Here is a look at the situations surrounding players whose contracts are up:
Jason Varitek
The Captain was setting his sails for the sunset at this time last year before Boston brought him back for a one-year deal. He was instrumental in the development of Jarrod Saltalamacchia and, at 39, provided some good pop with 11 home runs in 68 games. With Ryan Lavarnway waiting in the wings as a potential partner to Saltalamacchia, this might be the time for Varitek to make what some feel is an inevitable march to the coaching ranks. If the Sox bring him back, however, the clubhouse gets an immediate boost.
Jonathan Papelbon
Talk about a contract year. Although not every number will suggest as much, this was about as good a season as Papelbon has ever had, and his year-by-year march through arbitration to free agency (a route not many big names have gone with the Red Sox) will pay off in a big way. Theo Epstein talked this week about how Papelbon took his game to a new level, and it had just as much to do with how he handled himself off the field and with the media as much as it did with everything else. However, the four wins, 31 saves in 34 chances, 0.93 WHIP and one heroic performance on the final weekend in New York certainly help.
David Ortiz
Again, talk about a contract year. Ortiz finished at .309 with 29 home runs and 96 RBIs. He also showed that one possible indication of decline — his plunging production against lefties — was no longer an issue, hitting .329 with a .989 OPS against southpaws. If that proves to the organization that he has two to three years left of solid production, then his return remains a possibility. Without him, there is a sizable hole to fill.
J.D. Drew
Drew returned for the final few games of the season, but that’s probably the last you will see from him, unless he is interested in a part-time role for much less money. If he is done, Drew hit .264 and made one All-Star team in his five years with the Sox, making $70 million in the process. He played in fewer than 75 percent of his team’s games during those five seasons.
Marco Scutaro
This is an intriguing one. The team has a $6 million option on Scutaro for 2012. He has a $3 million player option, and there is a $1.5 million buyout if the team doesn’t take him back. With Jose Iglesias still perhaps another year away, Scutaro might be a nice fit for 2012. He hit .299 this year, finishing with a September that saw him bat .387 with an amazing 21 RBIs.
Tim Wakefield
He got to 200 wins, but that might be it. Wakefield has provided plenty of value for a team that has needed extra starters the last two years, but if the rotation ever stays healthy he is left taking up a pretty valuable roster spot. A fixture in the organization for 18 seasons, Wakefield may still have some value if the club struggles to find enough pitching depth this offseason.
Erik Bedard
Acquired at the trade deadline, the lefty had a very minimal impact. However, given the dearth of starting pitching options within the organization, he will get some consideration by the front office.
Trever Miller
The lefty appeared in just three games down the stretch. He’ll be 39 in May.
Conor Jackson
Acquired to provide some right-handed pop and compete with Darnell McDonald for starts in right field, Jackson didn’t get on the field all that much. A collision with the wall in his very first start in right field knocked him out of action for a week. He hit just .158 in 12 games.
Options
Dan Wheeler
The club holds a $3 million option on Wheeler for 2012.
Arbitration eligibles
Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jed Lowrie, Daniel Bard, Alfredo Aceves, Franklin Morales, Rich Hill, Darnell McDonald, Mike Aviles, Matt Albers, Andrew Miller (also a club option of an unknown value).
