"As Carlos Delgado took batting practice indoors at Yankee Stadium on Friday as part of his workout for the Red Sox, manager Terry Francona stood and observed.

"He swung the bat great," Francona said. "It looked like Carlos."

Thus, on the off chance Delgado still can hit for power after having two surgeries on his right hip in a 10-month span, the Red Sox signed him to a minor league contract yesterday. The deal is worth a prorated portion of $3 million and includes a clause that the Red Sox must add Delgado to the major league roster by Sept. 1, according to a source.

Delgado, 38, is expected to report to Triple-A Pawtucket today and will begin playing this week.

"We'll try to see how that hip responds and how productive he is with the bat and see where it goes from there," Francona said. "This is us doing our due diligence."

Francona stressed that Mike Lowell will remain the regular first baseman in the absence of Kevin Youkilis, who had season-ending thumb surgery Friday. But the team also has been looking for a left-handed-hitting complement to Lowell, whose own surgically repaired right hip may not be able to withstand an everyday role."