Maybe, but how many catchers are getting paid $10 mill a year?
OK, actually I looked it up:
Catcher Salaries: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com
So there's 47 catchers on that list - only the top 10 make over mill per year. If we say Varitek is an average catcher, he should be making about 1.1-1.6 million a year. If we're going to say he's the 30th best catcher in the league, he should be making about 900K a year. You see my point. I have no beef with Varitek, I have appreciated his time here, but its time to part ways. I'll agree - we've been spoiled by his production in the past and now have to come to grips with having an average catcher, production wise.
I'd rather just pay 2 million for it instead of 12. Varitek's intangibles aren't worth it to me, his value by the plate is lessened by the fact that Beckett, Lester & Dice-K are the top 3 and are all appear increasingly independent in their pitch calling. Even Lester, who praises Tek the most, was shaking Tek off more and more towards the end of the season.
So bottom line, maybe you're right - Tek does not suck in comparison to MLB catchers. But he also does not deserve to be overpaid by 10 million a year. Save that money for Teixiera, and we can go find about any other catcher and get the same production for a lot less.