Still a few spots before their eyes

With just more than a month remaining before the Red Sox begin to head to Fort Myers, Fla., (reporting date for pitchers and catchers is Feb. 12), they still find themselves with the same holes they had at the start of free agency. Though they did add a backup catcher (Josh Bard) and a new competitor for the utility infielder position (Nick Green), there are still spots for a starting catcher and fourth outfielder.

And since the team probably isn't holding open tryouts any time soon, it seems likely general manager Theo Epstein will have a few more deals to announce in the next month.

As for a catcher, the market for Jason Varitek continues to be nonexistent, leaving the Sox as likely front-runners for his services. Epstein yesterday declined to speak about any conversations he has had with Varitek's agent, Scott Boras, on the free agent catcher. "We'll see," Epstein said about finding a starting catcher. "We'll continue to look at our options and see what develops."

But the end of the holiday season seemed to snap agents and general managers back into dealing mode. Pat Burrell (Rays) and Milton Bradley (Cubs) were two of the big names to come off the unemployment lines yesterday, and there was news that Jason Giambi could be close to returning to Oakland.

Though the Sox were not in the market for any of those players, the movement, coupled with the dwindling time before spring training, might mean that the Boston version of the Hot Stove actually could start heating up. But Epstein didn't sound particularly worried.

"We have a strong nucleus of young players, veterans coming back," he said. "It's a good mix, similar mix to what we had last year."

The Sox agreed to terms on a minor league deal yesterday with Green, a righthanded-hitting infielder. He will receive an invitation to major league camp to compete for the utility infielder's job. Green, 30, has a .240 career batting average with four teams (Atlanta, Tampa Bay, the Yankees, and Seattle) . . . The signing of free agent pitcher Brad Penny is likely to become official this week. The deal was pending a physical . . . Matt Sczesny, a former Sox minor league player, manager, and scout, died Sunday on Long Island after battling cancer. He was 76. Among the players Sczesny signed were Mo Vaughn, John Valentin, and Bob Stanley . . . Dustin Pedroia and his wife, Kelli, were among a half-dozen baseball couples that had dinner at the White House Sunday night.

The annual Red Sox Rookie Program began yesterday in Boston for 13 prospects. Participating in the program, which seeks to teach the players about conditioning, strength training, fundamentals, and major league life off the field, will be pitchers Daniel Bard, Felix Doubront, Kris Johnson, Richie Lentz, Adam Mills, Dewon Day, Wes Littleton, and Dustin Richardson, catcher Mark Wagner, infielders Lars Anderson and Argenis Diaz, and outfielders Zach Daeges and Josh Reddick. The group will have an autograph signing at the Official Red Sox Team Store on Yawkey Way Friday from 4:30-6:30 p.m., for a $20 donation to the Red Sox Foundation . . . Organizers of Hot Stove Cool Music, the concert series founded by Peter Gammons, will host a roundtable Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at Fenway Park before the concert that night at the Paradise. The roundtable will feature Gammons, Epstein, Pedroia, CC Sabathia, Torii Hunter, Terry Francona, and Harold Reynolds. Tickets can be purchased for $100 at hotstovecoolmusic.org.

Nick Cafardo of the Globe staff contributed to this report; Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com