According to Rob Bradford of WEEI, the Boston Red Sox have offered catcher Victor Martinez a two-year contract. The free-agent-to-be was taken by surprise at the timing of the offer.

“It wasn’t hard because it wasn’t something I was expecting,” Martinez said. “I wasn’t expecting a two-year deal. I wasn’t expecting them to come to me during the season, anyways.”

Earlier this month, Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe said the Red Sox are trying to throw something out there to let him know that they want him, and keep him away from free agency. At the time, Cafardo that Martinez may fall into the four-year, $60 million range, and the Sox may not believe he may be worth that.

Martinez, 31, is hitting .288/.336/.461 in 105 games for the Red Sox this season. He is making $7.7 million on his team option in 2010.