"It is awkward for both sides.

Clearly the Red Sox have moved on from Jason Varitek as their primary catching option. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is entrenched as the No. 1 catcher and the team signed veteran Kelly Shoppach in December and rookie Ryan Lavarnway is knocking on the door.

In response to a tweet by Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that the team was offering Varitek a spring training invitation as a non-roster player, Sox general manager Ben Cherington texted he has not yet made a formal offer of any kind to the 39-year-old - although Sox sources indicate that likely will be the scenario.

Cherington and agent Scott Boras have been in contact all winter on Varitek and Jacoby Ellsbury, who is negotiating a deal that will keep him from arbitration before Tuesday's deadline. Boras has said that he expects the team will offer Varitek a deal."