Offseason? Not by a long shot.

"We have a lot of needs," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said yesterday in a conference call with reporters. "We probably have more needs than we've had in the last couple of years."

Epstein spoke yesterday in generic terms about the Sox' winter plans, and rest and recreation weren't among them. Judging by the holes he feels the need to address, the Sox' front office could be busy right up to the day pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers.

"In no particular order," he said, "I think we need a starting pitcher; we need a couple of relievers, at least one left-handed; I think we need a right fielder; we need a backup catcher; we need a shortstop, and then [we need to] fill out the bench with quality players who complement the regulars . . . as well as [a second baseman]."

Few names were mentioned, and Epstein said some of the problems might be solved by re-signing some of the Sox players who've filed for free agency. A published report yesterday said the team was close to an agreement with utility infielder Alex Cora on a two-year deal, which would help bolster the bench.

Epstein, however, did comment on several players, among them:

Keith Foulke

As expected, Epstein announced the Red Sox declined the $7.5-million option for 2007 on Foulke's contract. They sent word to the veteran reliever and his agent yesterday, informing him they would pay him the $1.5-million buyout.

Foulke now has until Friday to exercise his option on the contract. If he chooses, he can come back to Boston for $2.75 million. If he declines, he'll become a free agent.

DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

Epstein declined comment on the standout Japanese right-hander, who is expected to be the subject of a major-league bidding war. The Red Sox, however, are among the teams expected to submit sealed bids -- perhaps as much as $20 million -- by today's 5 p.m. deadline to try to secure exclusive negotiating rights with the 26-year-old Matsuzaka and his agent, Scott Boras, during a 30-day window.

JONATHAN PAPELBON

Epstein reported that Papelbon, who was shut down with a month to go in the season because of shoulder weakness, is having "no problems whatsoever with his shoulder. He's at a normal point in his off-season program. I think he used the adjective 'great' to describe the way his shoulder feels.

"The reports are terrific," he said.

COCO CRISP

Epstein said the medical word on Crisp, who underwent surgery in September to fix the finger he broke in April, is just as upbeat.

"Crisp is doing very well," he said. "All indications right now are that it's healing normally and he's on schedule."

ALEX GONZALEZ

Epstein said the door would remain open for conversations with the free-agent shortstop and that the Sox "certainly have an interest in bringing Alex back at the right price . . . [But] I think it's in his interest to test the free-agent waters.

"We'll keep the dialogue going and see if there's a mutual step."

JULIAN TAVAREZ

Tavarez was one of the team's few late-season surprises, pitching well in a starting role after injuries decimated the rotation, but Epstein said he thinks the Sox will be able to acquire at least one starting pitcher in the offseason "and Julian will be back in a setup role in the bullpen. But it's always nice to know you have an option should someone go down, an internal option to provide depth in the starting rotation."

DUSTIN PEDROIA

"We feel he's right on the cusp of being ready," Epstein said of the young middle infielder, who struggled in his six weeks with the Sox. "A lot of it depends on how the offseason goes, both from an organizational standpoint as well as what he's able to accomplish this winter as far as getting himself in condition to possibly play every day at the big-league level. So it could go either way."

The Sox also made a series of personnel moves yesterday, the most noteworthy of which was the hiring of ex-Angels shortstop Gary DiSarcina, who has spent the last two years as a studio analyst on NESN, as a baseball operations consultant.

amartone@projo.com / (401) 277-7345