilling to give up on Buchholz’ considerable potential.   That could change, especially if Varitek starts slowly, prompting the Sox to re-open discussions with Texas. The Rangers will likely demand Buchholz in return for one of the team’s young catching prospects.

To further complicate the starting rotation picture, second year pitcher Justin Masterson, thought to be targeted for a bullpen role again this season, has pitched well enough to remain in contention for a starting spot.

All of this may cause the Red Sox coaching staff to suffer a few sleepless nights but one would imagine the rest of MLB would have little sympathy for the Sox since few other teams count a pitching surplus among their problem areas.

Bullpen:  The Red Sox have, on paper, one of, if not the deepest bullpens in all of baseball.

Jonathan Papelbon has been money during his three seasons as the Red Sox closer.  Last season he was as dominating as ever (41 Saves, 0.95 WHIP) throughout most of the year but he seemed less effective late in the season and in the post season.  Papelbon admitted during the off season that he had next-to-nothing left in his tank at the end of the season.  Francona and pitching coach John Farrell are going to have to be mindful of scaling back Papelbon’s innings in 2009 if they want to avoid a breakdown.

With that in mind, The Sox signed Free Agent relief pitcher, ex-Dodger Takashi Saito.  The Japanese import notched 81 saves in his three year stint as closer in Los Angeles but suffered a season ending elbow injury in 2008.  Saito has looked sharp in his Spring Training appearances thus far in 2008 and may very well afford Francona the luxury of reducing Papelbon’s workload.  Saito will also serve as the RH setup man.

Hideki Okajima (2.61 ERA, 23 Holds, 1.16 WHIP) continued to be a valuable left handed set up man last season and figures to remain in that role in 2008.  Fellow left hander, Javier Lopez (2.43 ERA, 10 Holds, 1.35 WHIP) may find himself in a battle for a roster spot.

Boston added yet another dependable arm to the pen in the offseason when they traded OF Coco Crisp to the Kansas City Royals for Ramon Ramirez (2.64 ERA, 21 Holds, 1.23 WHIP).  Ramirez is expected to provide middle relief along with Boston native, Manny Delcarmen.

Masterson will likely return to the bullpen, making this one of the deepest MLB relief corps in recent memory.

Outlook:  The Red Sox enter 2009 as the favorite to win the American League East.  The pitching staff is the deepest in MLB and the offense, even with the injury/age related concerns regarding Lowell and Ortiz, is still one of the best in baseball.

The bad news for the rest of the American League is that, with all the young talent that has already made its way to Fenway Park from the farm system, there is more on the way.  It is very likely that top prospect 1B Lars Anderson (Baseball America’s #17th ranked MLB Prospect) and SP Michael Bowden (1-0, 3.60 ERA with Red Sox in 2008) will make it to the big club before the season draws to an end.

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Prediction: The Prediction here is that the Red Sox win the AL East after a season long, three way battle with the Yankees and Rays.  As much as the Yankees have improved themselves with their free agent signings and as much young talent on Tampa’s roster, the Red Sox pitching is too deep and the batting order still too dangerous.

I see a 95-67 regular season record for the Red Sox who must be considered among a handful of favorites to win the 2009 World Series.

The previews will include; Key Additions, Key Subtractions, and in-depth looks at the lineup and pitching rotations.  We will also be including a season outlook along with predictions of what we expect from each organization.

Please feel free to comment and share these fantastic articles written by our finest authors at RBI Magazine. As each preview is posted, a link will be provided below. You will also be able to view each preview from our homepage.

Atlanta Braves Season Preview

Seattle Mariners Season Preview

Oakland A’s Season Preview

The Rays went on to defeat the defending World Series Champion Red Sox in a seven game ALCS battle before their magic carpet ride of a season ended in a World Series defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Rays, with a year of post season experience under their belts, on paper, seemed to have improved themselves. The Yankees have reloaded in a way that must have made Old Man Steinbrenner proud. The Red Sox added depth to what was already among the best pitching staffs in Major League Baseball.

The stage is set for a three way, Steel Cage Death Match, to decide the 2009 AL East Champion.

Any discussion of an AL East race must begin with the Yankees as their off season moves made it very clear they intend to be the team to beat. They beefed up both their already potent offense and, what was a thin starting pitching staff, as well.

It’s almost seems unfair to plunk Mark Teixeira in the middle of a lineup that already features Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. Teixeira is an OBP machine who, like most of the Yankee batters, battles on each and every at bat. Opposition pitch counts are going to pile up quickly this season.

Teixeira may have as big an impact defensively as he will at the plate. He is an exceptional fielder and will have a positive effect on a Yankee infield that has been erratic defensively.

The Yankees’ lack of post season success over the past few years was due, in part, to the lack of a true Ace at the top of the rotation. Chien-Ming Wang has been a very good regular season starter but his post season struggles have been a source of disappointment for Yankee management and fans.

That all changed with the signing of C.C. Sabathia. The big, lefthander is a horse. Manager Joe Girardi enters this season, unlike last year, confident that his ace matches up very well against the other #1 starters in MLB.

The Yankees also added AJ Burnett but, while he has great stuff, Burnett has demonstrated an inability to stay healthy on a consistent basis. One thing the Yankees do not need is Carl Pavano, the Sequel. That said, there is no doubt that the pitching staff taking the mound in the Bronx in 2009 is far superior to the 2008 edition. And let us not forget, they have Joba Chamberlain and the great Mariano Rivera in the bullpen.

The biggest question surrounding the Yankees this season is the progressively more volatile situation surrounding the admitted (well sort of) steroid use of Alex Rodriguez. Following a press conference in Tampa during the first week of Spring Training, it seemed that the controversy might be somewhat diffused. Subsequently, each day seemed to bring to light information that rendered Arod’s public apology more than a bit hollow.

New York teams, especially the Yankees, are used to being in the glare of the media spotlight. Should ARod’s explanation continue to unravel, the negative fallout would be tremendous, even by New York standards.

In a much more serene setting to the South, the nucleus of young talent that propelled Tampa Bay to its improbable march to an AL Championship, is returning in 2009. This year, the Rays are a year wiser and brimming with the confidence gained by hanging on to defeat the Red Sox in the ALCS.

What should put fear in AL East rivals is the knowledge that the Rays should have an improved batting lineup this season. Carl Crawford, once the team’s best player, was hampered last season by hamstring problems and had a sub par offensive season as a result. He is expected back at full strength.

Rookie of the Year 3B Evan Longoria who began last season in the minors will have a full season to improve on his impressive rookie numbers. Often times, during a young player’s second season, MLB pitchers will find and begin to exploit holes in their swing. While that is always a possibility, I don’t think rival managers are holding their collective breath in anticipation of Longoria suffering from the Sophomore Jinx.

The Rays also added another big stick to their lineup when they signed free agent Pat Burrell. The ex-Phillies’ slugger is slated to DH and will provide needed power to the Tampa offense.

Rookie pitcher, David Price, who rocketed through the Tampa Bay minor league system before a September call up to the majors, will likely be slotted at the end of the starting rotation. It won’t be long, based on his post season performance, before he takes his place at the top of the Rays’ rotation. In the meantime, James Shields, Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza will man the top of Tampa’s staff.

Rays’ Manager Joe Maddon masterfully guided his young charges last season as his unusually laid back approach served to keep his team relaxed and seemingly unfazed by the pressure of playing in big games; most for the first time in their careers.

This season, Maddon’s biggest challenge will be to keep the team from reading, and believing, its press clippings. It is not unusual for a young team to suffer a drop in performance following the first taste of success. Maddon will need to ensure the team doesn’t experience an early season hangover from Banquet Circuit following last season’s Cinderella ride.

The Boston Red Sox, with the notable exception of their pursuit of Teixeira, took a decidedly relaxed approach to this off season. The investment they have made in rebuilding their minor league system has been bearing fruit over the past couple of years which allowed the Sox to be discriminating in the pursuit of high priced free agents.

Farm system products Dustin Pedroia (reigning AL MVP), Kevin Youkilis (runner up to Pedroia in MVP voting), Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jed Lowrie all played pivotal roles in last year’s team and they are the core of the franchise moving forward. The good news for Red Sox fans is that youngsters such as pitcher Michael Bowden and 1B Lars Anderson are no more than a season away from challenging for a spot on the Major League roster.

While Boston did not make a big ticket free agent purchase, they did sign veteran starting pitchers John Smoltz, and Brad Penny as well as ex-Dodger closer Takashi Saito. All three experienced injury plagued 2008 seasons but are expected to contribute for Boston this season.

Smoltz, in particular, could be a valuable addition once he completes his rehab and joins the team, reportedly in May. Should Smoltz regain some semblance of his past form, he would slide comfortably into the “big game,” pitcher role occupied by Curt Schilling since 2004.

Saito and Penny are also slated to become important components of a very deep pitching staff. Saito could help offload some of the innings absorbed by Jonathan Papelbon, who admitted he was breaking down due to overuse at the end of last season.

While the Red Sox have a very productive lineup, it remains to be seen just how badly they will miss Manny Ramirez. The enigmatic left fielder’s production will not be matched by his replacement, Jason Bay, who, despite being a solid major league power hitter, will not rival the numbers put up by Ramirez during his time in Boston.

Time will tell whether the upgrade Bay brings in terms of defense and emotional stability can offset the shortfall in offensive statistics.

The Toronto Blue Jays had been the dark horse pick to challenge the dominance enjoyed by the Red Sox and Yankees over the past couple of years but were never quite able to crash the post season party.

While the Jays do have some talented players such as ace starting pitcher Roy Halladay, OFs Alex Rios, Vernon Wells and hot prospect Travis Snider, they have not improved significantly from 2008. Losing Burnett to the Yankees created a hole in the starting rotation and it’s unclear who is going to fill it.

The Orioles have been in a decade long rebuilding process and the once proud franchise has become one of MLB’s more inept organizations. Orioles fans have grown increasingly frustrated as highly touted prospects reach the major leagues only to be dealt in order to avoid having to sign them to long term contracts.

This past off season, the Orioles stepped up to sign young star OF Nick Markakis to a six year contract, perhaps signaling a willingness to pay the price required to keep young talent on which to build the foundation for a successful franchise.

The Markakis signing combined with the expected arrival of top MLB prospect, catcher Matt Wieters to the major league club could serve to give long suffering Orioles’fans some hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The AL East race could very well remain unresolved until the final weeks of the season as the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays slug it out until the final bell. The prediction here is that the Red Sox hang on to repeat as Divisional Champs while the Yankees return to the post season as the Wildcard team.

Photos From Keith Alison- Flickr.

The news comes after months of negotiations between Varitek and Red Sox officials. Varitek filed for free agency back on October 31st, 2008 almost three months ago.

It appears as though no specific time was set by either side, however it was made apparent that the Red Sox  wanted an answer by today’s end. Boston.com has reported that the Red Sox actually sent Varitek and his agent a letter via registered mail, serving him with an ultimatum.

An official announcement is expected to be made after Varitek undergoes a physical abiding to Red Sox policies.

Many fans and players including Curt Schilling had hoped for the catcher to return to his home behind the plate despite his lower-than-usual offensive numbers last season.

Jason Varitek was a Type A free agent who rejected the Red Sox’ arbitration offer earlier this offseason. He started 120 games for the Red Sox in 2008, his lowest number of career starts recorded – except in 2006 when injuries played a role.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Varitek has until 11:30 A.M. EST today to make his final decision. However, ESPN’s Jayson Stark just reported at 11:40 A.M. EST. that the 11:30 deadline (which has now passed) was nothing but a “media creation”.

It has also been said that Varitek is seriously considering sitting out the 2009 season or just hanging up the spikes on his career. Either way a decision is expected to come very soon!

The Red Sox have offered the catcher a 1-year $5MM contract that still remains on the table.

Jason Varitek is a Type A free agent who rejected the Red Sox’ arbitration offer earlier this offseason. He started 120 games for the Red Sox in 2008, his lowest number of career starts recorded – except in 2006 when injuries played a role.

Pitchers and catchers are due to report to Spring Training on Feb. 12.

Developing Story…..

After previous reports were made about the Red Sox making a formal offer to Jason Varitek that supposedly included a deadline, we now know that the former Boston catcher has until Saturday to accept or reject that particular offer. According to the Boston Herald the Red Sox have set a Saturday deadline for Varitek to come to terms on a one-year, $5MM offer. The deal would include a second year with options in 2010.

Varitek is a Type A free agent who rejected the Red Sox’ arbitration offer earlier this offseason. He started 120 games for the Red Sox in 2008, his lowest number of career starts recorded – except in 2006 when injuries played a role.

Varitek and the Red Sox organization have been speaking about his possible return since early November. Even though Varitek will most likely accept an offer as no other teams are currently labeled as suitors-most Red Sox fans are hoping that “tek” will ink his way behind the plate for 2009.