Slugging free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira is in the Red Sox’ sights.

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AP / Elise Amendola

BOSTON –– Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein has kept himself and his staff busy this offseason.

Beginning Sunday night, he’s only going to get busier.

Baseball executives, general managers and agents will gather in Las Vegas for the annual winter meetings, which officially begin on Monday, with their to-do lists in hand.

Epstein and the Red Sox have plenty of business to attend to, including free agents Jason Varitek and Mark Teixeira. Boston is also in search of a right-handed bat off the bench (possibly Rhode Island’s Rocco Baldelli) who can be the club’s fourth outfielder.

The Sox’ middle infield is set, with second baseman Dustin Pedroia and shortstops Jed Lowrie and Julio Lugo, but Epstein said the club will have an addition to the corner positions. That addition could be Teixeira at first base, with Kevin Youkilis shifting to third.

That scenario would leave Mike Lowell in limbo.

The veteran third baseman, who had offseason surgery on his hip and said he’ll be ready for spring training, has two years remaining on his contract. It would be foolish to think that another team would want to acquire him in a trade without seeing how well the 34-year-old responds after the surgery.

No matter what trade is made or which free agent signs, Epstein said yesterday he has certain criteria and rules he emphasizes when putting together his roster. But the goal is always the same.

“We try to acquire players in their prime or entering their prime,” said Epstein. “That’s our focus.”

The current catching situation in Boston is a priority for Epstein & Co. The club offered salary arbitration to Varitek last week. He has until Sunday to decide whether to accept. When asked if it was possible to re-sign Varitek and still make a deal for another catcher, Epstein said, “Sure.”

Having Varitek return with a short-term contract, and trading for a younger catcher with the hope that he will emerge as Varitek’s replacement is a possibility.

“That’s a desirable outcome,” Epstein said. “We also have catchers-in-waiting in the minor leagues who are talented but not quite ready to step into a prominent role right now. We’ll see. I’m confident we’ll find a way to end up with a reputable catching corps that will have us set up for not only 2009, but also the future.”

Since the Red Sox picked up Tim Wakefield’s $4-million option last month, it leaves the club a bit in a bind. Wakefield’s personal catcher, Kevin Cash, is still on the roster and is arbitration-eligible. Cash turns 31 tomorrow, and he proved he can handle the backup role.

But the Sox are looking to shore up their future behind the plate.

It’s possible the Red Sox will deal one of their top pitching prospects to retain the services of a young catcher with major-league experience. Texas’ Gerald Laird, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden are names that have popped up in the rumor mill this offseason.

Saltalamacchia, 23, has been on the Sox’ radar, so don’t be surprised if Epstein attempts to acquire him.

Epstein won’t limit his focus to just one club for a possible catcher. The talent pool in that category is thin nowadays, but the GM believes it’s still viable.

“It’s probably broader than people think,” he said. “Maybe not so deep, but if you study all the clubs, there are more teams with a catcher to move than one might think or is being represented. That doesn’t mean we’ve found a way to match up — yet. We haven’t.”

On the pitching front, there are some major names in the free-agent market.

CC Sabathia will soon choose the club he wants to pitch for. The Yankees and Brewers have already offered him deals, and it’s unlikely the Red Sox are interested. A.J. Burnett is also seeking employment, and he is an option for Boston.

“There are free-agent pitchers we are interested in,” Epstein said. “Some are more realistic targets than others. We’ve worked long and hard to try to build an organization that is not dependent on free-agent pitching signings. It’s not typically a market we enjoy diving into, but with that said, there will be pitchers signed to free-agent deals who go on and are worth every penny and dominate for years to come. We’re rich in a lot of those pitchers, but we have our approach and we’ll probably stick with it.”

jmcdonal@projo.com