The Captain is coming back.
Just one day after the Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly expressed interest in the free agent catcher, Jason Varitek is now "close to returning" to the Boston Red Sox, tweets Peter Gammons.
Gammons says it's a one-year deal worth $2 million, with $300,000 available in incentives. Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman is also confirming the deal.
If the deal goes through, 2011 will be Varitek's 15th season with the Red Sox since coming over in a trade from the Seattle Mariners as a minor leaguer.
Varitek played just 39 games in 2010, missing time with a broken foot when he wasn't backing up starter Victor Martinez. He signed a one-year deal with Boston for the 2009 season for $5 million. But when the Red Sox lost Martinez in November -- he signed with the Detroit Tigers as a free agent -- bringing back Varitek became a sudden point of interest.
Additionally, as Gammons points out, Varitek will be valuable as a mentor and instructor for Boston's young catchers on its roster, including expected starter Jared Saltamachia