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Loving tribute to No. 6
Sox old and new honor beloved Pesky

The Red Sox paid a respectful and loving tribute to a legend last night, celebrating the rich life
of Johnny Pesky in a Fenway Park [map] ceremony reminiscent of the sendoff to Ted Williams
a decade earlier.

A cavalcade of former and current players, including Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, Carlton Fisk,
Jim Rice, David Ortiz [stats] and Dustin Pedroia [stats], joined a crowd of hundreds for a moving,
mostly joyful two-hour ceremony that attempted to wrap its arms around Pesky’s 93 years, 70 of
them spent as a player, coach, manager, TV personality, front office exec and baseball ambassador
for the Red Sox.

Varitek: Red Sox job 'close'

Former Boston Red Sox captain Jason Varitek, at Fenway Park for ceremonies honoring the 2004
World Series champions, said Tuesday he is "close" to taking a new job with the team, but barring
a major change of plans, it does not appear it will be as manager.

Varitek, whose name has surfaced in speculation regarding a possible successor to manager Bobby
Valentine, dodged a question about whether he is interested in managing.

"Why are you asking me that?" Varitek said. "You think I'm going to answer that question right now?
I'm not going to answer that question."

Varitek did say that just as the team had pledged during spring training, he plans to go back to work
for the Red Sox.

"We're working on it," he said. "We're close to having something. I'll be involved."

A club source confirmed the team is close to bringing Varitek on board, but offered no further details.

A baseball source with direct knowledge of the talks between Varitek and the Red Sox said he is
likely to be named a special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington, a role in which Varitek
will be encouraged to learn the Red Sox system from top to bottom and be involved in a variety of
areas, including player development and talent evaluation.

The day may come when Varitek will want to try his hand at managing, the source said, but for now
he is committed to spending more time with his family. Varitek's wife, Catherine, tweeted this reply
to a fan asking if Varitek might manage the Red Sox: "I think he'd be great. BUT... Sorry, going to
Greece next summer. He's a bit tied up."

"Would it be a great move?" the source said. "Yes. Do I see it happening? No. Do I think it intrigues
him? Absolutely. Is he qualified? Absolutely. Would he enjoy it? Absolutely. But does he want to be
manager now? I don't think so. I think Jason will be in the mix for manager in the future, but I think
they want to set him up for success. That could change, I suppose, but I don't think so."