Baseball is Life Decrees: The Verdict on Varitek

I have looked at multiple lists of this season's free agent catchers. I have thought about dealing with Scott Boras (something that I simply would not do if I were a team owner, period). I have considered the likely price tag for a front line catcher, if any of the few teams with one would even agree to part with him.
The Sox need to resign Tek.
Let's consider the free agents. To me, the most attractive free agent, by age and performance, is Josh Bard. Josh Bard. Yes, that Josh Bard. No, the Sox probably shouldn't have traded him a couple years back. But he's never been a full time catcher. He shouldn't be for us.
Trades? Who? Brian McCann is probably the best catcher out there, although many would argue for Russell Martin. But neither the Braves nor the Dodgers is going to part with a player like them, a catcher like them. Why would they? And how expensive would it be if they did? Ellsbury, Buchholz and Masterson? You could have had Johann Santana for less, and this would be more wrong than that would have been.
Bring Tek back. Not for four years. But I would go three. Yes, I know that the Yankees crippled themselves by giving a broken down Posada four years last winter, and giving Tek three now equals the length remaining on Jorge's contract. But Tek isn't injured, as far as we know. And he still manages the pitching staff. I know that it appeared clear that he can't hit any more. But he will enter the 2009 season with his divorce settled, and having been there myself, I can vouch for the fact that in the midst of that party, nothing is right. I have to think just being out of that circus, he'll be no worse at the plate next year than in 2008. Bat him ninth. Just keep him in charge of our pitchers. And let him run the clubhouse.
Remember 2006? When Tek went down in August, the Sox were in first. Didn't last long, did it? They didn't fade; they died. He makes that much difference in the pitchers' confidence. I still wonder if Rick Ankiel would have melted down as he did in the Cardinals' 2000 postseason if Mike Matheny's wife hadn't given him the hunting knife that ended his season when Mike missed the sheath putting it away, and sliced the tendons in his middle finger. Tek makes that much difference, especially with the youth of the Sox staff this year--and likely even more next year. His presence also makes Tito's job easier. With Tek in the clubhouse, Tito doesn't have to address every little thing that happens. That's why he was named Captain in the first place! It was simply a recognition of what was already fact.
Don't break the bank, Theo. And if Boras makes stupid demands in years, let him go. But if there is any reasonable way to keep The Captain, it's clearly the best way to go.