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Red Sox Sign Shoppach; Varitek Out?

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.

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