Jason Varitek Retirement Rumors

Wakefield named Sox special instructor

Longtime Boston Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield officially rejoined the club on Friday, named as a special assignment instructor and honorary chairman of the Red Sox Foundation. The 46-year-old Wakefield, who spent 17 of his 19 major league seasons with the Red Sox, announced his retirement in February 2012. He will join former teammates Jason Varitek and Pedro Martinez on general manager Ben Cherington’s baseball operations staff. In that capacity, Wakefield will handle specific instructional assignments. Boston Red Sox Blog | ESPN Boston

Sox catching up behind plate

A year ago in spring training, Jason Varitek was tearing up at his JetBlue Park retirement ceremony. Both he and the Red Sox were confronting the reality that for the first time in 16 years, Varitek would not be catching for the team. And even though Varitek’s prime was several years earlier, the captain left behind a legacy that most did not see anyone being able to replicate any time soon. Boston Herald

Varitek staying involved with Red Sox

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Jason Varitek announced his retirement about a year ago — then found the baseball bug is a pretty hard one to shake. Boston Globe

Wake to work with Wright next week

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Pedro Martinez has been here. So has Jason Varitek. Now, John Farrell says, Tim Wakefield will be coming to camp. Can Johnny Damon and the rest of the Class of 2004 be far behind? Wakefield, who has been primarily working on the community relations side for the Red Sox since his retirement after the 2011 season and also has a reality TV series in which he teaches non-baseballers, like former NFLer Doug Flutie, how to throw the knuckleball, will be here sometime next week, Farrell said Saturday. Boston Red Sox Blog | ESPN Boston