Red Sox bringing up Olerud

TORONTO – The Boston Red Sox purchased the contract of veteran first baseman John Olerud from Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday after losing 8-1 to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Olerud signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox on May 1. He joined Pawtucket on Monday after a stint at extended spring training.

The 36-year-old Olerud, a veteran of 16 big league seasons, was not signed in the off-season after the New York Yankees declined to offer him salary arbitration. Olerud had surgery in November to repair torn ligaments in his left foot.

A two-time All-Star (1993, 2001), Olerud is a .295 career hitter with 248 home runs and 1,193 RBIs in 2,147 games. He has played for Toronto (1989-96), the New York Mets (1997-99), Seattle (2000-04) and the Yankees (2004). He has also won three Gold Gloves (2000, 2002, 2003).

Olerud finished last season in New York, signing with the Yankees as a free agent Aug. 3. He had been released by the last-place Mariners July 23 after hitting .245 with five home runs and 22 RBIs in 78 games.

After being drafted in the third round by Toronto out of Washington State in 1989, Olerud went straight to the major leagues with the Blue Jays. The left-hander hit .363 in 1993 to win the A.L. batting title.

•Red Sox manager Terry Francona confirmed reports that Curt Schilling’s return from an injury to his surgically repaired right ankle could take up to 12 weeks.

Schilling, who was injured April 23, is 1-2 with an 8.15 ERA in three starts this season.