This release from the Red Sox:

The Boston Red Sox tonight announced that the club will not tender 2011 contracts to right-handed pitcher Taylor Buchholz and left-handed pitchers Andrew Miller and Hideki Okajima.

As a result, Buchholz, Miller and Okajima will become free agents. The Red Sox tendered 2011 contracts to the other 21 unsigned players on their Major League roster.

Teams had a deadline of 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday night to tender 2011 contracts to all unsigned players on their Major League rosters. Any players not tendered contracts are granted free agency.

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Just to be clear, the Red Sox can still sign Okajima, Miller and/or Buchholz as free agents.

It's not readily apparent why they would acquire Buchholz (off waivers on Nov. 15) and Miller (trade with Florida on Nov. 12) and non-tender them less than a month later. The Sox actually seemed happy to get Miller at the time.

It will all become clear at some point, presumably. The obviously think they can find better relievers elsewhere or sign these guys for less money then they might have receivd through arbitration. At any rate, the 40-man roster is at 37.