By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

The Red Sox have offered salary arbitration to free-agent catcher Jason Varitek and pitcher Paul Byrd.

Boston also announced it will not offer salary arbitration to pitchers Bartolo Colon, Curt Schilling and Mike Timlin, catcher David Ross, infielders Sean Casey and Alex Cora, and outfielder Mark Kotsay.

Varitek is a Type A free agent, which means If he does not accept it the Sox' offer - which he probably will not - and eventually signs with another club, the Red Sox will receive draft picks as compensation. The captain will have until Dec. 7 to decline or accept the offer.

Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, clubs retain the right to negotiate and/or enter into a contract agreement with any of their free agents, regardless of whether arbitration was offered. There are no deadlines for such negotiations and/or agreements, according to a Red Sox press release.

More to come. . .