Happy Arbitration Day (Decline, Jason, Decline)
We now enter one of the most crucial phases of the offseason for the Red Sox, as it is possible that they could secure as many as 4 first round draft picks for the 2009 amateur draft.
The Sox are expected to offer arbitration to Type A free agent Jason Varitek, and possibly Type B free agent Paul Byrd. In both cases, the team is hoping that the players decline, which would result in the Sox being awarded extra draft picks next June. A part of me feels dirty for desperately hoping that Jason Varitek, an iconic member of this franchise in the past decade, will leave town. But then I remember the insane demands of his agent (”Jorge Posada money”) in spite of his declining production and advanced age. And thus, it is my hope that another team gives the veteran catcher the multi-year deal he desires.
The list of past compensation draft picks is an illustrious one. It Includes names such as Jacoby Ellsbury, David Wright, and Joba Chamberlain. The Sox could walk away from this arbitration week with a handful of lottery tickets, the prize in this sweepstakes being a crop of players who might shape the league for years.
Bon voyage, Mr. Varitek.
NOTE: My apologies for the slow week, as my Thanksgiving food coma was a particularly long one (72 hours or so). We’ll finish up the prospect rankings this week, and delve into some free agent analysis.
If Tek declines(and it looks like he will), the probability of him remaining a member of the Sox is still quite high. The fact that the Sox offered him arbitration means other teams are less likely to sign him and lose a draft pick. I think if he does decline(and I hope he does), this will give the Sox great leverage in retaining Tek’s services for the next two years at about the same price he would have received with one year of arbitration.