BOSTON — Former Cy Young winner David Price was activated off the disabled list by the Boston Red Sox before Thursday’s series finale against the Oakland Athletics.

He did not pitch Thursday, but will come out of the bullpen in a multi-inning role for the remainder of the season, Manager John Farrell announced.

He’ll be available to pitch starting Sunday or Monday, Farrell said.

Price began his major league career as a reliever with the Tampa Bay Rays at the end of the 2008 season, then pitched out of the bullpen while helping the Rays make a run to the World Series. He was also used out of the bullpen for a three-inning outing with the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2015 postseason.

Price threw 47 pitches in a simulated game Wednesday and pronounced himself ready to return, regardless of the role chosen for him.

“Just want to pitch, whatever it is,” he said.

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Doug Fister has pitched well in Price’s spot in the rotation, though Fister allowed six runs while taking the loss on Wednesday.

Price is likely to pitch some key innings down the stretch, particularly given the struggles of Matt Barnes and Joe Kelly, who each have an ERA over 4.70 since Aug. 1.

“I think there will be some spots that will emerge naturally,” Farrell said. “I think the one thing that he has shown in these two work sessions is the full assortment of pitches, good power to his fastball. From just a physical standpoint, I think he’s passed those tests to put him in this position, and (we’re) looking forward to getting him back to game activity.”

A relief role could suit Price well. He’s mentioned that throwing breaking balls is what causes him the most discomfort, and he was throwing only 7 percent curveballs when he was pitching as a starter anyway, instead focusing on his hard stuff (four-seamer, two-seamer, cutter), which he threw about 80 percent of the time, occasionally mixing in his changeup.

He’s had some success out of the bullpen, making six playoff relief appearances with a 4.15 ERA. Price’s teams have gone 0-9 in his postseason starts, and he has posted a 5.74 ERA during those contests.

Recovering from soreness related to a partial tear in his elbow he suffered during spring training, Price had been on the DL twice this season and hasn’t pitched in a game since late July.

Farrell said he’ll try to give Price as much advance notice as possible before he pitches in order to make the transition easier. That could mean telling Price at least an inning early so he’s able to stretch out by throwing long toss with an outfielder between innings.

The Red Sox are hoping Price can be effective in this role down the stretch and into the postseason.

“Go back to 2007 or ’13, teams that advanced deep into October, there was a guy that moved out of the rotation and became a multi-inning guy that was a critical performer,” Farrell said. “Felix Doubront was that guy in 2013, couple innings on back-to-back nights, to bridge from a starter to later in the bullpen. It was on full display last October the way things have evolved with more aggressive use of the bullpen. So I feel like David getting healthy and getting game activity under his belt is a prime candidate to be that type of guy.”


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