With Jarrod Saltalamacchia apparently in possession of the starting catching job, Kelly Shoppach on board as a right-handed-hitting complement, and Ryan Lavarnway waiting in the wings, the Red Sox would seem to have no need for Jason Varitek.
But Jon Heyman of CBSsports.com says that's not necessarily the case.
"I've heard that bring Varitek back again is a possibility," Heyman said Tuesday on 98.5 The Sports Hub's 'Gresh and Zo' Show, later adding: "It was widely assumed that he would not be coming back . . . I think they just like the idea of him in the clubhouse or around the team."
The question: With two big-league catchers on hand (Saltalamacchia and Shoppach), what would Varitek's role be? The Sox usually carry 12 pitchers, so would they waste one of their four position-player bench spots on someone who'd almost never play? Are his leadership skills so vast that it's worth going with, in essence, a 24-man roster?
Stay tuned.
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