Speaking to The Providence Journal following his rehab appearance in Pawtucket, Varitek said he expects to come back for another season in 2011.
"I'm going to play," he told the Journal. "I'm excited. I'm doing some things as good or better than I ever have."
Though Varitek's been out since June 30 with a broken foot, he's stayed remarkably healthy for a catcher in his career. He broke his elbow in 2001, limiting him to just 51 games, and he tore knee cartilage in 2006, limiting him to 103 games. He averaged 136 games from 2002-05, and played in 131 games in '07 and '08 before transitioning into more of a backup in 2009.
This year in that backup role, he thrived early on, hitting .323 with four homers and eight RBIs in 10 games (seven starts) in April. He cooled down a bit in May and June, hitting a combined .234 with three homers and eight RBIs in 24 games (16 starts).
Last winter, Varitek and agent Scott Boras explored the market after the Red Sox declined their end of a mutual option. Varitek was left with the choice of accepting his end of the option — which would pay him $3 million in 2010 — or exploring free agency. After the market proved to be cold for a catcher in his late 30s, Varitek signed his player option, thereby making him a free agent in 2011.
Varitek has never played for any major league team other than the Red Sox after being traded to Boston by Seattle in 1997. His 1,473 games are the most by any catcher in a Red Sox uniform (Carlton Fisk is second at 987) and his 182 home runs are 30 more than Fisk.
He went 1-for-2 on Sunday, driving in a run on a sacrifice fly and throwing out a runner attempting to steal.
