When the Red Sox officially announced the signing of six minor league free agents - some of which had already been reported - it gave a hint to what the rosters are going to look like in Pawtucket and Portland.

The major league roster is just about set, save for one catching situation that needs to be worked out.

Here's a look:

Jason Varitek needs a job. The Boston Red Sox could use his skills and have offered him a contract.

So what is the problem here?

Enter the P-word. Pride.

With the economy down and no interest in Varitek from other teams, Varitek has little leverage. We've heard the phrase "50 cents on the dollar" in describing the Red Sox offer of $5-million this year and an option for 2010 (a team option of $5-million and a player option for $3-million).

According to reports out of Boston (the Herald and weei.com), the Boston Red Sox have offered Jason Varitek a contract, at a considerable pay cut.

The deal reportedly is for $5-million, with an option year. (Rob Bradford of weei.com reports that the option is both a club option - for another $5-million - or a player option worth $3-million.

Varitek just completed a four-year contract with the Sox, worth $40-million. It is apparent that his $10-million-a-year days are far from over.

The Red Sox also signed minor league journeyman catcher Carlos Maldonado, 30. Boston is his fifth organization. Maldonado is destined for Pawtucket (possibly paired with Dusty Brown).

Pawtucket's other catcher, George Kottaras, is out of options. To go back to the minors, he would have to clear waivers.

Of course, either Kottaras or Brown could end up in Boston, teamed with Josh Bard.

They had been sitting on the bargain rack, being offered in as-is condition. No refunds.

So the Red Sox took out their fat wallet and pulled out only a few bills. Look what they got:

Brady Penny, John Smoltz, Takashi Saito, and Rocco Baldelli.

Two starters, a veteran reliever and a reliable right-handed bat off the bench.

Jerry Crasnick, formerly of the Press Herald and now with ESPN, called it a "buy-low strategy".

One more note about the Heidi Watney NESN report. She said both the Red Sox and Varitek were in the same position, saying they both had little option but each other.

Not true.

While no other teams seem interested in Varitek (at least at the current price, including a first-round draft pick), the Red Sox do have options.

There are talks of trades for Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Texas) or Miguel Montero (Arizona). But does Boston want to trade top prospects for catchers with promise. And is their game-calling ability up to "Varitek standards."

When Theo Epstein said he would be content going to spring training with the catchers he already has, many assumed he was bluffing (at least that was the conclusion I got from most of the sports writers I talked to at the Red Sox Rookie Camp last week).

But what if Epstein is not bluffing?

If NESN's Heidi Watney's report this morning is true, Jason Varitek needs a new agent.

According to Watney, Varitek did not know another team would have to surrender a first-round draft choice to sign him - after he declined arbitration from the Red Sox.

You got to be kidding.

I thought this Scott Boras was supposed to be the super agent. But doesn't an agent have the responsibility of spelling out EVERYTHING to his client?

Some upcoming events:

The Red Sox are offering vouchers to "cut in line" to buy tickets for Fenway Park.

You can learn scorekeeping from one of the best.

The Sea Dogs are offering their annual "win-win" 2-for-1 ticket deal.

Here are the details:

ESPN's Peter Gammons is reporting that the Boston Red Sox have signed Kevin Youklilis to a four-year contract worth $40-million, with an option for a fifth year.

Also, the Red Sox officially signed Mark Kotsay. To make room on the 40-man roster, reliever David Aardsma was designated for assignment.

In one more move, Boston announced that Sea Dogs outfielder Mickey Hall was sent to Cleveland, completing the trade made last August for pitcher Paul Byrd.

Six players from the 2008 Portland Sea Dogs will be invited to their first major league spring training camp next month, Red Sox farm director Mike Hazen confirmed today.

Pitchers Daniel Bard, Dustin Richardson and Kris Johnson, first baseman Lars Anderson, and outfielders Zach Daeges and Josh Reddick will take part as non-roster invitees.

Two other Dogs already on the 40-man roster, catcher Mark Wagner and shortstop Argenis Diaz, will also be there.

When John Smoltz was officially added to the 40-man roster on Tuesday, pitcher David Pauley was taken off.

Pauley was designated for assignment. It will be interesting where Pauley lands; whether another team scoops him up or if he accepts a minor league contract and assignment to Pawtucket.

Pauley, 25, was a likely player to be removed. He clearly has been an emergency pitcher, called up in case of injury. He did not figure as a candidate to break into the Sox starting rotation, and he not seem as suited for the bullpen as others (like Derven Hansack).

Of course, you can never have enough pitching.

With the addition of Takashi Saito, Boston now has 6-8 starters and 10 relievers.

How will the Red Sox be able to hold onto everyone? They can't. But a little depth heading into spring training doesn't hurt.

For starters, Boston appears set.

The Red Sox announced this afternoon that they have signed veteran relief pitcher Takashi Saito to a one-year contract with a club option for 2010.

When speculating Friday on the 40-man roster moves, I did not mention pitchers Virigl Vasquez and Dewon Day. They had been claimed off waivers in October so it figured the Red Sox wanted to get a look at them.

But before they could throw a pitch for the Sox, both were put on waivers. Vasquez was picked up by San Diego, and Day went to Tampa Bay.

That made room for Brad Penny to join the roster, which now numbers 39.

John Smoltz will soon join. And outfielder Mark Kotsay is reportedly close behind.

The roster is finally taking shape.

Outfielder Rocco Baldelli is signed.

Starter Brad Penny is expected to be officially signed soon (probably today).

Start John Smoltz is coming aboard.

And first baseman/outfielder Mark Kotsay is also coming back, according to the Boston Herald.

And the catcher will be ... well, does Jason Varitek have anywhere else to go?

No catcher, no fourth outfielder, no official signing of Brad Penny.

The Boston Red Sox seem in no hurry to shore up its roster with spring training starting next month.

But you can expect something soon. The addition of Brad Penny reportedly is dependent on Penny passing a physical. Once that happens (assuming it does), Penny will have to be added to the 40-man roster, and someone will have to go.

Also, the Red Sox have four catchers on their 40-man roster - newly-signed Josh Bard, Dusty Brown, George Kottaras and Mark Wagner.