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Bench Warmer
The Red Sox were busy Monday, picking up catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez's $7.1 million team option, declining catcher Jason Varitek's $5 million team option, and tearing up pitcher Tim Wakefield's team option and replacing it with a two-year agreement.
The team also confirmed it was not picking up a $6 million option on Alex Gonzalez, which had been reported Sunday.
Wakefield's deal is worth $5 million over the two years: $3.5 million in 2010 and $1.5 million in 2011, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. It replaces a perpetual $4 million-per-season team option the Red Sox had on the knuckleballer.
Wakefield, who underwent back surgery in October after an injury-riddled season, currently has 175 career victories with the Red Sox, just 17 shy of the team record of 192 shared by Cy Young and Roger Clemens.
The Varitek move does not mean the captain's days in Boston are over. Varitek also has a $3 million player option for 2010, which he has to decide whether to pick up. The 37-year-old catcher hit just .209 last season and saw his playing time decline in the second half after the acquisition of Martinez.
Gonzalez also could be back, as the team likely will try to sign him at a lower salary. Gonzalez plugged a big hole at short for Boston after being acquired from Cincinnati in a waiver deal this August. He made just one error in 44 games with the Sox and provided unexpected help offensively, hitting .284 with five home runs.
The Martinez move certainly comes as no surprise, as general manager Theo Epstein at the end of the season all but declared Martinez his starting catcher for 2010. This is the final year of Martinez's contract.
The 30-year-old Martinez was dealt to the Red Sox at the trade deadline this past season, hitting .336 with eight homers and 41 RBIs in 56 games for Boston. Combined, he hit .303 with 23 homers and 108 RBIs in 2009.
The team also confirmed it was not picking up a $6 million option on Alex Gonzalez, which had been reported Sunday.
Wakefield's deal is worth $5 million over the two years: $3.5 million in 2010 and $1.5 million in 2011, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. It replaces a perpetual $4 million-per-season team option the Red Sox had on the knuckleballer.
Wakefield, who underwent back surgery in October after an injury-riddled season, currently has 175 career victories with the Red Sox, just 17 shy of the team record of 192 shared by Cy Young and Roger Clemens.
The Varitek move does not mean the captain's days in Boston are over. Varitek also has a $3 million player option for 2010, which he has to decide whether to pick up. The 37-year-old catcher hit just .209 last season and saw his playing time decline in the second half after the acquisition of Martinez.
Gonzalez also could be back, as the team likely will try to sign him at a lower salary. Gonzalez plugged a big hole at short for Boston after being acquired from Cincinnati in a waiver deal this August. He made just one error in 44 games with the Sox and provided unexpected help offensively, hitting .284 with five home runs.
The Martinez move certainly comes as no surprise, as general manager Theo Epstein at the end of the season all but declared Martinez his starting catcher for 2010. This is the final year of Martinez's contract.
The 30-year-old Martinez was dealt to the Red Sox at the trade deadline this past season, hitting .336 with eight homers and 41 RBIs in 56 games for Boston. Combined, he hit .303 with 23 homers and 108 RBIs in 2009.
