The Red Sox named Jason Varitek as special assistant to the general manager. This confirms a report from earlier in the week. Per a release from the team, Varitek will be involved in major league personnel decisions, evaluations and mentorship and instruction of young players. Many believe he could be a managerial candidate before long.

Jason Varitek said Tuesday that he is close to accepting a job with the Red Sox. "We're working on it," said Varitek. "We're close to having something. I'll be involved." Varitek has been mentioned as a possible successor to Bobby Valentine, but a baseball source says that he will likely be named a special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington, where he will be encouraged to educate himself about the Red Sox system from top-to-bottom. He could still be a managerial candidate down the road.

Jason Varitek officially announced his retirement Thursday at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida. It was an emotional goodbye for the 39-year-old backstop. "This last week," Varitek told those gathered, "is probably one of the hardest weeks you go through as a player. After months of deliberating what to do, I decided that it's best for me and my family that I retire - that I retire a Red Sox." He'll finish with a .256/.341/.435 career batting line, 193 home runs and 757 RBI.

Jason Varitek is scheduled to hold his retirement press conference Thursday at 5:30 p.m. ET at JetBlue in Fort Myers, Florida. Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe was the first to pass along news of Varitek's retirement on Monday, but the Red Sox just officially announced when the press conference will take place. The 39-year-old backstop will call it a career with a .256/.341/.435 career batting line, 193 home runs and 757 RBI over 15 major league seasons. The three-time All-Star was a key member of two World Series championship teams.

According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, Jason Varitek will announce his retirement Thursday.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that Jason Varitek is still leaning towards retirement. Cafardo says Varitek "can't envision himself in another uniform," but, at the same time, "feels he can still play and at least be someone's backup." There's no doubt that Varitek is still capable of being a backup, but the question is whether it would be worth it to him to leave Boston for a cheap deal with little guaranteed playing time. He'll probably announce a decision before long.

Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports that Red Sox officials don't expect Jason Varitek to show up to camp. The Red Sox have already had two mandatory workouts for pitchers and catchers, so Varitek would be there if he accepted a minor league deal. As reported last Friday night, it's increasingly likely that he'll opt for retirement.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said that he isn't expecting to make any additions prior to the start of camp. This would seem to rule out Jason Varitek, who was reportedly offered a minor league contract. Varitek's agent, Scott Boras, said Friday that his client had yet to make a decision on his future, but Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe was told during Tim Wakefield's retirement press conference that the 39-year-old backstop is leaning toward retirement. If Varitek hangs up his shin guards for good, he could accept a non-playing role within the organization.

Jason Varitek's agent, Scott Boras, said his client has not made a decision yet on what his plans are for the 2012 season. Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has said he expects to have a definitive resolution on Varitek sometime this week. The Sox have offered him a minor league contract, but with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach already expected to make the roster, the veteran would be a longshot to make the team. If he decides against playing, he could accept a position within the organization. Varitek's longtime teammate, Tim Wakefield, will announce his retirement later Friday.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday the team will have some sort of definitive resolution on Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield by next week. The Red Sox don't really have a role for Varitek or Wakefield their projected roster, so we doubt this will result in either getting a contract. Varitek's agent, Scott Boras, was recently quoted as saying that the 39-year-old backstop was still "deliberating what he wants to do," but he'd almost certainly have a job with the organization waiting for him if he hangs up his cleats. Wakefield, 45, doesn't appear interested in pitching anywhere other than Boston, so the knuckleballer may also be forced to walk off into the baseball sunset.