Thought you should know...

The Captain is back. Jason Varitek signed a one-year,
$2 million deal today to return to the Red Sox.

Keeping track of the latest Boston sports headlines while patiently awaiting LeBron's highly anticipated, venomous return to Cleveland tonight....

1. Jason Varitek is back! In a move that should not be overlooked, the Red Sox brought the captain back for what might be his last season, signing him to a one-year, $2 million deal today. It appears the Sox are poised to begin next year with Jarrod Saltalamacchia starting behind the plate, with Varitek acting as his mentor and back-up. 

2. Although the Boston Bruins have yet to comment, TSN.ca (Canada's version of ESPN) reports that the Bruins have traded veteran winger Marco Sturm to the Los Angeles Kings today. The logic behind the deal is simple: cut salary. Despite his blazing speed and gifted offensive skill-set, Sturm is in the final year of his contract that pays him $3.5 million this season. And, with Sturm inching closer to a return after shredding his knee during the playoffs last season, the Bruins were forced to make a move in order to remain under the salary cap. In return for Sturm, it appears the Bruins will receive a conditional draft pick. The move allows Michael Ryder, Blake Wheeler and Daniel Paille to breath a sigh of relief. Those forwards were the most likely candidates to be traded should Sturm have returned to the Bruins lineup. 

3. The Celtics held on to defeat the upstart Trail Blazers 99-95 last night at the Garden. The win runs their record to 14-4. 

4. Marc Savard's long and arduous comeback from Post Concussion Syndrome appears to be over. The play-making, veteran center should make his season debut with the Bruins either tonight at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning or Saturday when the Bruins play the Maple Leafs in Toronto. 

5. Several sources indicate that Sox GM Theo Epstein and Co. travelled to Houston, Texas yesterday to meet with Carl Crawford and his agent. It's a good sign for Sox fans who have felt entirely beleaguered and perplexed with Theo's plan this offseason. 

6. The Red Sox did not offer Hideki Okajima arbitration, making him a free agent. So long, Okie. 

7. T-Minus four days until the Patriots and Jets kick-off Monday Night Football in Foxboro. If you're anything like me, it feels like an eternity.