Late Innings

…is now over, at least for the time being:

It took nearly three months, but the Boston Red Sox have reached agreement to bring back catcher Jason Varitek on a one-year, $5 million contract, pending a physical and the execution of final details, two major league sources said Friday.

The contract would include a 2010 club option for $5 million. If the Red Sox decline their option, Varitek would hold a player option for $3 million.

Granted there are more details here, but wow, there’s been so much attention over a player who had a lousy season in 2008. There weren’t too many other options available for Theo Epstein to pick from however, at least on the free agent catching market. He’ll need to start looking towards the future however, whether it be in the draft or via trade. Still for the time being the whole mess is done. Honestly I was hoping that the negotiations would have gotten more caustic, it makes good material. And then Scott Boras could as for a piece of the “stimulus package":

It’s all about job creation.