Victor Martinez is coming back. Jason Varitek may or may not be.
Yep, it’s option season.
General manager Theo Epstein and the Red Sox front office got to work on contract matters this week. On Sunday, they voided shortstop Alex Gonzalez’s $6 million option for 2010 — though there was rampant speculation they’ll bring him back at a lower price.
The bigger shoes dropped yesterday, when Boston re-upped catcher Victor Martinez ($7.1 million for ’10), declined Jason Varitek’s option ($5 million for ’10) and rewarded knuckleballer Tim Wakefield with a two-year deal worth a total of $5 million.
Varitek still holds a $3 million player option for next season, and will likely remain with the Sox if he decides to execute it.
Speaking to the media at last week’s Champions for Children’s charity dinner, Epstein said the team prefers to wait as long as possible to make final decisions on option years.
Josh Beckett’s $12.1 million 2010 option was automatically vested with his 28th 2009 start.
