Color me tickled over the re-signing of Doug Mirabelli. He’s more than qualified to handle full time catching duties and is right now probably the best backup in all of baseball. He simultaneously constitutes a suitable backup option while providing leverage in the Jason Varitek negotiations. The Red Sox have already gone far enough with their latest four-year offer to Varitek and if holding their ground means starting Mirabelli, they ought to be prepared to grin and bear such a scenario. From here, I would turn my attention to the only remaining attractive free agent catcher not named Jason Varitek. That would be Greg Zaun, who hit right-handers to the tune of a .268/.380/.409 line with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2004 and could make up one half of a potent platoon. The hang-up here is that J.P. Ricciardi is going to offer Zaun arbitration and so any deal the Red Sox would be able to swing for him would entail the forfeiture of a 1st round draft pick. The Sox could make up for this by receiving a pick in exchange for one of their own free agents that walk. If Zaun accepts arbitration from the Jays, the Sox must then hope for Varitek or go with Sandy Martinez, who will only make $400,000.00 or so in 2005. I just don’t see another free agent option out there any more attractive on a per dollar basis than Martinez.