Editing Jason Varitek (section)

==Early professional career==
Varitek was drafted 21st overall in the first round by the [[Minnesota Twins]] in 1993,<ref name=":0" /> but opted to return for his senior year of college. Following graduation, Varitek signed with agent [[Scott Boras]] and was drafted by the [[Seattle Mariners]] in the first round of the {{Baseball year|1994}} amateur draft, with the 14th pick overall.<ref name="six">{{cite web|date=November 14, 2002|title=Varitek, Garciaparra Inducted Into Cape Cod Baseball Hall of Fame|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312232423/http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/111402aaa.html|url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/111402aaa.html|archive-date=March 12, 2007|access-date=May 16, 2021|website=Ramblin' Wreck}}</ref> A pioneer of the loopholes in the draft process, Varitek signed with the [[St. Paul Saints]] in the independent [[Northern League (baseball, 1993–2010)|Northern League]]<ref>{{cite web|date=April 26, 1995|title=Varitek, Seattle finally agree; MLB averts lawsuit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923060043/http://www.jason-varitek.com/articles/varitekseatleagree.htm|url=http://www.jason-varitek.com/articles/varitekseatleagree.htm|archive-date=September 23, 2006|access-date=May 16, 2021|website=JasonVaritek.com|publisher=[[Baseball Weekly]]}}</ref> before agreeing to terms with the Mariners, and consequently did not enter the Mariners' [[minor league]] system until {{Baseball year|1995}}. When he finally did join the franchise, Varitek was sent to the AA affiliate [[Port City Roosters]] where he first met [[pitcher]] and longtime teammate [[Derek Lowe]]. He was traded with Lowe to the Red Sox during the {{Baseball year|1997}} season in return for [[relief pitcher|reliever]] [[Heathcliff Slocumb]], often cited as one of the best trades in the Red Sox's favor in recent history.<ref name=20090130mlb/>