Red Sox Rumors: Theo Epstein Compensation, Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield
By Editorial Staff
Entering the week, the Red Sox had a few odds and ends that needed to be taken care of before the club could focus on the 2012 season. One of said items was checked off the list when Tim Wakefield announced his decision to retire Friday evening. The Red Sox are left waiting on a another decision by another veteran player, Jason Varitek. Boston also has to reach an agreement with Chicago and Major League Baseball regarding the compensation for Cubs president Theo Epstein.
It appears that compensation talks are progressing, though reporters had only been using words such as ‘soon’ and ‘nearing’ when describing the timing of the pending decision.
Yesterday, Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com reported that a decision is expected in the coming week. Edes also shed light on the quality of the player that could be sent to Boston for Epstein.
According to a major league source, the Red Sox are insisting on “acquiring a prospect with a legitimate chance of making it to the big leagues as a contributor”. While Boston realizes this likely won’t be Josh Vitters or Brett Jackson, two of the Cubs top prospects, they do want a quality minor leaguer.
On the retirement-watch front, right-hander Tim Wakefield made his decision Friday. According to Wakefield’s agent Barry Mesiter, the veteran turned down four contract offers this winter, including one that was for a guaranteed major league deal. Mesiter added Wakefield made it clear that he was going to retire as a Red Sox one way or another.
Wakefield’s decision leaves the Red Sox waiting to hear from fellow veteran and former Red Sox captain Jason Varitek. The backstop hasn’t been as public about his pending decision as Wakefield, but we did get a shred of insight regarding the situation Friday evening. At Wakefield’s press conference, one of Varitek’s friends told Nick Carfado of the Boston Globe that Varitek is leaning toward retirement.
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