ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -The Boston Red Sox recalled right-hander Devern Hansack from Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday to strengthen their bullpen.
The AL wild card-leading Red Sox also activated right-hander Bartolo Colon from the 60-day disabled list and optioned him to Pawtucket to start an International League playoff game Sunday. And outfielder J.D. Drew, out since Aug. 18 with a strained lower back, could be activated next week.
Drew said his back has improved and hasn't bothered him while taking batting practice and catching flyballs.
``If he's feeling good, that's a great sign,'' manager Terry Francona said. ``It's been a while. You can activate anytime you want, but that doesn't mean as much as playing.''
Colon has been out since mid-June because of a lower back strain. To make room on the 40-man roster for Colon, the Red Sox designated right-hander Marcus McBeth for assignment.
Francona said left-hander David Aardsma, out since July 19 with a right groin strain, will pitch at least an inning in relief for Class A Lowell in a playoff game Tuesday night.
Hansack was 6-10 with a 4.08 ERA in 25 starts for Pawtucket, but Francona said he planned to use Hansack in relief.
``It gives our bullpen some depth, in case something happens, somebody takes a ball off a shin,'' Francona said. ``And he's throwing the ball well. The last outing was about as well as he's thrown the ball so we're getting him at a time when he's hot.''
Hansack, 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA in five games for the Red Sox in 2006-07, threw six hitless innings for Pawtucket on Thursday in a 3-1 win over Scranton-Wilkes-Barre in the International League playoffs.
