Boston Red Sox
“I’ve been here 28 years and loved the people that I worked for, especially our manager.”
The Boston Red Sox is all that Jason Varitek has known for nearly 30 years.
The longtime catcher and current coach on Alex Cora’s staff isn’t leaving any time soon.
While Varitek’s contract as the team’s game-planning and run prevention coach expired at the end of the 2025 season, the two-time World Series champion confirmed on Saturday that he has signed a new contract and will remain in Boston moving forward.
“I think the confirmation is more than anything,” Varitek said of signing a new deal while speaking to reporters at the Pedro Martinez Foundation’s annual gala at Raffles Boston. “I mean, we have a great group of guys with great leadership, starting from [Cora] on down through the rest of us. Having an opportunity to still grow with these guys is pretty awesome.”
Varitek, who played 15 seasons with the Red Sox from 1997-2011, has served a variety of roles with Boston since hanging up his spikes. After working as a baseball operations staffer and catching instructor from 2012-20, he has been in Cora’s dugout as a coach for the last five seasons.
Speaking on WEEI last month, Varitek did express some uncertainty over his future in Boston, especially if other managerial openings presented themselves.
“You have to see everything that goes on. Have I dumped everything I’ve had to make this organization better? And the people that you mentor, coach, and be a part of? Yes. Do I want to continue to do that? Yes,” Varitek said on “The Greg Hill Show.” “But I have to see where it all lies.”
“There’s a lot of opportunities out there as far as managing roles,” Varitek added. “We’ll see if any of that transpires. But yeah, of course. I’ve grown here with my Red Sox blood, and I bleed red, but you’ll have to see what happens.”
Ultimately, Varitek opted to return with the Red Sox, where he has served as valuable resource to Boston’s catching corps and pitchers.
“Happened to be a lot of openings, a lot of different things, and nothing transpired,” Varitek said. “I’ve been here 28 years and loved the people that I worked for, especially our manager.”
Beyond his familiarity with Boston, Varitek acknowledged that rejoining the Red Sox was also an easy choice given the upside already present on the roster.
While most of the discourse regarding Boston’s future is rooted in Roman Anthony’s potential, Boston had several other rookies step up in 2025, including catcher Carlos Narvaez.
“I mean you start with a horse with [Garrett Crochet]. … Narvy had a tremendous first year and did an extremely good job. We have to keep growing,” Varitek said. “We had a lot of youth come up and contribute, but it also had some bumps. We have to continue to be healthy. We had some guys who had some awesome years.”
Narvaez in particular is poised to step into a key role as Boston’s go-to backstop. In his first full MLB season, Narvaez batted .241 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI. A Gold Glove finalist, Narvaez led all MLB catchers by throwing out 32 potential base stealers in 2025.
“I think it’s just his aura,” Varitek said of what stands out with Narvaez. “I mean, he’s got a great work ethic, but his presence, his ability to smile, have fun and be a really good player. He’s just he’s fun. We can joke around, throw balls at me in the middle of doing something, and be real serious too. So we kind of hit both of those.”
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