Jason Varitek’s days as a catcher and leader in the Red Sox clubhouse could soon end. Then again, maybe not.

The Providence Journal / Gretchen Ertl

Until Jason Varitek re-signs with the Boston Red Sox, or signs a deal with another club, this is the way it’s going to be.

Until Mark Teixeira returns to the Angels, or ends up in another organization, this is the way it’s going to be.

Until CC Sabathia, Manny Ramirez, Derek Lowe, A.J. Burnett and Francisco Rodriguez settle their contract situations, this is the way it’s going to be.

Got it?

Welcome to the free-agent market, the offseason edition.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year in the baseball world. The time of denying, supplying and creating news in a he-said, she-said manner. Executives, general managers, agents, players and the media are intertwined in a maze of speculation.

Usually it’s not until the annual winter meetings the second week of December where most deals are completed, while the rest should be done by the end of the month. So respective players know where they will be playing.

Case in point: The Red Sox hot stove heated up yesterday morning when the Web site of a Boston sports-talk radio station, WEEI.com reported that the Red Sox offered their team captain, Jason Varitek, a one-year contract. Varitek’s agent Scott Boras denied the report and told the Boston Herald that he has “had no financial discussions” with Red Sox GM Theo Epstein.

Calls and text messages to Boras were not returned.

Epstein will not discuss publicly the Sox’ role in negotiations with any player until a deal is finalized.

But he did say during the GM meetings in California earlier this month that he has had talks with agents, including Boras, to “lay the foundation” for negotiations .

Boras believes Varitek, 36, who struggled at the plate in 2008, will sign a long-term deal with a club. It’s very unlikely Epstein and company will give the aging catcher anything more than a two-year offer even though Boras is seeking a four-year deal.

Trying to figure out Varitek’s worth now is another discussion.

There’s no denying he is one of the most well-prepared catchers in the game. Some may argue they can live with his offensive decline — a career-worst .220 with 13 homers and 43 RBI in 2008 — as long as Varitek continues to run the club’s pitching staff well and display leadership.

Boras has said he believes Varitek can bring those qualities to another club. From a baseball standpoint, the super agent is probably right. From a leadership standpoint, it will be different for Varitek if he is employed somewhere else.

He has earned the respect of players throughout the league, but he won’t have the same kind of clout in another clubhouse than he has at Fenway Park.

Because the catching market is thin, the Red Sox should offer their captain a two-year deal in the range of $20 million and Varitek should take it. Boras, however, won’t go for it.

Varitek isn’t the only high-end free agent the Red Sox have interest in.

Teixeira is one of the more gifted players in baseball. If the Red Sox were to land the first baseman, it would cost them bigtime, especially since Boras represents Teixeira.

Ramirez is a player the Red Sox are not interested in. The slugger is looking for a large contract. And he’s represented by Boras. Derek Lowe — Boras.

Boras does not represent Sabathia, who has heard offers from the Brewers and Yankees. The clubs are waiting for him to respond.

Burnett, who is represented by Darek Braunecker, is very interested in pitching for the Red Sox.

“We’re obviously still working through the process right now,” said Braunecker. “In regards to the Red Sox, it’s safe to say there is mutual interest.”

Until the ink is dry on the free-agent contracts, the rumor mill will continue to churn out of control.