FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Jon Lester’s next destination on his road back from cancer is the Boston Red Sox minor-league team in Greenville, S.C.

The left-hander is scheduled to make four rehabilitation starts for the Drive of the Class-A South Atlantic League to build his stamina and pitch count. He came to spring training in good shape after his last chemotherapy treatment in late December for anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Tests showed he was cancer-free, but the team is bringing him back slowly. He hasn’t pitched in a major-league exhibition game but has appeared in several against minor-league teams. On Monday, Lester allowed three runs in three innings for Triple-A Pawtucket against Rochester.

The Red Sox want him to pitch in more game situations “before we completely take off the guard and let him go, turn him loose,” manager Terry Francona said Tuesday. “I think he’s chomping at the bit a little bit, but he understands.”

Lester will pitch in one more minor-league game in Florida before going to the Drive, who begin their season April 5. Francona didn’t say where Lester would go after Greenville.

Lester won his first five decisions after making his major league debut last year. He was 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA before the cancer ended his season.

Boston’s 12-man pitching staff was determined Tuesday when three right-handers were removed from the major-league roster, and Mike Timlin, expected to go on the disabled list Wednesday, had an encouraging bullpen session.

Lester and Matt Clement, recovering from shoulder surgery, are expected to join Timlin on the disabled list.

The Red Sox optioned 2005 first-round draft pick Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen to Pawtucket and sent Bryan Corey to their minor-league camp.

They kept righty Kyle Snyder and lefty Javier Lopez, although Lopez’s stay is expected to be brief. Barring a setback, Timlin should be activated by April 7.

“Timlin did great. He had a very good day,” Francona said. “No problems with his side.”

Timlin strained a side muscle early in spring training and hasn’t pitched in a game.

Hansen was sent to Pawtucket one day after allowing five runs and hitting two batters in 2-3 of an inning.

He pitched for the Red Sox less than four months after they drafted him with the 26th pick.

He had a 6.00 ERA in four games as a rookie and a 6.63 ERA in 38 appearances last year, when he also pitched in 19 minor-league games.

“He was very much rushed” to the majors, Francona said. “By his own admission, it’s been kind of an up-and-down spring.”

Hansen worked on a new changeup in spring training but had a 15.43 and allowed batters to hit .400 in five appearances.

In 2-3 of an inning Monday, he walked two batters and hit two others in the seventh, when Cincinnati scored all the runs in its 5-0 win.

“We still all firmly believe this kid has a very bright future, but now he needs to go show that,” Francona said.

Hansen had 13 saves and a 1.68 ERA as a senior at St. John’s and didn’t allow an earned run in 69 innings as a senior at Glen Cove (N.Y.) High School.

“In high school and in college, I always struggled the first year,” Hansen said.

“It was pretty much just jumping into the water and not knowing how to swim, basically. And each year I just made myself better. I learned new things, learned how to take care of the game and learned to adjust, so that’s what I’m looking to do now.”

Snyder also was a first-round pick but his career has taken a much slower route.

He was the seventh pick in 1999 by Kansas City but was slowed by injuries nearly every year since then.

He was 4-5 with a 6.02 ERA last year for the Red Sox after they claimed him off waivers from the Royals on June 16.

“Physically, I feel great,” said Snyder, who can start and relieve. “I’m a different pitcher than I was when I was coming out of college.

“I don’t have the same fastball. I’m smarter. My offspeed stuff is, without question, better, and I have a better idea how to work hitters.

“I never stopped believing in myself, no matter what injuries I had or what adversity I had to overcome.”

The Red Sox open the season Monday in Kansas City with Curt Schilling starting. The rest of the rotation is Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield and Julian Tavarez. The bullpen consists of closer Jonathan Papelbon, Brad Donnelly, Joel Pineiro, J.C. Romero, Hideki Okajima, Snyder and Lopez.

Three pitchers demoted, outfielder added

The Boston Red Sox obtained outfielder Cory Keylor, the Baltimore Orioles’ minor league player of the year last season, for catcher Alberto Castillo on Tuesday.

Boston also optioned pitchers Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen to Triple-A Pawtucket and assigned non-roster pitcher Bryan Corey to its minor league camp.

Keylor, 27, hit .294 with 10 homers and 68 RBIs at Double-A Bowie in 2006 and was assigned to Boston’s minor league camp. Castillo, a non-roster player with Boston, was 4-for-13 in 11 spring games.

Delcarmen and Hansen spent substantial portions of last season with the Red Sox. Both had inconsistent exhibition seasons, especially Hansen. Corey pitched well with a 1.50 ERA in 10 appearances.