Jason Varitek came to the Boston Red Sox along with Derek Lowe in one of the most lopsided deals in recent major league history, on July 31, 1997, in exchange for reliever Heathcliff Slocumb.

Who? Exactly. Slocumb had been a decent closer in Boston, but was a poor performer in Seattle.

Meanwhile, Lowe and Varitek would be centerpieces of the team that eventually broke Boston’s World Series drought in 2004; Varitek was the starting catcher for the Red Sox’ second World Series title team in 2007.

Via Pete Abraham, we learn that Varitek will soon announce his retirement:

Jason Varitek, a two-time World Series champion and the captain of the Red Sox from 1997-2011, will announce his retirement on Thursday in Fort Myers sources told the Globe today.

Varitek is expected to stay with the organization in some capacity.

Varitek hit .256/.341/.435 over a 15-year career with the Red Sox with 193 home runs. According to Abraham:

Only Carl Yastrzemski (23 seasons), Ted Williams (19) and Jim Rice (16) had longer tenures with the Red Sox without playing for another team.