LAS VEGAS -- Except for the "offer" of arbitration, which he declined, free agent catcher Jason Varitek has not received a contractual offer from the Red Sox, a source familiar with the talks said.

Varitek's agent, Scott Boras, had been asked at a press briefing Wednesday last night whether Varitek had received an offer from the ballclub, to which he replied in the affirmative.

Here is the transcription of Boras's comments about Varitek last night, as provided by the Globe's Adam Kilgore:

On Varitek's interest in Boston:

Boras: I think that Tek has always been a person -- he's the captain of a team, which is a rare event. And certainly Boston has let us know we want him back. We're talking about it. We also have to go out and look into other situations that will be able to him.

On the Sox' interest in Varitek:

Boras: Well, I mean, look, when a major league team approaches you about a player and offers them a contract, I guess that's serious.

So he has been offered?

Boras: Yes.

Guess it ultimately depends on what your interpretation of the word "offer" means.

It does appear that Varitek's options have thinned out during these meetings. The Tigers acquired Gerald Laird, the Reds added Ramon Hernandez, and the Dodgers were one team that indicated their interest in Varitek was curtailed after the Red Sox offered the 37-year-old catcher arbitration, meaning that it would cost the team that signed him a No. 1 draft pick since he is a Type A free agent.

Chad Finn of the Globe staff contributed to this report.