Red Sox, Shoppach reach deal

[love_that_reefer]

According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, the Red Sox have reached a one-year, $1.35 miilion deal with Kelly Shoppach.
The contract will be officially announced on Tuesday afternoon, after Shoppach undergoes the customary pre-signing physical. He batted just .185/.285/.340 in 253 total plate appearances this past season for the Rays, but the 31-year-old is typically productive against left-handed pitchers and should fit snugly behind the switch-hitting Jarrod Saltalamacchia in Boston.

This sadly ends the Jason Varitek era in Boston as Captain. Shoppach doesn't provide much more than Tek offensively but he did lead the league last year in CS% with 41%, something the Red Sox desperately need. It sucks to see Tek go but the time had come and the O's have been rumored to be in on him.

[Tobywan]

Bye Shop.........thanks!

Mmmm, wonder if Tek would come south for a mil?!?!

[cjkalt]

Lol u can have tek