BOSTON — As expected, the Boston Red Sox yesterday offered salary arbitration to free agent right-handed relievers Eric Gagne and Mike Timlin, but declined salary arbitration to right-hander Matt Clement, catcher Doug Mirabelli, infielders Royce Clayton and Eric Hinske and outfielder Bobby Kielty.

Offering arbitration to Type B free agents Gagne and Timlin means that if they sign with another club, the team will be compensated with additional draft picks. Both players have until Friday to either accept or decline the offer.

Timlin, a 17-year major-league veteran who has spent the last five seasons in Boston, was 2-1, with a 3.42 ERA and one save in 50 appearances last season.

Gagne, acquired from the Texas Rangers in a trading deadline deal, was expected to strengthen Boston’s bullpen after saving 16 games with 2.16 ERA in Texas. But he sometimes struggled with the Red Sox and had a 2-2 record with a 6.75 ERA in 20 appearances with the team.

The players who were not offered arbitration — including Clement, who missed the 2007 season recovering from surgery on his right shoulder — are still eligible to re-sign with the World Series champions.

Mirabelli, a backup catcher who generally only started when knuckleballer Tim Wakefield was on the mound, hit .202 with five homers and 16 RBI in 48 games.

Clayton had a combined .246 average with one homer and 12 RBI in 77 games with Toronto and Boston. Hinske batted .204 with six homers and 21 RBI in 84 games. Kielty had a .218 average with one homer and 12 RBI in 33 games with Oakland and Boston.

The Red Sox also agreed to terms with free agent outfielder Jonathan Van Every on a contract for the 2008 season. Van Every was added to Boston’s major-league roster. Van Every combined for a .307 batting average with 12 homers and 57 RBI in 95 games for Double-A Akron and Triple-A Buffalo in the Cleveland Indians organization in 2007.