Stealing is the sincerest form of flattery.

Wait. That doesn't sound right...

Anyway, moving on. Peter Abraham of the Globe at Extra Bases is proposing to create your own free agent team. He has a little contest going where you can submit your team, he'll look through them and decide a winner. I like this idea. For once, I am doing this kind of thing (but not for the free book, although I probably would read it, whatever it is).

So I figured let's try this at OTM, too. I don't really care if you want to post your team here, there or both locations. Doesn't matter to me, I just think it would be a fun exercise. It will get our minds-a-movin'. I think we all need that on occasion.

Here are two links to help you out:

Free agent position players

Free agent pitchers

One rule that is different: your team has to be called the Abraham Abombinaters. Has to. No exceptions.

According to the manager himself, Terry Francona always tells Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein to get a pitcher. Get me dat pitchah. I need dat pitchah.

Sure. That sounds simple enough. But have you seen the free agent market? It's kind of ugly. Plus, what does Tito want exactly? A starter or reliever? Or a guy that can do both? Or a guy who he can beat in cribbage? Unlike this guy.

There's one name that is intriguing to me and I think the Sox can grab him if they wish: Chris Capuano, formerly of the Brewers.

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More photos » by Elise Amendola - AP

3 months ago: Boston Red Sox' David Ortiz stretches on the field prior to a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park in Boston Thursday, July 30, 2009. Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were among the more than 100 Major League Baseball players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, according to a report in The New York Times. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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David Ortiz is already singing the same story from last season:

The best stuff came when David was asked about the Sox needing more power in their lineup beyond retaining Jason Bay.

"I said that like a year ago and everybody was looking at me like I was a (expletive) clown. You know? I said we needed another 30-home run hitter. Everybody was talking trash. There you go. Now what?" he said.

"Everybody always will welcome a 30-home run hitter at any time, any day, any situation. You want to compete with those guys across the street? You better bring it. Period.

Ortiz said last season the Sox need another 30 home run hitter because Manny was gone. The answer was Jason Bay. He did that and more. He filled the void. Now Ortiz wants another 30 home run hitter in the lineup.

How 'bout you, Papi?

(Ouch. Stings. He was close, but not quite...)

If the Sox do try to acquire another 30 home run threat, where are they going to put him? Who are they going to get? Adrian Gonzalez is an option, which would push Kevin Youkilis to third base and send Mike Lowell packing. That would be losing 20 home runs from the lineup. So would we then have to make that up too, Papi?

We need a power bat, sure, but we also need defense and some more pitching. We also need our designated hitter to hit more than one home run between April and May. That'd be a nice boost to the offense.

More photos » by Charles Krupa - AP

about 1 month ago: Boston Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay speaks to the media while his daughter Addison shields her eye from the bright lights at Fenway Park Boston, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. The Red Sox host the Los Angeles Angels in Game 3 of the American League division baseball series on Sunday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Jason Bay is a good baseball player ... at some things. For other things, he's a bad baseball player. But that's true for a lot of baseball players. There aren't many players who are great at everything.

We have an idea of what Bay's strengths and weaknesses are, but what's more important for the future of the Red Sox?

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Now it's official: Jason Varitek will be back as a Red Sox next year:

Jason Varitek's 10-year run as the Red Sox's primary catcher is over. But his reign in Boston isn't.

Despite the club's decision to decline its $5 million option on Varitek this week and general manager Theo Epstein saying he expects Victor Martinez to be the everyday guy behind the plate, the Red Sox captain chose to exercise his $3 million player option on Wednesday afternoon and will thus return to Boston for a 14th season in 2010.

No shocker here (that sounds familar). Varitek will be back as the Sox's backup catcher in 2010.

by Mark Avery - AP

2 months ago: FILE - In this May 25, 2009 file photo, Chicago White Sox's Jim Thome watches the ball fly after hitting a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif. The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Thome from the Chicago White Sox on Monday night, Aug. 31, 2009. Also joining the Dodgers' lineup is right-hander Jon Garland, who came over from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The deals were announced in the top of the eighth inning of the Dodgers-Diamondbacks game, with both trades completed before the midnight EDT deadline required for postseason eligibility. (AP Photo/Mark Avery, File)

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There are so many things wrong with Jim Thome going to the Red Sox that as I propose the idea, I'm also going to talk myself out of it.

It sounds messed up -- and it is -- but follow me on the journey, won't you?

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[Note by Randy Booth, 11/10/09 2:02 PM EST ] According to the NESN report, Varitek reported that he will pick up his option, not necessarily that he had picked up his player option. We could see Varitek officially pick up his option today.

OK, so maybe Jason Varitek isn't back in Boston yet:

Contrary to a report, Theo Epstein just said that Jason Varitek has not yet picked up his option . That could come tomorrow, however.

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

3 months ago: Boston Red Sox batter Jason Varitek heads back to the dugout after striking out to end the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in New York. Yankees catcher Jorge Posada is at left and home plate umpire Bill Miller, right, signals the strikeout. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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Per NESN:

NESN learned on Monday night that the 37-year-old Varitek will exercise his $3 million player option for 2010 that includes up to another $2 million in incentives. The move is expected to be formalized on Tuesday and will keep Varitek with the Red Sox through at least the end of 2010.

With the incentives, Varitek would earn an additional $400,000 for starting 80 games in 2010 and another bonus for every 10 starts thereafter.

No shocker, but it did seem to come kind of quickly.