As WEEI’s own Rob Bradford reported on Sunday, the Boston Red Sox are expected to retain the vast majority of their coaching staff for 2026. One big name in need of a new contract, though, is Jason Varitek.
Varitek has held several roles in the organization since announcing his retirement as a player in 2012, and has been a uniformed member of the coaching staff since 2021. This past season his title was “game planning and run prevention coach.”
Varitek’s contract is now up, though. He joined The Greg Hill Show on Wednesday morning to address his future with the organization, revealing that he will actually be meeting with Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow later in the day Wednesday. Listen to the full interview above.
“Craig reached out this weekend for us to get together this week, and I think later today we'll have a conversation,” Varitek said.
“I mean, you have to see everything that goes on,” he added. “Have I been here for 28 years? Yes. 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. But we’ll have to see where it all lies.”
Varitek’s name has popped up in rumors for managing vacancies elsewhere as well, including the San Francisco Giants, a team he interviewed with in the past. Varitek said he’d like to remain in Boston, but also acknowledged he’ll look at those managing opportunities if they come his way.
“Yes,” he said when asked if he hopes to stay with the Red Sox. “There's a lot of opportunities out there as far as managing roles. 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.”
MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported on Monday that Varitek is “expected back” with the Red Sox, but also acknowledged there are lots of managerial openings that could change that.