Boston Red Sox

With the window of exclusivity between free agent Jason Bay and the Red Sox officially over, the hot stove season has officially fired up in Boston's wood-burning kitchen unit.

The Sox held steady with a four-year, $60 million offer to Bay that they first unveiled around last year's All-Star break, and both sides recently agreed that the right-handed slugger will dip his toes into the free agent water. It's still unknown just how much interest other teams will have in Bay, but GM Theo Epstein and Co. are about to find out. Several teams are likely to inquire about a player who led all AL outfielders in home runs (36) and RBIs (119) last season.

Meanwhile, the Sox could have several other items on their winter shopping list. Epstein told reporters that Bay still factors heavily into their offseason consideration.

"It'll last as long as it lasts, until one side does something different. This part of the process is important to him. He'll see what it's like and see what's out there and ultimately make a decision," Epstein told the Boston Globe. "We've maintained dialogue. It's not up to us. I think all along we've maintained it was likely he was going to go see what was out there.

"It's part of the process. For some players, it's part of the process. You have to get out there and see. There's two parties to every negotiation and to every potential signing. Needs change and holes get filled and you move on. But as long as you maintain good dialogue and neither party gets caught by surprise, it's reasonable to extend things. ... He's a priority, certainly."

Here's a brief overview of the two most important positions that need to be addressed by Boston this winter:

Left field -- This is all dependent on Bay. If the Sox can re-sign their prized outfielder in the next few weeks, then it becomes a moot point. But Matt Holliday could come into the Sox picture should a West Coast team like Seattle or San Francisco enter the picture for Bay's services. The Sox could get creative with Chone Figgins or Dan Uggla in the left field spot should both Bay and Holliday end up signing elsewhere, so there's plenty of moving parts at this point.

Shortstop -- The Sox believe that Jed Lowrie could be the answer at shortstop provided he proves himself healthy enough to withstand a 162-game season. They might bring back Alex Gonzalez at less than the $6 million price tag attached to his team option, or perhaps they'll sign either Omar Vizquel or Marco Scutaro as insurance in case Lowrie can't answer the bell with his balky left wrist.

—DeMarlo Hale, formerly the third base coach, will replace Brad Mills as Terry Francona's bench coach in 2010. Mills left the Red Sox to become the Astros' manager. Tim Bogar moves from first base coach to third base coach, and Rob Johnson will be Boston's first base coach.

• RHP Robert Manuel, who didn't allow a run in 4 1/3 innings with Cincinnati this year, was claimed off waivers from Seattle. The Mariners had acquired him this summer for OF Wladimir Balentien. Manuel, 26, was 4-5 with a 2.88 ERA in 51 games for the Reds' and Mariners' Class AAA teams this year.

• C George Kottaras was placed on waivers by the Red Sox on Nov. 17 because of a glut of catchers at the major league level, and the left-handed hitter was claimed one day later by the Brewers. Kottaras, 26, hit .237 with a home run and 10 RBIs while serving as RHP Tim Wakefield's batterymate during the 2009 season, but he was felled midway through the season by a back injury. Kottaras was out of minor league options, and he was passed by C Mark Wagner on the team's organizational depth chart for next season.

• RHP Fernando Cabrera, RHP Takashi Saito, SS Nick Green, OF Joey Gathright, RHP Enrique Gonzalez, RHP Marcus McBeth, LHP Javier Lopez, LHP Billy Traber, SS Gil Velazquez and OF Jeff Bailey have all chosen free agency after they outrighted off the Red Sox's 40-man roster following the season. Cabrera allowed five runs and struck out eight batters in 5 1/3 innings for the Sox last season after putting up a 1.71 ERA for Class AAA Pawtucket. Both Saito and Green contributed heavily to Boston's big-league team last season.

• LHP Billy Wagner has received interest from eight teams, including the Red Sox, Nationals, Braves, Astros and Orioles, according to a FoxSports.com report that quoted his agent, Bean Stringfellow. The free agent reliever has interest in potentially coming back to the Sox in a left-handed setup role under the right circumstances, but all of the other teams appear to be speaking with Wagner about the closer's role. Wagner is a Type A free agent and would cost any other signing team draft-pick compensation should the Sox elect to offer Wagner salary arbitration.

• OF Jason Bay won his first career Silver Slugger award after setting career highs in both home runs (36) and RBIs (119) in his first full season with the Red Sox. The Silver Slugger is awarded to the best offensive player in both the American League and National League at each position, and Bay marks the only Sox player to earn the honor this season. Bay led all AL outfielders with the home run and RBI totals and finished third with a .921 on-base-plus-slugging percentage before hitting free agency this winter. "It's exciting to win my first Silver Slugger," Bay said to WEEI.com via a text message, "especially given the number of great offensive outfielders in the AL."

• RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka doesn't appear to be in any danger of falling back into the poor shape he found himself last spring, and he is rumored to be headed to API (Athletes Performance Institute) this winter to augment his offseason regimen. 2B Dustin Pedroia and 1B Kevin Youkilis have regularly attended the Arizona training facility, and Pedroia indicated that the Japanese ace may be headed there in the next few months. "He was noticeably different when he came back to Boston, and he's got a workout regime he's carried on in Japan. I haven't discussed his offseason schedule with him," Matsuzaka's agent, Scott Boras, told reporters at the GM meetings. "I think players have to come in in great shape. Their talent is best served when they're in great shape. Anything other than that, I think it's an issue both the players and their camp and the team and their camp should earnestly discuss if that's not the case."

By The Numbers:

$5—The increase in ticket prices announced Nov. 16 by the Red Sox to Fenway Park seats in the field box, loge box, Green Monster and Green Monster standing-room areas.

Quote To Note:

"You're not going to find backup catchers who have that ability, that game-calling experience. He kind of gets run into the ground physically. He's caught a lot of games. Some of that is my responsibility, too. But I think that in the situation we have, hopefully, upcoming, he can really excel in that."

—Manager Terry Francona, talking to 850 WEEI about the possibility of C Jason Varitek excelling in a backup role.

The Red Sox have some real issues that need to be addressed on their roster, but they don't appear to have a lot of freedom for wholesale changes other than hoping for healthier, more productive seasons from Mike Lowell at third base and David Ortiz at designated hitter. The biggest challenge for the Sox next season figures to be in left field; Jason Bay took his 36 home runs, 119 RBIs and 103 runs to the free agent market.

Biggest Needs:

The Red Sox badly need to find another dynamic bat for the middle of their lineup that will help address the team's inability to carry the offensive pace away from Fenway Park. A replacement for Jason Bay in left field becomes a major priority should the free agent sign elsewhere, and the Sox will also be in the market for a shortstop if they don't re-sign Alex Gonzalez after turning down his $6 million team option.

Arrival:

OF Jeremy Hermida (trade with Marlins).

Departures:

LHP Hunter Jones (traded to Marlins), C George Kottaras (claimed off waivers by Brewers).

Free Agents:

OF Jason Bay, LHP Billy Wagner, SS Alex Gonzalez, OF Rocco Baldelli, RHP Paul Byrd, RHP Takashi Saito, SS Nick Green.

The Red Sox declined the options on Saito and Gonzalez, but they still have interest in bringing Gonzalez back at less than the $6 million price tag on his option. Bay is the big-ticket free agent this winter, and the Sox have no ready-made solution for a slugging outfielder should he sign elsewhere. Wagner has indicated through his agent that he may be willing to return to Boston, but the Sox are only interested if he's willing to accept a setup role.

Arbitration-eligible:

OF Brian Anderson, RHP Manny Delcarmen, OF Jeremy Hermida, 1B Casey Kotchman, LHP Hideki Okajima, RHP Jonathan Papelbon, RHP Ramon Ramirez.

Papelbon could net anywhere from $8 million to $10 million this winter. It's expected that the Sox will offer arbitration to everyone on the list with the possible exception of Anderson.

In Limbo:

RHP Jonathan Papelbon was mentioned in trade rumors immediately following his blow-up in Game 3 of the AL Division Series, but it's less about one playoff game and more about (1) his rising cost and (2) his potential on the trade market two years away from free agency. The fact is, the 28-year-old closer had to work that much harder for his 38 saves and 1.85 ERA this season than in past years. He could be traded if Boston could get a big-time bat or a young, top-of-the-line starting pitcher in return.

Medical Watch:

RHP Tim Wakefield (back surgery in October 2009) expects to be ready for the start of spring training.

SS Nick Green (back surgery in November 2009) should be ready by spring training.