MLB.com and the Boston Globe report that Varitek received an offer from the Red Sox:
A baseball source tells The Boston Globe that the Red Sox have made a contract offer to the veteran catcher and team captain. Without citing specifics, the report states the proposal given to Varitek's agent, Scott Boras, may include a second guaranteed season.
The paper says the Red Sox "could ensure Varitek a second year by guaranteeing it outright or making it attainable through an option."
Either way, after nearly three months, there is movement in the negotiations.
The Globe reports that Varitek could guarantee the second year of a contract through "reachable incentives," such as games played or at-bats. Another scenario could have the player agree to a "dual option." That would give the team first choice to bring Varitek back (at a higher number) for 2010, and also provide the player to either accept or decline a second salary figure (at a lower number).
Meanwhile, KFFL claims that Varitek did, in fact, get a two year deal:
Updating previous reports, the Boston Red Sox have formally presented an offer to agent Scott Boras, who represents free-agent C Jason Varitek, that could include a second guaranteed season for his client, according to a baseball source. The value and length of the proposal was unclear, but the team could ensure a second year by either guaranteeing it outright or making it attainable through an option, according to Tony Massarotti of The Boston Globe.
I cant wait for the numbers... A two year deal anywhere at $14m or above would be a huge win for Boras and Varitek, though I am skeptical that the second year would be guaranteed and not an easily attainable option.