Jason Varitek declined the Red Sox’ offer for arbitration last night, a decision that does not end negotiations between the free agent captain and the team but certainly will prolong them.

Had he accepted before the midnight deadline, Varitek would have forgone the chance to sign a free agent deal with another team and would have been tied to the Sox for at least one more year while the club continued its search for a long-term solution at catcher.

The sides still can talk and likely will do just that at this week’s winter meetings, which begin today at the Bellagio.