Carlton has commenced contract talks with restricted free agent Eddie Betts and hopes to re-sign him before round 14, football manager Andrew McKay says.

McKay told AFL.com.au on Tuesday the Blues' discussions with Betts were still in their "infancy", with the 26-year-old small forward having delayed talks until he resumed from a three-week suspension last round.

But McKay said Carlton was confident Betts would turn his back on free agency and re-sign with the Blues over their round 13 bye.

"Eddie wanted to start playing after his suspension before we started talking," McKay said. 

"We've only just started again and we'll really get stuck into it in the bye weekend. Eddie's keen to wrap it all up by the end of the bye fortnight.

"I think we'll be fine. We don't see any problems. It sounds like Eddie wants to stay, which is good."

Betts has played 171 games for the Blues since making his debut in round one, 2005.

He finished second in Carlton's 2012 best and fairest and was its leading goalkicker in 2010 and 2012.

Injury and suspension have limited Betts to just five games and eight goals this season.

As a restricted free agent, even if Betts ultimately decides to explore free agency, Carlton can keep him by matching any opposition offers.

This year's other remaining restricted free agents included Lance Franklin (Hawthorn), Dale Thomas (Collingwood), Adam Cooney (Western Bulldogs) and Mark LeCras (West Coast).

If Betts re-signs, the Blues will have just one remaining free agent this season, last year's best and fairest winner, Heath Scotland.

The 32-year-old Scotland is an unrestricted free agent but is highly likely to remain with the Blues or retire.

The Blues re-signed their other 2013 free agent, Andrew Carrazzo, in March to the end of 2015.