Jason Varitek is going to be back with the Red Sox this coming year. He has signed a one year $5 million contract with the team. They have been working hard to get him back but he’s been kind of playing hard to get. Three months into the offseason he has finally signed on. And he’ll probably cause them problems after this current season, but that’s in the future. Let’s just not think about it too much.

Sean Casey is expected to retire this week after 12 seasons in the MLB. He played for many years in Cincinnati with the Reds. He hit around .330 with the Reds over the 11 seasons he spent with them. Last year, he saw the light and came up to Boston to play for the Red Sox. He was the first base backup and hit .322 over 69 games. That’s not a bad job for a player who’s a bit older and towards the end of his career. Now, he’s leaving MLB to join the MLB Network. It’s not yet known what job he’s going to do for them, but he’s clearly going to do a great job of it. We’ll be keeping an eye on him and wish him the best.

The Red Sox signed Jonathan Papelbon for $6.25 million, for just a one-year contract. This is the biggest contract awarded to a closing pitcher on a one year contract in his first year of arbitration. The Red Sox were in need of another decent closer this year and they have finally found it in this guy. He’s a good pitcher and one of 4 pitchers with 30 or more saves this year. One of the others is Bobby Jenks, from Chicago, who last week signed the second biggest one year contract for a closer. Mr. Papelbon is expected to do well and it will be an important part of the team this year. Congrats to him!

Cristopher De La Rosa, a minor league outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, has been suspended for 50 games at the beginning of the season. Apparently, he has been found to have illegal steroids in his system after being tested by the MLB prior to the beginning of the season. There was another prospect from the New York Mets who was taken out for 50 games as well. This should serve as a reminder that those who are found to have these steroids in the body will be punished, and that’s that.

Boston Red Sox infielder Kevin Youkilis has signed on to a 4 year deal worth $41.25 million and an option for 2013. This is only a few weeks after the Sox resigned Dustin Pedroia to a healthy multi year contract. The Red Sox have been doing all they can to solidify their chances at taking another World Series crown. Coincidentally enough…Manny Ramirez is still a free agent Boston. Perhaps a reconciliation is in order?

Takashi Saito has signed a deal with the Boston Red Sox, for one year and $5 million. This is, of course, in addition to a reported $5.5 million deal with the rather elderly John Smoltz. The team is looking for a stronger rotation going forward into the new season. And Saito had a great season with the Dodgers last year and made it to the All Star Game a couple years ago. I’m not sure why they went for a 1 year deal rather than a longer-term kind of contract, but maybe they want to try it out for now. Plus, then they can save some money at first and then see what it turns out like. At least Saito wont feel very alone, as there are 3 or 4 other Japanese players on the team this year.

Rocco Baldelli, a name better suited for a man who can crush coconuts in one hand than a baseball player, has just inked in his signature on his one year contract with the Boston Red Sox. He will be the first Red Sox player to wear number 5 since Nomar Garciaparra was traded back in 2004. Read more about his trade right here at mlb.com.

There isn’t a whole lot of Red Sox news today. The Red Sox still haven’t clarified their catching issue quite yet. They’re going to have to push a little bit more to get the deal through and hopefully they will get the thing taken care of soon enough. Ramirez is still not signed, but there really isn’t any talk about the Red Sox taking him back. The Red Sox still have lots of options for some of their weaker positions at this point, because there are a lot of people still not signed for the upcoming season. Take a look at the most recent news here.

The Boston Red Sox have solved at least part of the catcher’s problem they were facing. Although nothing has yet been finalized (pending a physical), the Sox are planning to bring back Josh Bard to the catching position for a one year contract at $1.7 million. Bard, a member of the 2006 Red Sox, was released in 2006 due to his problems in catching for knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. However, now facing the possibilities of losing Jason Varitek, it’s open arms for the Sox.