Craig Hansen is now a Pittsburgh Pirate, and PawSox skipper Ron Johnson says the move will probably benefit the hard-throwing hurler.

The Providence Journal / Andrew Dickerman

PAWTUCKET — Craig Hansen was supposed to be the Boston Red Sox’ next great closer.

But he didn’t live up to that billing after Boston drafted him 26th overall in 2005.

On Thursday, Hansen found himself expendable by the Red Sox, who traded him and outfielder Brandon Moss for Pittsburgh slugger Jason Bay.

Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson believes that Hansen could have more success with Pittsburgh than he did for the Red Sox.

“I think he’s probably going to be the guy that goes out there and he’s going to be that guy that runs off 30 innings of scoreless relief,” Johnson said of Hansen, who has played for both Boston and Pawtucket in each of the last three seasons.

“With him [the move] might be good. To get away from the Northeast thing. He’s been here so long with all the hype. He’s going to Pittsburgh and he’s going to be in the bullpen.”

Hansen, 24, was stellar for Pawtucket, going 1-2 with a 2.75 earned-run average in 2006, 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 2007, and 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA in 11 games this season. But the right-handed flame-thrower, who also has a wicked slider, has struggled with his consistency in Boston, where he was 1-3 with a 5.58 ERA in 32 games this year.

“If in the next year or so if that clicks in, my God you’ve got a guy 25, 26, who is going to be a valuable guy for 10 years throwing gas with at times a vicious slider,” Johnson said. “Was he consistent? No. It didn’t play out that way in Boston but I’d never bet against him.”

Hansen’s departure won’t do any damage to the PawSox bullpen. He has been a full-time member of the Red Sox since May 5. Besides, Pawtucket has several top prospects in its bullpen, along with talented, veteran Triple-A pitchers.

The PawSox rank second in the International League in team pitching with a combined ERA of 3.67, and Johnson has nothing, but praise for the newest addition to the PawSox pitching staff, Michael Bowden (0-2, 5.17 ERA), who has yet to walk a batter in three outings for Pawtucket.

“He’s composed on the mound,” Johnson said. “When he goes out there it’s almost like looking at a 10-year veteran. He’s in the dugout that way. He prepares well. He’s going to come [along] fast…He’s almost like [Kevin] Youkilis, [Dustin] Pedrioa, [Jed] Lowrie, when they came to this level their knowledge of the strike zone and their inner-confidence was so big that those guys, you’ve seen how they’ve been able to accelerate and get to the big leagues.”

Charlie Zink leads the I.L. in wins with 13. His ERA is 2.76. David Pauley is right behind with 12 wins and a 3.40 ERA. And last night’s starter Edgar Martinez entered the game with a 5-2 record.

Chris Smith (1-3, 2.24 ERA, 13 saves), replaced Hansen in Boston; Clay Buchholz is also in Boston.

roblee@projo.com