Former Red Sox catcher wants to manage in the big leagues
Former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek was a candidate for a managerial opening this past winter. The San Francisco Giants were interested in Varitek but ultimately hired Bob Melvin, after luring him away from the San Diego Padres.
The former Red Sox captain hopes that he can manage in the big leagues one day and understands that might mean leaving the organization.
“It was short but it was good,” Varitek said Friday night at the Pedro Martinez Foundation Gala. “It was a good conversation with (Giants president of baseball operations) Farhan (Zaidi).”
At the end of October, the New York Post’s Joel Sherman connected Varitek to the Giants after the club dismissed Gabe Kapler as skipper.
Varitek’s conversations with the Giants were brief and never truly advanced far with Zaidi.
The 51-year-old has been on Alex Cora’s staff the last three seasons serving as the game-planning coordinator.
“It’s great,” Varitek said. “I understand that’s the future of where this goes, being able to have right fits and right opportunities to lead and manage a team. Currently, it’s not necessarily about that. It’s about doing the best job that I can to provide with our pitchers and catchers and help them be the best that they can be. If those opportunities fit right, then you have to look and really think hard about it.”
Varitek will be back with Boston for 2024, partly due to his contract extension he signed this season.
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