Red Sox recalled LHP Hideki Okajima from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Okajima was optioned to the minor leagues at the end of spring training to work on his mechanics. He threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings at Pawtucket to earn the promotion.

Red Sox optioned LHP Hideki Okajima to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Dennys Reyes was able to beat out Okajima for the final left-handed specialist role in Boston's season-opening bullpen. Okajima won't be down on the farm the whole year.

Hideki Okajima, who allowed four runs in his spring debut Sunday night against the Twins, is a candidate to open the season in the minors.

Having come over from Japan instead of progressing through the minors, Okajima has contract options remaining and there's nothing in his deal with the Red Sox to prevent the team from using them. If he's less than stellar over the rest of the spring, it's quite possible that Boston will send him down and keep Dennys Reyes as their lefty reliever instead. Unlike with Okajima, the Red Sox would probably lose Reyes if they tried to farm him out.

Red Sox re-signed LHP Hideki Okajima to a one-year, $1.75 million contract.

The parameters of the deal were agreed to near the end of December, but it took another few weeks to get everything in place. Okajima posted an ugly 4.50 ERA and 1.72 WHIP across 46 innings last season. He was a reliable setup man just a few years ago, though, and should be able to bounce back. The left-hander can earn up to $2.3 million if he triggers all of his incentives.

The Red Sox and free agent left-hander Hideki Okajima are close to a one-year contract agreement, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

The Red Sox non-tendered Okajima earlier this month after he posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.72 WHIP over 46 innings in 2010, but he looked better in September and is likely to improve in 2011. Okajima will battle a slew of left handers -- Rich Hill, Lenny DiNardo, Andrew Miller and Felix Doubront -- for a job in the spring.

The Mets have expressed interest in free agent left-hander Hideki Okajima, according to Kevin Burkhardt of SNY's Hot Stove show.

The Red Sox non-tendered Okajima earlier this month after he posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.72 WHIP over 46 innings in 2010. Okajima and the Mets seems like a perfect fit, because New York currently does not have a left-hander in their bullpen.

Red Sox non-tendered LHP Hideki Okajima.

As expected. Okajima was once regarded as one of baseball's top setup men, but he fell off in 2010 to the tune of a 4.50 ERA and 1.72 WHIP over 46 innings. The left-hander should draw free agent interest.

According to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com, the Red Sox plan to non-tender Hideki Okajima.

Okajima earned $2.75 million this past season while posting a 4.50 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and 33/20 K/BB ratio over 46 innings, easily his worst season since arriving stateside in 2007. The 34-year-old left-hander is reportedly open to staying in Boston if he is non-tendered, though he should draw plenty of interest as a free agent.

Hideki Okajima may be non-tendered by the Red Sox this week.

Okajima was rock solid in his first three years with the Red Sox. But he fell off in 2010 and is still in line for a raise over the $2.75 million that he earned this past year because of the salary arbitration process. The Red Sox may deem him unworthy of a salary that could reach $3.5 million.

Hideki Okajima (hamstring) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session in Tampa on Friday afternoon.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Okajima will not be activated today, however he added that he is not far off. Considering that the Red Sox had him join the team in Tampa, we're thinking it will be at some point this weekend.

Hideki Okajima (hamstring) will join the Red Sox in Tampa Friday, but it's not clear if he'll be activated from the disabled list.

The lefty has given up five runs in his three appearances for Triple-A Pawtucket, suggesting he might not be ready. Still, we think an activation is likely, as Okajima has pitched well in his career versus the Rays.

Hideki Okajima (hamstring) was tagged for four runs over one-third of an inning in a minor league rehab appearance with Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday night.

Perhaps he's not ready for prime time. Okajima was knocked around for four hits, including a two-run homer. He was scheduled to rejoin the team on Tuesday in order to be re-evaluated, however the team will likely keep him with the PawSox until he delivers better results.

Hideki Okajima (calf) is scheduled to make another minor league rehab appearance with Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday night.

Okajima tossed a scoreless innings with the PawSox on Saturday. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated following Monday's appearance. The Japanese left-hander has been on the disabled list since August 6 due to a strained right hamstring.

Hideki Okajima (calf) tossed a scoreless frame for Triple-A Pawtucket Saturday.

He'll stay with the PawSox and pitch again on Monday, after which Boston will decide what to do with him. It sounds like there's a good chance he'll be back with the big club this week.

Hideki Okajima will make a rehab appearance Saturday for Triple-A Pawtucket.

Okajima is eligible to come off the DL tomorrow, but he's doing a brief minor league assignment first. He's been sidelined for two weeks with a calf injury.

Hideki Okajima (calf) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Sunday.

Okajima will throw bullpen sessions Tuesday and Thursday before possibly beginning a minor league rehab assignment on Friday. The left-handed reliever is eligible to return from the disabled list on August 21.

Hideki Okajima (calf) is slated to throw a bullpen session Sunday.

He'll follow up Sunday's session by throwing again Tuesday and Thursday. It's not clear if the left-hander will need a rehab assignment before returning. He's eligible to be activated on August 21.

Hideki Okajima (calf) could be back on a mound sometime over the weekend.

The left-hander hasn't pitched from the bump since landing on the DL on August 6 with a strained right calf. He's likely to rejoin the team when rosters expand in September.

Red Sox placed LHP Hideki Okajima on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf.

Okajima's WHIP was all of the way up to 1.98, so a break is probably just the thing for him at this time. He'll likely spend a week or two getting regular work in Triple-A before he rejoins the Red Sox, possibly on Sept. 1.

The Red Sox are placing Hideki Okajima on the disabled list with a calf injury.

It was originally reported as a hamstring problem, but whatever it is, it looks like he'll miss a couple of weeks. Felix Doubront is being called up to replace him.