NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The prospect of a deal for Johan Santana hasn't consumed the Red Sox entirely here. General manager Theo Epstein has found time to talk about other - albeit less sexy - deals.

"We have other things going on as well,'' Epstein said last night. "They're smaller deals… Most of them are bench-related and some are a combination of adding bench depth and and acquiring players that can help us in the future.''

One report Monday suggested that the Sox and Colorado Rockies were talking about a deal that would send Jed Lowrie to the Rockies for lefty reliever Brian Fuentes, but that was dismissed by officials from both clubs.

The Rockies do, however, have an interest in landing Julian Tavarez, whom the Sox are marketing as an inexpensive, experienced starter with the versatility to pitch out of the bullpen, too.

The Sox are looking to add a corner infielder, a backup catcher and perhaps a fourth outfielder along with some bullpen help to augment Hideki Okajima, Manny Delcarmen and Mike Timlin in the set-up role.