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BOSTON — The Red Sox want Jason Varitek back. It might not be as a player, though.
Two days after signing former Ray Kelly Shoppach, giving Boston three catchers expected to be on the major-league roster, general manager Ben Cherington said the team is still talking to the veteran about remaining with the club "in some way."
"We have incredible respect for 'Tek," he said Thursday. "Our hope is that 'Tek will always be a part of the Red Sox in some way."
It has been assumed that when Varitek retires, he would become a coach.
"I've had discussions with them about 'Tek, but it's been about playing," Scott Boras, Varitek's agent, said.
Varitek, who turns 40 on April 11, has been with the Red Sox since 1997 and became their captain in 2005. Since they won their second World Series with him in 2007, he has hit .218 (.220 in 68 games last year).
Jarrod Saltalamacchia is expected to start with Ryan Lavarnway also expected to stay in the majors.
Bonds case: Barry Bonds, baseball's all-time home run leader who was convicted of giving evasive testimony to a federal grand jury probing steroids in sports, will be sentenced today. Guidelines recommend 15-21 months in prison. But Judge Susan Illston, who presided over Bonds' trial, has sentenced other athletes convicted of lying during the probe to probation and home confinement.
Red sox interview Rays coach: The Red Sox have interviewed Rays Triple-A pitching coach Neil Allen for their vacancy on new manager Bobby Valentine's staff, the Boston Herald reported.
Cardinals: Reliever J.C. Romero agreed to a one-year deal. The lefty, 35, went 1-0 with a 4.01 ERA in 36 games with the Phillies and Rockies in 2011.
Twins: Leftfielder Josh Willingham, 32, agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal. He hit .246 with a career-high 29 homers and 98 RBIs for Oakland in 2011.
Labor deal: Owners voted unanimously to ratify the five-year agreement that runs through 2016. The players union announced Dec. 1 that its executive board ratified the deal.
Draft: Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, retired players Tony Clark and Stan Javier, Kim Ng of the commissioner's office and Rick Shapiro of the players association were appointed to a committee to study the concept of an international draft. The committee was established in the new labor deal.
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