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BOSTON -- Needing an extra outfielder in Triple-A Pawtucket after calling up Daniel Nava, the Red Sox made a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies for 36-year-old outfielder Scott Podsednik in exchange for what one baseball source described as "modest" cash considerations.

Podsedsnik is a 10-year big-league veteran who last played in the majors in 2010, with the Royals and Dodgers. He has spent the last two seasons with Lehigh Valley, the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate. He was batting .203 in 22 games this season with Lehigh Valley.

PAWTUCKET -- Carl Crawford’s injured left hamstring apparently passed its tests in the left fielder’s two rehab games for the Pawtucket Red Sox. At least, there were no perceptible issues in his 10 innings of Triple A ball.

But, as was clear Friday and Saturday nights, Crawford’s timing at the plate, not surprisingly, needs more work.

Crawford went 0 for 3 Saturday night, failing to even hit a hard foul ball. He struck out, grounded out and popped up. Defensively, the only action Crawford had in the five innings he was in the lineup consisted of playing catch with a pitcher out of the bullpen prior to each inning.

In his two games in Pawtucket, Crawford went 1 for 5 with a walk. His hit came in his first at-bat Friday night, and was a broken-bat run-scoring single to center. Crawford had one RBI and also scored a run. In the field, he caught the only ball hit his way.

And how did Crawford feel about his health and his performance Saturday night? Well, he apparently wasn’t in the mood to share his thoughts. He didn’t stick around to speak to the media, except for a brief chat with a TV reporter.

PawSox officials told the media after the fact that Crawford had told the clubhouse attendant not to let the media know he was leaving until he was gone for a while. The media wasn’t called down to the clubhouse until a half-hour after Crawford had left.

But unless Crawford, who has been on the disabled list since June18, suffered a twinge Saturday night that will slow his physical progress, it is expected that he will fly to Baltimore Sunday and be activated from the DL in time to play for Boston against the Orioles in Camden Yards on Monday night. That, at least, was the plan before Crawford began his brief rehab stint in Pawtucket.

“The fact he didn’t stick around [to talk to the media] must mean he’s OK,” said Arnie Beyeler, the PawSox manager.

“He got his work in. He was happy with what he did. He came in and got his treatment and got out of here quick,” said Beyeler, adding that he hadn’t heard “anything negative at all” from the Pawtucket training staff concerning Crawford.

There weren’t many highlights for Crawford on Saturday night.

In the first inning, Crawford was overmatched by right-hander Matt Torra’s 90-mile-an-hour inside fastball. Crawford swung and missed the 1-and-2 pitch for a strikeout. The at-bat could have been worse, though. Crawford chopped the first pitch off his right foot, causing him to hobble around a little bit before stepping back into the batter’s box.

Crawford had a chance to test his hamstring in his next at-bat, in the third. He was jammed by an 89-mile-an-hour fastball, hitting a bouncer off the handle wide of first base. He got a good hard break out of the box and hustled down the first-base line, but the throw from first baseman Dan Johnson to Torra covering the bag beat Crawford.

In his final at-bat of the night, Crawford faced left-hander R.J. Swindle with runners on first and third and one out. Swindle features slow and slower pitches. His first five pitches arrived at the plate at 68, 70, 78, 71 and 69 miles an hour. The count went full, and then Swindle jammed Crawford with an 80-mile-an-hour fastball. The result was a weak popup to the third baseman, Daniel Mayora, who caught the ball a step or two in on the infield grass.

And when Crawford’s turn in the batting order came around again, Nate Spears pinch-hit for him in the bottom of the fifth.

“He’s going to have to get his timing and get going again,” said Beyeler. “He knows what he needs [in terms of rehab at-bats]. Hopefully he’s ready to go. Some guys just need the big-league lights to come on and they’re ready to roll.”

PAWTUCKET

1. Nate Spears, DH
2. Yamaico Navarro, 3B
3. Ryan Kalish, CF
4. Daniel Nava, LF
5. Lars Anderson, 1B
6. Drew Sutton, 2B
7. J.C. Linares, RF
8. Luis Exposito, C
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

SP -- Alfredo Aceves, RHP

The Pawtucket Red Sox announced Tuesday that players will wear a patch on their uniforms honoring the late PawSox owner Ben Mondor, who died last October.

The 5.5-by-3.25-inch patch, with the name "BEN" on it, will be affixed to the right sleeve of the team's home uniforms.

“Ben always wore his love of the PawSox on his sleeve so it’s only fitting that we carry BEN on our sleeve for the 2011 season,” said PawSox president Mike Tamburro.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Arnie Beyeler is no stranger to the Boston Red Sox organization.

He’s worked as both a coach and a manager during two different stints (2000-2002 and 2007 to present) in the organization, and he was recently named manager of Triple-A affiliate Pawtucket Red Sox.

Beyeler, 46, was formally introduced at McCoy Stadium on Friday afternoon, as he replaces Torey Lovullo, who is the new first-base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays under manager and former Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell.

Beyeler has managed at Double-A Portland for the past four seasons and was instrumental in the development of numerous Red Sox prospects, including Jacoby Ellsbury, Daniel Bard, Clay Buchholz, Jed Lowrie, Josh Reddick, Ryan Kalish, Daniel Nava, Lars Anderson and Mark Wagner. Beyeler takes pride in the fact that he’s helped each player prepare in accordance with the Red Sox philosophy and he feels a sense of accomplishment when these types of players reach the big leagues and help the Red Sox win.

He’s not about to take credit for the players’ accomplishments, and he’s quick to recognize the many scouts and the player development staff for the organization’s success with all of its minor league affiliates.

Beyeler, along with pitching coach Rich Sauveur and hitting coach Chili Davis, will guide the 2011 PawSox. They all know that it’s not about wins and losses at the minor league level because development comes first.

“Winning is part of development, there’s not doubt about it,” Beyeler said. “Learning how to win is important. We all know we don’t get paid for wins and losses in the minor leagues. We need to get guys ready for their roles at the next level, and sometimes there are some sacrifices along the way.”

Beyeler’s philosophy has always been if young players work hard and play hard, the wins will come. As much as every minor league player, manager and coach wants to win, development -- especially in the Red Sox organization -- is first and foremost.

After spending the past four season as the Sea Dogs’ manager, Beyeler will now deal with veteran minor leaguers at the Triple-A level, but the goal of preparing players to be successful and contribute at the big league level remains the same.

The lines of communication within the Red Sox organization are clearly defined and open from top to bottom. Everyone knows their role, and Beyeler will continue to develop the organization’s top prospects while also helping veteran players prepare accordingly.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Red Sox roster is pretty much set for a long time. It must be a challenge for any minor league manger or coach in the organization to keep young players focused because even they see the log jam and possible road blocks en route to a major league career.

If anything, the 2010 Red Sox season should serve as perfect example -- even a motivational factor -- for young players that you never know what can happen. Boston suffered a slew of major injuries to key players and there were plenty of transactions needed to help the Red Sox.

“It is a communication thing, and you have to talk with guys,” Beyeler said. “The players know what’s going on, too.”

From a minor league prospective, it was a solid learning tool that certain players were called up to Boston and contributed when the Red Sox needed them to last summer. Even though each position on the Red Sox roster is filled, Beyeler is confident the younger players will go about their business in a professional manner so when the time comes, and if Boston needs reinforcements, PawSox players will be ready.

“Hopefully they’ll come back down here and realize what they need to do in order to succeed up there, and just hit the ground running this year,” Beyeler said.

Players come and players go, and it’s quite obvious Beyeler has his finger on the pulse of the type of player who can succeed at the big league level. Whether it’s Kalish or shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias or catcher Luis Exposito or pitcher Felix Doubront, based on experience, Beyeler knows one of these guys could get the call from the Red Sox at some point during the 2011 season.

“It could be a lot of guys,” Beyeler said. “I’m not going to single anybody out but with this roster we have here, it could be a number of guys or it could be some pitchers. We also challenge the guys because every year it’s going to be somebody.”

Because the Red Sox’s player development system does a solid job at preparing these young players, general manager Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona are not afraid to rely on younger players, if needed.

“I think that’s important because it keeps everyone else driven,” Beyeler said. “Everybody kind of feels like, ‘Hey, I’ve got a chance. I still have a uniform on, I’ve got a chance to play hard and work hard and get an opportunity to play in the big leagues.’ That’s what’s it’s all about.

“Hopefully we can continue to do what we’ve been doing, keep things rolling and stay consistent with what we do and, I think, the players respect that.”

The outpouring of support continues for the Pawtucket Red Sox family on the recent passing of their owner, Ben Mondor.

Many Boston Red Sox players -- past, present and future -- honed their skills with the PawSox at the Triple-A level and had a chance to become friends with Mondor.

Former Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo has a special connection with the PawSox during his only season in Pawtucket. On Aug. 10, 2003, the right-hander tossed a perfect game for the PawSox against the Buffalo Bisons at McCoy Stadium. By the time Arroyo and his teammates continued their celebration in the clubhouse, the grounds crew were in the midst of removing the pitching rubber from the mound.

Mondor had the rubber personalized and every member of the PawSox team signed it. A few days later, it was presented to Arroyo as a keepsake.

Arroyo gave it right back to Mondor.

See, Mondor collected all sorts of PawSox, Red Sox and baseball memorabilia during his three decades as owner. There’s literally a Hall of Fame in the hallway outside the clubhouses and executives offices at McCoy. Arroyo knew Mondor’s passion for the history of the game, and he wanted Pawtucket’s owner to own the rubber.

It hangs on the wall right outside the PawSox clubhouse.

“There was a history and richness to the ballpark,” Arroyo said. “You could tell by the things they had in the trophy cases there, and the players who had come through with murals all over the stadium, you knew if anyone deserved to have something back at that stadium, it was that organization and Ben.

“I wanted to leave it there as a memory of that day, and I thought fans could appreciate it, and Ben could appreciated more than I ever could.”

When Arroyo learned Mondor had passed away on Sunday at the age of 85, the current Cincinnati Reds pitcher wanted to pay tribute.

“When I threw that perfect game, he was sitting there with Dominic DiMaggio, and it was a pretty special thing. Ben was a generous man and the ballclub was his life. You’ve got to respect someone for doing the right thing, especially with a minor league ballclub, and taking it as seriously as he did.”

Arroyo was not a homegrown talent in the Red Sox organization. Boston claimed him off waivers prior to the 2003 season and he would end up becoming an integral part of the rotation and in helping the Red Sox win the World Series in 2004.

When he first arrived at McCoy Stadium in the spring of 2003, it didn’t take Arroyo long to realize Mondor and the PawSox did things first-class. There were no gimmicks; just baseball.

“The one thing that stuck out was he wanted to keep the riffraff down at the stadium,” Arroyo remembers. “He wanted to keep it old school and about the game of baseball. It was definitely a ballpark in the minor leagues that was unique because of that.”

Arroyo was one of the best pitchers in the International League that season; he was named to the All-Star team and participated in the Triple-A All-Star game in Memphis that summer.

“There was three or four of us who made the All-Star team, and Ben brought us in and gave us some extra money for whatever we needed for our families or travel money,” Arroyo said. “He made sure we had enough tickets for our friends and family to come to the All-Star game.

“He was a real generous guy. As I got to know him throughout the year, it was a great experience having an owner of a minor league club who was that much a part of the team. Most owners of minor league ballclubs you never see them, or know who they are. Everybody knew Ben.”

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Ben Mondor, the owner of the Boston Red Sox's Triple-A affiliate, passed away Sunday evening at his home in Warwick, R.I. He was 85.

Mondor had just completed his 34th year as PawSox owner. He purchased the bankrupt franchise in 1977 and brought it to national prominence.

PawSox team president Mike Tamburro spoke briefly during a news conference at McCoy Stadium Monday afternoon.

The Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox announced Monday morning that team owner Ben Mondor passed away on Sunday night. He was 85 years old.

“It is with profound sadness that the PawSox family announces the passing of Pawtucket Red Sox owner Ben Mondor," a statement from the team read. "Ben passed away peacefully last evening at his home in Warwick Neck, RI at the age of 85.

“He was an incredible and charitable man who was first and foremost devoted to his wife Madeleine, along with his PawSox family and the entire community at large.”

Funeral arrangements and further details will be announced later Monday.

ANAHEIM -- Despite three home runs by Mike Lowell Tuesday night while on rehab assignment for Pawtucket, the trade market for him showed no increase in activity Wednesday, according to a major league source.

"All is quiet,'' the source said.

Lowell was scheduled to play again Wednesday night for the PawSox in Toledo. Beyond that? The supposition is that barring a trade, Lowell will be activated before the Sox play the Tigers in Fenway Park on Friday night, but manager Terry Francona made no such commitment in his pregame remarks Wednesday. Francona said that he expects he and GM Theo Epstein will speak Thursday and “figure it out.’’

Lowell became the first Pawtucket player to homer three times in a game since Jonathan Van Every (June 29, 2008 vs. Rochester).

In four games on this rehab assignment with the PawSox, Lowell has a four-hit game and a three-homer game, and overall is batting .444 (8 for 18), with 3 doubles and 7 RBIs.

David Ortiz, asked if he’d heard what Lowell had done the night before, said, “Mikey Lowell is bombing some [expletives] down there, right? That’s what he’d do here, too. Bomb [expletives]. We all know that. That’s what we do for a living -- bomb [expletives].’’

Multiple team sources say that the Red Sox have acquired infielder Jack Hannahan from the Mariners. It's not clear what the Red Sox will send in return. Pawtucket Red Sox radio announcer Dan Hoard broke the news on Twitter.

Hannahan, 30, who has spent his entire season with Triple-A Tacoma, hitting .228, is expected to head to Pawtucket on Friday.

BOSTON -- Red Sox manager Terry Francona does not like to compare players. During spring training, however, it was easy for him to take one look at outfield prospect Ryan Kalish and think of Trot Nixon.

The 22-year-old Kalish was promoted Tuesday from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Pawtucket. He was hitting .293 in 41 games for the Sea Dogs and was leading Portland in runs scored (35), home runs (8) and stolen bases (13). He was also fourth in the Eastern League in both walks (28) and on-base percentage (.404) as well as fifth in the league in stolen bases.

A marquee name appears headed for McCoy Stadium as top Washington Nationals pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg, the No. 1 draft pick in the country last June, was promoted to Syracuse from Double-A Harrisburg, where he was 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA in five starts.

If Strasburg stays in turn, he would face the PawSox on Monday May 17 in a 12:05 game at McCoy.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- After two strong rehab starts for Triple-A Pawtucket, Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka says he’s ready to return to Boston.

The right-hander worked six scoreless innings and allowed only three hits with no walks and two strikeouts against the Buffalo Bisons at Coca-Cola Field on Thursday afternoon. He threw 86 pitches (57 strikes). In two starts for the PawSox he’s worked a total of 11 scoreless innings.

“I think personally I’m ready and I feel ready,” he said. “But at this point I’ll leave the decision up to the powers that be.”

“I think I’ve thrown enough pitches at this point to be ready to pitch in the big leagues, and compared to the second time I went on the DL last year, it took me a really long time to have that feeling,” he said. “I’m confident I can pitch in the big leagues.”

Since he reached 86 pitches with a pitch limit of 90, PawSox pitching coach Rich Sauveur asked Matsuzaka if he wanted to go back out to face one batter in the seventh inning, but the pitcher decided against it.

After his outing on Thursday, Matsuzaka said he was happy with his arm action and was pleased with his breaking pitches. From a health standpoint he was able to pitch without hesitation and felt no discomfort afterward.

In his first rehab outing on April 10 at Pawtucket, he worked five scoreless innings and allowed only two hits. He was solid again on Thursday.

“Of course I’m not 100 percent satisfied about every element of my performance out there today, but the big thing for me was being able to build on one solid performance,” he said.

His biggest challenge of the day was a 12-pitch at-bat to the Bisons’ Josh Thole in the third inning.

“I think hitters like that give me the most trouble,” said Matsuzaka. “I was pitching to good locations and he managed to foul off and keep battling, so I tried to mix it up. I threw to those good locations, but try to throw them off a little bit and I was finally able to do that on my last pitch today to him. I didn’t really want to walk him, so I’m glad I got out of there and did not allow him to get on base.”

His slider was very efficient and he registered a couple of strikeouts with the pitch.

“The last outing the break on my slider wasn’t that great, so I had to make a conscious effort to try to make it break,” he said. “But today I was able to use my slider with normal arm action and it seemed to do the work on its own.”