FORT MYERS, Fla. – Jason Varitek wants to act as a bridge to the future of Red Sox catching. When he discussed his return to Boston, he spoke of not only the chance to come back to Boston and compete for more championships as a member of the Red Sox, but also his ambition to leave an imprint at his position after he leaves.

“Ultimately, I got what was important to me, which was being able to maintain the legacy and maintain the opportunity to be here,” he said. “I wanted to be able to make sure that if my role did change that I could continue to develop and do the things they asked of me, to add and pass on my knowledge and the things that I have learned to maybe that next generation of catchers.”

Though it is a difficult thing to mentor the person who is trying to take a job away from you, Varitek suggested there will come a time when he embraces that role. All the same, he clarified he’s not yet ready to make that a prominent part of his job description.

For now, Varitek remains committed to the tasks required of him as an everyday catcher. Since 1998, he has averaged 121 games per season (fifth most among catchers), and he is preparing for the 2009 season with similar goals for playing time in mind.

Eventually, Varitek suggests, change will be in order, his playing time might diminish and he will have time to work with a successor on the finer points of the crouching craft. But, the 36-year-old maintains, that point has not yet come.

“I’d like this organization to flourish. If I’m able to pass on and help in that regard, it’s going to help this organization continue what we’ve started,” said Varitek. “(But) I think I still have quite a bit of ability to play this game on an everyday level. When I make that transition (to less playing time), yes, I can see myself doing (mentoring).”

Varitek does serve as a leader by example to the catchers who are in camp. As bullpen coach and catching instructor Gary Tuck leads a group of backstops through drills, Varitek is the one who is running constantly between locations, followed by a group that features Josh Bard, George Kottaras and Dusty Brown.

Over the natural course of drills, the Sox captain will offer technical advice to help the group competing for the role of his backup. But his foremost contribution to the development of his teammates is to lead by example through his preparation and work ethic. The other catchers have no qualms with that approach.

“One of the things that’s frustrating to me about the way he’s perceived sometimes is that everybody talks about him being a clubhouse leader and all that, but the guy’s a great player,” said Bard. “It’s like when (pitcher Greg) Maddux came over to (the Padres). Everyone said, ‘He’s going to help the young pitchers and do all this stuff.’ They’re not paying him $10 million to coach.

“Obviously, I admire the career that Jason’s had — being able to win the World Series and put up numbers. Obviously, he’s a great, great player. I’m excited to learn from him and be here.”

Eventually, Varitek believes he will take a more involved approach in the development of teammates. He will become something of a coach to a catcher who will eventually wrestle the baton from Varitek to become the next Boston backstop.

But that development will come when a reduction of playing time dictates that the man who has caught the most games in franchise history has more time on his hands. Until then, however, his focus is necessarily on his own business on the field.

“If the level of play presents more opportunity and more time, that will be more opportunity and more time spent (mentoring) … if there’s 50 games or 80 games (to catch),” Varitek said. “At some point in my career, I don’t know when that is, I know (his role) will change at some point. …

“I know at some point in my career, I will have to make that transition. It’s not right now. Now, it’s preparing to play like I play.”