Report: Red Sox Sign Kelly Shoppach; Jason Varitek Out?

Red Sox Sign Shoppach; Varitek Out?

December 13, 2011 4:38 PM

Kelly Shoppach (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

BOSTON (CBS) – The Red Sox have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent catcher Kelly Shoppach, which could mean the end of Jason Varitek’s playing days in Boston.

The deal which was first reported by ESPN, gives the 31-year-old Shoppach a base salary of $1.35 million, plus performance bonuses.

Shoppach made $3 million last season with the Tampa Bay Rays.

He played in 87 games and hit just .176.

He joins Jarrod Saltalamacchia and top prospect Ryan Lavarnway as the team’s catchers.

The Red Sox drafted Shoppach in the second round of the 2001 draft and he was once thought to be Varitek’s successor-in-waiting.

He was traded to Cleveland in 2006 in the Coco Crisp deal.

Mark Scanlon

Captain bailed on the team during the fiasco.
Ed Keenan

BEST news of the Day…………BYE TEK
Joseph

I have enjoyed watching Varitek several yrs. and I hate to see him go, but it’s time. Thanks, you have been a great player and captain, think about coaching at some level, you’re still good for the game.
Matt

My favorite Red Sox player ever. Good luck JV.
sloopjohnB2

Glad to see him go. As a team captain, he was a joke. Showed NO leadership during beer/chicken fiasco. Next to go is Wakefield.
another senior statesman who showed zero leadership last september. They should have stood up and stopped chicken gate. Shame on them.