FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Right-hander Chris Carpenter, the main compensation piece the Red Sox landed in exchange for Theo Epstein moving to the Cubs, won't pitch for the foreseeable future because of an elbow injury.

Carpenter tweeted that he will have a bone spur removed from his right elbow in Birmingham, Ala. The procedure will be performed by Dr. James Andrews.

Carpenter added on his Twitter feed that he is, "Stayin positive and prepared to work harder than ever to come back as soon as I can this season!"

He had pitched in just two Grapefruit League games for the Red Sox, giving up two hits and four runs over 1 2/3 innings.

Carpenter's last appearance in a Major League game was March 19.

Padilla content to relieve

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Vicente Padilla made it clear to the Red Sox that his preference was to start, and he wasn't sure he could be as effective as a reliever.

However, once he developed a right hamstring injury in the middle of camp, starting was out of the equation. Now, Padilla is moving forward -- trying to become a viable member of Boston's bullpen.

Toward that end, he threw three innings in a Minor League game on Wednesday, giving up one hit and no runs. He threw 41 pitches and had command of his entire arsenal.

"I felt good and I'm happy with what I did today," Padilla said.

Perhaps most comforting to the Red Sox is what Padilla said when asked if he'd rather relieve in Boston or get traded to another team and start.

"I see that the Red Sox are giving me an opportunity," said Padilla. "So I'd like to stay here and continue with the relief pitching."

Cook feels ready for work in rotation

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- With t-minus a week until the end of Spring Training, the crunch is officially on for right-hander Aaron Cook to show the Red Sox he has gotten enough reps to be ready to begin the season in the starting rotation.

Slowed early in camp because of his history of health problems, Cook has been full speed ahead in recent weeks.

While the team had an off-day on Wednesday, Cook reeled off five strong innings in a Minor League game, giving up five hits and a run while walking none and striking out three. The sinkerballer threw 68 pitches and induced 11 groundouts.

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"I feel like every time out, we're accomplishing what we want," Cook said. "I'm stretching out, getting more pitches, more innings. I was able to get a lot of ground-ball outs today."

In Cook's mind, he can go north with the Red Sox and start either the fourth or fifth game of the season in Toronto. But he knows the decision is not up to him.

"I'll see where it takes me," Cook said. "I can only control what I can control, and that's going out there [and] pitching. I feel like I'm doing things I need to do and I feel like I'm making it a tough decision for them."

Cook is in competition with Daniel Bard, Alfredo Aceves and Felix Doubront to win one of the final two rotation spots. He was never involved in a situation like this with the Rockies.

"I never have," Cook said. "I've always been with the Rockies and always had my spot. This year has definitely been unique, but it's been a lot of fun."

Cook said that he hasn't been approached by manager Bobby Valentine or pitching coach Bob McClure about the possibility of working out of the bullpen.

Buchholz gets his work in

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- With Opening Day just eight days away, the Red Sox need to get their pitchers lined up properly. That's why Clay Buchholz pitched during what was an off-day for the team.

The righty worked for six innings in a Minor League game, giving up six hits and five runs, four of which were earned. He walked one and struck out four, and gave up two homers.

Buchholz admits it's hard to get the right kind of adrenaline pitching in that kind of environment. The key is that he's fully healthy and ready to take on the responsibility of being Boston's No. 3 starter.

"Yeah, I feel really good. I feel strong," Buchholz said. "Those last couple of innings, I felt like the ball was coming out of my hand a lot better than it was the first four innings. Just sped everything up a little bit delivery-wise, and felt like mechanics were a little bit better. So, yeah, the body feels good."

And Buchholz was able to work a lot on his changeup.

"My first deal was to go out there and throw a lot of changeups," Buchholz said. "If I missed with it, throw it again. Unfortunately, I did that a couple of times back to back and threw both balls to get behind in the count. But I felt like everything was going as planned. The way I finished, I felt really good about it."