Jason Varitek drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Red Sox beat the Blue Jays Friday and opened a 7 1/2 game lead in the Wild Card race. [...]

Jason Varitek hit the 158th home run of his Red Sox career, and he passed Carlton Fisk for most home runs in franchise history by a catcher, according to the Boston Globe.That's nice for Varitek, who has had a good career, but he is certainly not someone fantasy owners should be relying on to contribute. He has just a .224 average and .314 on-base percentage on the season.

The Boston Globe reports the Red Sox are very intrigued by Saltalamacchia's ability. An American League scout compared him to Jason Varitek's ability at a similar age.Don't bet on anything happening soon, though the Rangers could decide to move Saltalamacchia eventually if they decide that fellow young catcher Taylor Teagarden is a better answer for their long-term plans at catcher. Saltalamacchia is out for the rest of the 2008 season with an elbow injury.

News: Red Sox C Jason Varitek played both games of a doubleheader Saturday against the Blue Jays, but he went a combined 0-for-1. After homering in three straight games in late August, he's batting only .219 (7-for-32) in September.

Analysis: Varitek's season average doesn't stray too far from that September mark. He's had a dreadful year -- even to the point that the Red Sox have begun incorporating other options behind the plate -- so think of him as just a low-end No. 2 Fantasy catcher

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, of The Boston Globe, reports Boston Red Sox C Jason Varitek will catch only one of the games during the doubleheader Saturday, Sept. 13, according to manager Terry Francona.

Amalie Benjamin, of The Boston Globe, reports Boston Red Sox C Jason Varitek broke out of an 0-for-13 slump with a single in the seventh inning Wednesday, Sept. 10.

News: Jason Varitek and Jeff Bailey hit consecutive homers Monday for the Red Sox. Varitek's tied Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk for a club record with his 157th as a catcher. Adam Jones, Juan Castro and Kevin Millar had solo home runs for Baltimore. Millar's was his 20th, the third time -- and first since he hit 25 with the Red Sox in 2003 -- he has reached that mark.

Analysis: Varitek has pop in his bat still, even if he is no longer a trustworthy starting catcher in mixed leagues at this point in his career. Consider him more of a sleeper in those formats, but the contending Red Sox will at least slot him in the lineup regular down the stretch. He has had a decent stretch since Aug. 1

The catcher has hit safely in five of six contests, bolstering his position as a possible mixed-league option down the stretch. At the very least, owners will want to consider using him against left-handers, as he's hitting .279 against them this season.

The catcher has hit safely in five of six contests, bolstering his position as a possible mixed league option down the stretch. He is a good option against left-handers, considering he's hitting .279 against southpaws against a .211 mark with right-handers.