Reports from Japanese Baseball sources are more plentiful and pretty much all over the map. Reports vary that the Sox have made either a $3 million or $6 million offer for at least the next three years. Either the Braves or the Rangers have topped that offer, say assorted media outlets, with Texas possibly offering a four-year deal.

Most reports seem to concur that Tazawa is leaning heavily toward accepting the Red Sox' offer, with some suggesting that the former Nippon Oil starter is only days away from making a decision and soon could be in Boston for a physical.

``Now that these offers are on the table, a conclusion will be reached in three or four days,'' Hideaki Okubo, who until just a couple of days ago was manager of Tazawa's Nippon Oil team, told the Associated Press in Tokyo.

One major league scout from an AL Central team said recently that he personally clocked Tazawa at 94 mph. Other reports say that he tops out in the low 90s. He also reportedly throws a plus curveball, changeup and splitter.

Red Sox notes

Agent Scott Boras denied that he had received a one-year contract offer from the Sox for free agent catcher Jason Varitek.

``I've had no financial discussions with (Red Sox general manager) Theo (Epstein) regarding Jason Varitek,'' Boras said.

The Sox are considering a number of options when it comes to who would replace Varitek. If the captain winds up elsewhere (the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers are expected to show interest), another catcher likely would have to come in via trade. The club is believed to be open-minded about signing Varitek to a two-year deal.

At the GM meetings this month, Boras cited the New York Yankees' Jorge Posada ($13.1 million per year) as a benchmark for Varitek. Boras has since said he is not seeking Posada money.

- msilverman@bostonherald.com