Jason Varitek

The Boston Police Department has set out in search of the body of Jason Varitek. The Red Sox catcher was last seen behind the plate of Fenway Park for the first pitch. He shortly disappeared after the toss by Pedro Martinez and was not seen in the clubhouse afterwards.

Many people speculate that Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez was behind the plate yesterday because of Varitek's absence. After all, Varitek is the better of the two catchers and is the team captain. 

On April 11th the Boston Red Sox will visit Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium to take on the ever-flailing Royals, and Jason Varitek will turn 38.

Whether Varitek will catch that day remains to be seen. In 2010, Varitek will mainly make spot starts while sharing the job with the more offensively capable, 31-year-old Victor Martinez.

Here’s a look at some catchers who could struggle to match their 2009 production.

Rod Barajas, New York Mets
Going to the Mets is likely to sap the power numbers (19 HRs & 71 RBIs) he had with Toronto last year. 

Much has been made of the 2010 Red Sox and their defensive prowess, or potential.

JD Drew, Mike Cameron, and Jacoby Ellsbury comprise a formidable outfield.

Jason Varitek, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, and Adrian Beltre are all Gold Glove Award winners.

But how do these players match up, position-by-position, with the greatest Red Sox defenders of all time?

With Spring Training in full swing for the Red Sox, the fun (and drama) can really begin.

After an off-season full of wheeling and dealing, Boston found itself with more players than it knew what to do with. Now, many of the long-time Sox players will slowly be pushed out of their starting jobs, and things could get very awkward.

In December of 2004, Red Sox veteran catcher Jason Varitek was named the Red Sox's team captain, the first captain since outfielder Jim Rice in the 1980's. However, fastforward to 2010 and the 37-year old is now the back-up to Victor Martinez.

What has happened to Varitek in a period of six years? Could it involve off-field issues, such as the 2009 divorce between him and wife Karen? Is it simply old age? Whatever the answer, one only has to look to Varitek's stats to understand the magnitude of his rapid decline.

So it looks like a couple of long, long-time teammates will be teammates at least a little longer still.

Keeping up with the Joneses becomes an even tougher task when your hated next-door neighbor cruised through the defending world champs on their way to a World Series victory.

Such a task is the one laid at the feet of Theo Epstein, Terry Francona and the Boston Red Sox this offseason. The acquisition of Jeremy Hermida from Florida is the beginning of what should be a handful of minor changes made to the Red Sox roster in order for Boston to take the division, and the pennant, back from the Yankees.

1. The infield quagmire needs to be resolved.

The Red Sox have had four team captains since 1923—Jimmie Foxx, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, and the current captain, Jason Varitek. 

So many great players have played for the Red Sox throughout the years, so being named the captain is a prestigious honor. 

Prior to Varitek being named in 2005, the Red Sox hadn't played with a captain since
Rice retired in 1989. 

Varitek struggled heavily both offensively and defensively this season, so much so that he did not play an inning in the three-game playoff series against the Angels. 

Trades. The complexity is unbelievable, yet the goal is simple. Throughout the years, thousands of trades have taken place. In some situations, a trade works out great for both teams involved. For example, prior to the 2008 season, Josh Hamilton was traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Edinson Volquez. Hamilton played fantastically in 2008, hitting .304 with 32 home runs and 130 RBI's, which led baseball.