Boston Redsox、Veritek残留で来季骨格固まる

O Captain! My Captain! Varitek gets contract, 'C' on jersey

The Boston Red Sox appointed Varitek their third captain since 1923 after giving their longtime catcher a $40 million, four-year contract.

``We're not asking Jason to change at all by giving him that captaincy,'' Epstein explained. ``It's just a recognition of something everybody knows.''
Pitcher Tim Wakefield said he knows Varitek's value despite working almost exclusively with backup catcher Doug Mirabelli.
``He's really the glue that holds the whole team together,'' Wakefield said.
Varitek originally sought a five-year deal worth $55 million with a no-trade clause that would have guaranteed him the chance to stay in Boston until he was 37. But rather than seek all offers, he told agent Scott Boras to deal with the Red Sox first.
``Jason and (his wife) Karen told me specifically that my job is to sit down and talk with Theo,'' Boras said.
``I honestly couldn't see him playing in another city,'' Karen Varitek said. ``I just don't think he would fit anywhere else.''

2004年オフにFAとなるはずの大物4人のうち、ガルシアパーラはまず7月末に放出。オフにペドロ、ローとは契約せず、ベリテックのみとの契約となった。正解と思う。
これでボストンの来季骨格が固まった。
残留: Jason Varitek, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Curt Schilling, Bronson Arroyo, Alan Embree, Keith Foulke, Mike Timlin, Tim Wakefield, Doug Mirabelli, Bill Mueller, Mark Bellhorn, Doug Mientkiewicz, Johnny Damon, Kevin Millar, Trot Nixon
放出: Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Nomar Garciaparra, Dave Roberts, Orlando Cabrera, Gabe Kapler, Pokey Reese
新加入:Edgar Renteria, David Wells, Matt Clement, Wade Miller, John Halama, Matt Mantei, Jay Payton
先発は、ペドロとローの代わりにウェルズ、クレメント、ミラー(ブルペン兼用とシリング故障回復までのつなぎ)が加入。ブルペンはフォルクとエンブリーとティムリン残留で骨格は同じでハラマ、マンタイ加入。ベリテック残留で打線・内外野も安定。ショートのレンテリア獲得でガルシアパーラの穴は完全に埋まった。
今年に続き来季もボストンの体制はしっかり整い、ニューヨークとの死闘が予想される。