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Red Sox decline arbitration on Varitek

Boston Red Sox pitcher Jonathan Papelbon and catcher Jason Varitek celebrate their 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in game six of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on October 18, 2008. (UPI Photo/David Mills)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Jonathan Papelbon and catcher Jason Varitek celebrate their 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in game six of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on October 18, 2008. (UPI Photo/David Mills) | License Photo

BOSTON, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- The Boston Red Sox said Tuesday they have declined to offer salary arbitration to their longtime captain, catcher Jason Varitek.

The team retains the rights to negotiate with Varitek, but by not offering arbitration to the Type B free agent, they won't receive a high draft pick if he opts to join another team, ESPN reported.

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If the team had offered arbitration to the 38-year-old backstop, who has been with the Red Sox since 1997, he would have been all but assured a raise on the $3 million salary he received in 2010.

Instead, he may be re-signed at a lower salary to act as a backup and mentor to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who is the heir apparent to the Red Sox catching job now that Victor Martinez seems poised to sign a lucrative free agent deal with the Detroit Tigers, ESPN said.

The Red Sox also announced, as expected, they have offered salary arbitration to Type A free agents Martinez and Adrian Beltre, assuring they will get draft pick compensation should they leave.

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