One more note about the Heidi Watney NESN report. She said both the Red Sox and Varitek were in the same position, saying they both had little option but each other.

Not true.

While no other teams seem interested in Varitek (at least at the current price, including a first-round draft pick), the Red Sox do have options.

There are talks of trades for Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Texas) or Miguel Montero (Arizona). But does Boston want to trade top prospects for catchers with promise. And is their game-calling ability up to "Varitek standards."

When Theo Epstein said he would be content going to spring training with the catchers he already has, many assumed he was bluffing (at least that was the conclusion I got from most of the sports writers I talked to at the Red Sox Rookie Camp last week).

But what if Epstein is not bluffing?

Here is what the Sox have:

Josh Bard, 30. Down year in 2008 (.202 in 57 games), but he was hurt. Bard batted .285 (.364 on-base percentage) in 118 games in 2007. He is certainly adequate.

George Kottaras, 25. Supposedly an offensive-minded catcher, he has not hit higher than .243 in three Triple-A seasons. His defense is said to be improving.

Dusty Brown, 26. Batted .290 in his first year in Triple-A in 2008. Excellent defensive catcher.

Kottaras got the nod over Brown when it came to a September call-up last year, but that is more because Kottaras is now out of options and must make the big league team this year or clear waivers, or be traded.

Also, while Brown and Kottaras do not have major league experience, they both apparently can call a good game. They have been in the Red Sox system long enough to know about game preparation.

The Red Sox do not tolerate catchers who do not devote their attention to game preparation and game-calling (which may explain why Kelly Shoppach is in Cleveland; Shoppach is an obvious talent, but he bumped heads with Varitek).

Here is another factor to consider: Both Brown and Kottaras have caught a knuckleball pitcher (Charlie Zink).

If the Red Sox do re-sign Varitek and keep Bard, who will catch Tim Wakefield? Neither has been successful with Wake before.

While it seems reasonable that the Red Sox will re-sign Varitek at a reasonable price ... what if they cannot find common ground?

Boston could go to camp with Bard, Kottaras and Brown.

Would it be a gamble? Yes.

But how much of a gamble would it be to give a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract to a catcher who batted .220 last year and will soon be 37.

It would be great to have Varitek back, but don't believe that the Red Sox do not already have options within their system.

p.s. Don't forget the catchers Boston have coming up. Mark Wagner will likely get a second-year in Double-A. Jon Still should be in Portland to begin 2008, and Luis Expsoito - perhaps the best of the bunch - should be in Portland at sometime this season.

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