Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew has a herniated disk in his back, but is optimistic the pain will subside without a trip to the disabled list.

Drew left an Aug. 17 game with tightness in his lower back and missed all three games of Boston's recent series in Baltimore. He was expected to return to the lineup yesterday but had to be scratched when the soreness returned.

"We've got to figure out and get to a point where I don't want to miss any more time. It could be better tomorrow, it could be better on Sunday," he said before the Red Sox played Toronto last night.

Drew is batting .280 with 19 homers and 64 RBIs.

"For whatever reason, my back is really guarding against letting that spasm out," Drew said. "It's tough, because when I sit down and get relaxed, I try to stand up and I'm stiff and it's hard to get moving."

Drew, who has faced back pain throughout the season, went to Toronto's Mount Sinai hospital yesterday where doctors diagnosed the herniated disk, prescribed a course of anti-inflammatory drugs and gave Drew an MRI exam.

In other injury news, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said right-handers Josh Beckett and Tim Wakefield will both throw in the bullpen today, while infielder Julio Lugo (quadriceps) is not yet ready to begin a minor league rehab assignment.

ELSEWHERE

Instant replay: Baseball owners and players were close to finalizing an agreement on instant replay, and an announcement on the start of the innovation likely will be announced next week. Management and the umpires' union signed an agreement Wednesday, leaving a deal with players as the next step. That process was just about wrapped up, two people familiar with the talks said yesterday.

Royals: Kansas City placed reliever Ron Mahay on the disabled list yesterday, with injured third baseman Alex Gordon almost certain to join him soon. Mahay has plantar fasciitis on his left foot. Gordon, who was hitting .254 with 14 home runs and 51 RBIs, tore a muscle in his right leg Thursday at Cleveland.

Rangers: Texas activated Hank Blalock from the 15-day disabled list for last night's game against Cleveland, with the former All-Star third baseman making his major league debut at first base. Blalock has been out since July 29 because of inflammation in his right shoulder.

Astros: Houston activated infielder Jose Castillo for last night's game against the New York Mets after picking him up off waivers from the Giants. Castillo was placed on outright waivers by San Francisco on July 13 and the Astros claimed him a week later.

Tigers: Nate Robertson, who gave up five home runs in a start Wednesday at Texas, was placed in Detroit's bullpen yesterday. Robertson has won only once in his past 11 starts, is 7-10 with a 6.09 ERA and opponents are hitting .318 off him in 26 starts.