The Red Sox have most of their team under contract or team control, but we will look at the contracts that need to be dealt with this offseason. Here’s what the front office needs to do and by when:

Important Dates
Jan 5-15 Players file for salary arbitration
Jan 12 BBWAA Hall of Fame voting announcement
Jan 13-15 Owners’ Meeting, Phoenix, AZ
Jan 20 Arbitration figures exhanged
Feb 1-21 Salary arbitration hearings
Feb 14 Report date for World Baseball Classic
Mar 2-11 Teams may renew contracts of unsigned players
Mar 5-23 World Baseball Classic
Apr 1 Last day to unconditionally release a player without paying the full 2009 salary
Apr 5 Opening Day, 25-man rosters active

Potential Free Agents
Jason Varitek, C: Wants a multi-year deal, but Sox must deal with his declining skills and agent Scott Boras.
Mark Kotsay, OF: Wants to play regularly, but no place for him here.
Paul Byrd, SP: Veteran 5th starter isn’t needed here. Type B status makes him even more expendable.
Curt Schilling, SP: Expects to come back for part of the 2009 season, willing to pitch here or elsewhere.
Mike Timlin, RP: May be interested in another go-round, but it won’t be here.
Alex Cora, 2B/SS: With four middle infielders on the roster, is he ready to become a coach now?
Sean Casey, 1B: Wants to stay, but given the way Francona avoided playing him late in the year, I don’t think he’s coming back.
Kevin Cash, C: Has been non-tendered by the Sox, making him a free agent. He may return on a minor league deal.
Bartolo Colon, SP: Has already bailed, so no contract for you!

Option years
David Ross, C: Declined his option, and he has signed with Atlanta.
Hideki Okajima, RP: $1.75M option is a no-brainer.

Arbitration-eligible
Kevin Youkilis, 1B: His salary will jump from $3M to probably $5-6M in order to avoid arbitration.
Javier Lopez, RP: His excellent season will earn him another year on this roster.
Jonathan Papelbon, RP: He may want a long-term deal, but his shoulder continues to worry the Sox brass.

One-year Renewals/Non-Tenders
Dustin Pedroia, 2B: Signed long-term, baby!
Jon Lester, SP: It just isn’t right for these guys to get paid pennies, don’t you think? They still get nine times what I make.
Manny Delcarmen, RP: They’re not ready to give up on him yet, but he could be trade bait.
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF: He puts the “O” in O-Water, but in two more years he’ll be putting them into his salary.
David Aardsma, RP: I’d be surprised to see this cheap talent go.
Clay Buchholz, SP: He’ll be in the mix come Spring Training.
Jed Lowrie, SS: He’ll be renewed near the league minimum.
David Pauley, SP: Out of options and will likely be non-tendered by the Sox, since there’s no room on the 25-man roster.

Released
Chris Smith, RP: Cleared waivers, chose to become a free agent.
Gil Velazquez, 2B: Cleared waivers and chose to become a free agent.

A big thanks to Cot’s Contracts and SoxProspects.com for the info here. I will keep this page updated, so please email me at redsoxtalk at gmail dot com with updates.