Red Sox GM Theo Epstein (AP)

In recent years, the GM Meetings have been described as nothing more than a prelude to the real work of the offseason. This year, work has started early.

There was a flurry of actual activity on the first day of the general managers’ meetings in Orlando. Among the most notable developments:

–The Marlins closed in on a three-year, $18 million deal with John Buck (more on that here). Implications for the Red Sox: Buck represented the best catching alternative to Victor Martinez on the free agent market. That said, Rob Bradford reports that “the Sox’ interest in Buck was limited due to the cost the 30-year-old was going to command in the open market, along with the fact Buck had produced at a high level offensively (.281, 20 home runs) for just one year.”

Still, even if the Sox had only limited interest in Buck, they now lose the option of using him to bluff regarding their fallback plans for Martinez. Moreover, the fact that Buck received a three-year guarantee means that it will be hard to imagine a deal for Martinez of less than four or even five years.

–The Marlins traded Dan Uggla to the Braves in exchange for infielder Omar Infante and left-handed reliever Mike Dunn. (More on the deal here.) Implications for the Red Sox: Hypothetically, Uggla might have represented an alternative to Adrian Beltre in the third base market of Carl Crawford/Jayson Werth in the left field market had the Sox failed to sign any of them. That said, he is viewed as an imperfect fit for just about any position, so the significance of his move to the Braves is relatively low, except for the fact that it further strengthens the already considerable leverage of Beltre as the best third baseman available this offseason.

–The Cardinals re-signed free-agent Jake Westbrook to a two-year, $16.5 million deal. Implications for the Red Sox: Not many, although Westbrook’s signing does thin out an already weak class (behind Cliff Lee) of free agent starters. Conceivably, then, if the Sox decided to make a starter such as Daisuke Matsuzaka or Felix Doubront available, the fact that Westbrook and Ted Lilly are off the market could only help them.

That was the actual news at the GM Meetings. As for the rumors related to the Red Sox, broken down position-by-position:

CATCHER

–Depending on what happens with the catching market — and foremost, whether Victor Martinez re-signs — GM Theo Epstein said that the Sox would be comfortable having Jarrod Saltalamacchia serve as an everyday catcher.

“We’ll probably have a more experienced guy on roster than him as well, but I think we’re comfortable with him in a role anywhere from a back-up, to job-share, to everyday guy, depending on how rest of club shapes up,” Epstein explained. “Hee really impressed the staff, who really had no vested interest in him. He really opened some eyes, from the manager [Terry Francona] to Gary Tuck to pitching coach [by] the way he handled pitchers, the way he threw, the way he conducted himself in the clubhouse. He was impressive to everybody.”

THIRD BASE

–The Boston Globe reported that the Sox won’t go beyond four years and $52 million for Beltre, and that the team seems “to be on the same kind of path” with Martinez. Jon Heyman of SI.com (via Twitter) suggested that a dozen teams were in on Beltre.

SHORTSTOP

–The Sox are open to trading shortstop Marco Scutaro and have encountered interest in him from multiple teams, according to FoxSports.com. The report suggests that the Red Sox believe their best team is one that would feature both Scutaro and Jed Lowrie on the roster. That said, in a particularly thin class of free-agent shortstops, the Sox appear willing to listen to offers on Scutaro if trading him would help them address another roster area such as the bullpen.

Scutaro hit .275/.333/.378/.721 with 11 homers and 56 RBI, spending most of the year as the leadoff hitter, in the first-year of a guaranteed two-year, $12.5 million deal. He will receive a salary of $5 million in 2011, with a $6 million team option (that has a $1.5 million buyout), a $3 million player option. If Scutaro were dealt, it would likely mean a starting job for Lowrie, who hit .287/.381/.526/.907 in 55 games after returning to the majors in late-July.

OUTFIELD

–While a report surfaced on Tuesday that the Sox had made inquiries with the Diamondbacks about the availability of outfielder Justin Upton, a source told WEEI.com that there were “no legs” to conversations about the 23-year-old superstar. The New York Post suggested that the Sox have concerns about Upton’s left shoulder. The 23-year-old missed much of Sept. due to a strained labrum.

RELIEF PITCHING

–While the Red Sox typically prefer short-term deals for relievers owing to the year-to-year vicissitudes of bullpen performances, Epstein said that “there’s a good chance” that the Sox will commit to a reliever for multiple years, a reflection of the team’s needs and market realities.

“I’m not opposed to the right multi-year deal for the right reliever,” said Epstein.

–According to Heyman (via Twitter), the Red Sox are encountering a “very weak” trade market for closer Jonathan Papelbon. Heyman adds that “word is [the Sox] would pay a bit of his arbitration windfall in the right deal.” Papelbon made $9.35 million in 2010, and his salary is expected to rise to the ballpark of $12 million in 2011, his final season of pre-free-agent arbitration eligibility.

–The Sox will have newly acquired left-handed pitcher Andrew Miller begin working with the team in the next few weeks to “build a foundation,” in Epstein’s words, for spring training. Miller, the sixth overall pick in the 2006 draft, is out of minor league options, so he will need to make the club out of spring training or else he would likely be lost to waivers. He was 1-5 with an 8.54 ERA in 2010 for the Marlins.

DESIGNATED HITTER

–Red Sox DH David Ortiz told ESPN.com that, despite his preference for a multi-year deal, he was “fine” with the Sox’ decision to exercise his $12.5 million option to return in 2011.

“I was trying to get something different,” Ortiz told the website. “I wanted to stay here longer. But I got what the team offered me, and I’m fine with it.

“My agent tried to talk with [the Red Sox] about something else, but that didn’t work out. I thought what I’ve done here in Boston was well-deserving of two years, but I can’t do nothing about it now except come back and play.

The 34-year-old (Ortiz turns 35 tomorrow) added that he didn’t want to be perceived as greedy just because he was interested in a multi-year deal.

“People got the wrong idea when they heard me say I wanted more years. They thought I was greedy. They thought I wanted something I didn’t earn,” he said in the story. “I know it’s all about business. I know I have to produce. If I didn’t, I’d be sitting home doing nothing, eating all sorts of crap, instead of taking care of myself.

“I can’t go back to 27 again, but I just came out of a good year. You can’t blame me for asking for something I felt I deserved. It’s not like I came out of a terrible season and asked for a lot of money.

“I came out of a good season. I hit for power, knocked in runs. I did what I was supposed to do. People want to say I’m declining.

“I don’t feel that way.”

BENCH

–The Red Sox have already stated their interest in bringing back utility man Bill Hall. But it appears they could have divisional competition for his services, as FoxSports.com reports that the Yankees — whose hitting coach, Kevin Long, works out with Hall in the offseason — are also interested in the versatile 30-year-old, who hit 18 homers in 119 games for the Sox last year.

COACHING STAFF

–Aside from the addition of new pitching coach Curt Young, who replaces John Farrell (now the Blue Jays manager), it appears there won’t be any changes to the Red Sox coaching staff, as bench coach DeMarlo Hale will not be asked to take part in a second-round interview with the Mets.