As expected, catcher Jason Varitek was offered salary arbitration on Monday.

What was more of a surprise (at least I thought so) was that Boston also offered arbitration to starting pitcher Paul Byrd.

The moves mean that the Red Sox will get draft picks if those two players sign elsewhere - two picks for Varitek (considered a "Type A" free agent) and one pick for Byrd (Type B).

But why would Byrd not accept arbitration and go one more season with the Red Sox at a salary similar to last year's ($7.5-million). It seems unlikely that he would command that in free agency.

That is expensive for a No. 5 starter (remember that Byrd went to the bullpen during the playoffs and Tim Wakefield - who should be a No. 5 starter - got the start in Game 4 of the ALCS, a 13-4 loss).

Byrd, who turns 38 on Wednesday, is dependable, having made at least 30 starts in each of his last four seasons. Byrd is a control pitcher who gets hit often and counts on his defense. His ERA the past four seasons is 3.74 (2005), then 4.88, 4.59 and 4.60.

Byrd, like Varitek, has until Dec. 7 to decide if he wants to accept arbitration. Varitek is expected to reject it and go for free agency (have not heard of any serious bidders for Varitek yet, except in Scott Boras' imagination).

The Red Sox did not offer arbitration to seven other free agents - pitchers Bartolo Colon, Curt Schilling and Mike Timlin; catcher David Ross; infielders Sean Casey and Alex Cora; and outfielder Mark Kotsay.

Of that group, only Cora seems a possibility to re-sign with Boston.

Other non-tendered players of note: Nomar Garciaparra (Dodgers), and Alan Embree and Keith Foulke (Athletics).

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