Posted by Timm Davis on Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 1:43 pm

…According to Tony Masssarotti of the Boston Globe the Boston Red Sox have made a formal offer to free agent catcher, and Sox (and I guess former captain at this point) Jason Varitek. The offer includes what was a sticking point before, which was a second guarantee season. [Boston Globe]

…The Toronto Blue Jays have fired Assistant General Manager and VP of Baseball Operations Bart Given. His duties will be handled in house. [Yahoo]

…Chase Utley says he should be ready to be penciled into the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies opening day line up after undergoing hip surgery this off season. [CBS]

“It’s about listening to my body. Right now, we are listening and it’s responding well,” Utley said. “If that continues to happen, then I don’t see why I won’t be ready for opening day.”

“If there are some setbacks — which are a possibility — I’m not going to be dumb about it and move through it,” Utley added. “I’ll listen to my body and when it’s ready, it’s ready. Hopefully that will be Opening Day.”

…The Oakland Athletics and right hander Justin Duchscherer have agreed to a 1 year deal worth $3.9 million. Duchscherer was the only remaining arbitration eligible player left for the A’s, and with this contract they wont have to worry about it. [CBS]

…Boston Red Sox first baseman Sean Casey has decided to call it a career. This according to a report on WEEI.com. Casey has already signed with the fledgling MLB network. [WEEI]

…It seems that Joe Torre wasn’t all that happy in the Bronx. The former Yankee Skipper gets some shots in on his former team and GM Brian Cashman in a upcoming book by Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci.

“Torre describes general manager Brian Cashman as a less than supportive ally who betrayed him on several fronts, and says that his star player, Alex Rodriguez, was often referred to by his teammates as ‘A-Fraud,’ and was obsessed with his perceived rival, shortstop Derek Jeter.”

The book is scheduled to be released on February 3rd. [MLB]

…According to Jason Beck of MLB.com, Detroit Tigers southpaw Kenny Rogers has/is going to hang up the spikes. Here’s what Team president and General Manger Dave Dombroski has to say on the subject of Rogers riding off into the sunset. [MLB]

“At this time, I don’t think he’s on the verge of signing with any club,” Dombrowski said. “I think he’s in a position where he’s content where he is right now. But it’s more up to him on what he decides to do with his life, and I don’t know if he’s made that decision 100 percent.”

Then they talked to new Tigers pitching coach and long time friend of Rogers, Rick Knapp. They played together in the minors.

“He’s retired,” Knapp told Booth Newspapers. “His wife says that he’s retired. Kenny and I go way back.”