Just heard from free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal’s agent, Paul Kinzer. As has been the case since Furcal filed, the Red Sox have not had any contact with Kinzer about the shortstop.

     The Red  Sox today announced the hiring of Tim Bogar  as their first base coach for 2009. Bogar replaces Luis Alicea, who was not invited back after the 2008 season. Bogar’s hiring rounds out the major league coaching staff foe next season

     Bogar last year served as an assistant major league coach with the Tampa Bay Rays, helping with infield and baserunning instruction. He also provided advance series preparation.

     Before joining Tampa’s staff, Bogar managed for two seasons each in the Houston and Cleveland organizations, during which time he compiled a  .591 winning percentage and qualifying for the post-seaosn three times. He was named Eastern League Manager of the Year in 2006.

     In his nine seasons as a player in the big leagues — mostly as a shortstop – he played with the Mets, Astros and Dodgers, compiling a .228 lifetime average.

Agent Scott Boras said that the Red Sox have not made a one-year offer for free agent Jason Varitek.

“I’ve had no financial discussions with (Red Sox GM) Theo (Epstein) regarding Jason Varitek,” said Boras a few minutes ago.

A report on weei.com today said that according to sources familiar with negotiations, the Red Sox first contract offer was for one year for an undetermined amount, though the money was not near the AAV ($13.1 million) received by Jorge Posada last offseason.

A Red Sox source just confirmed that a trade of Coco Crisp to the Royals for right-handed reliever Ramon Ramirez is complete and will be announced at noon.

An employee at radio station WHB-810 in Kansas City confirmed that the station is reporting that a trade is done between the Red Sox and Royals, with center fielder Coco Crisp going to Kansas City in exchange for reliever Ramon Ramirez. The Herald is currently working to verify the accuracy of the report but in the interests of keeping our readers abreast of what radio listeners in Kansas City are hearing this morning, we are passing along the intriguing development.