Remember Andrew Bailey? He has yet to pitch in a game for the Boston Red Sox after they acquired him from the Oakland Athletics in a multi-player deal last offseason, due to thumb surgery and a forearm strain.

Now, he’s nearing a return. Gordon Edes:

But on Sunday in Tropicana Field, Bailey threw a 20-pitch bullpen, is scheduled to throw another Wednesday in Fenway Park, and then will be re-evaluated. He probably will be asked to throw a simulated game or two, but after that, it’s reasonable to expect he’ll be sent out on a rehabilitation assignment.

And when that happens, he says, he doesn’t expect to require the full 30 days before he will be ready to rejoin the Red Sox.

“Usually it takes just six or seven games, do a back-to-back," he said. “I don’t know how long that takes — a week, a week and a half?"

The Red Sox have done pretty well with Alfredo Aceves closing, so it’s not clear if Bailey would be installed as closer right away, but Boston could surely use another bullpen arm to help in their quest for one of the AL wild cards.

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