HANSEN

FORT MYERS, Fla. — As the Red Sox readied to begin the exhibition schedule yesterday, manager Terry Francona and reliever Joel Pineiro said they didn’t believe a “competition” would determine who will open the season as the team’s closer.

“We just want (the pitchers) to throw as well as they can,” said Francona, who seems intent on not having the team’s spring-long audition for the vacant closer’s role turn into a circus.

“I don’t think it’s a competition,” agreed Pineiro. “I’m just going to go out and pitch.”

Still, Pineiro must be seen as the prohibitive favorite to handle the closer’s responsibilities. The club gave the free-agent right-hander, who was non-tendered by Seattle, a $4-million guaranteed contract with additional incentives for finishing games.

Others mentioned as potential candidates for the job include Mike Timlin, Julian Tavarez and Brendan Donnelly. Craig Hansen, who had been in the mix, remains sidelined with a back injury.

“When I came here,” said Pineiro, “they said I was going to be in the back end of the bullpen. Whether that’s the seventh inning, the eighth or the ninth, I don’t know.”

The Sox will use Pineiro in the third inning tonight, following two innings from starter Curt Schilling. That will enable Pineiro to face some of the Minnesota Twins’ major-league hitters; if Pineiro entered the game in the ninth, he would be facing overmatched minor-leaguers.

“You can’t replicate the ninth inning (in spring games),” said Francona. “It can’t be done. But we want to try to set our bullpen up the best way we can.”

Francona said he was looking forward to watching Pineiro pitch and observe his demeanor on the mound. Pineiro made the transition from the rotation to the bullpen last year in Seattle and pitched better in relief, though he enters this season with just one career save in the major leagues.

Setback for Hansen

As a precautionary measure, the Sox had Hansen undergo an MRI, which Francona said confirmed that the problem is muscular in nature. Hansen, though, relayed a somewhat different diagnosis, saying he was told a bulging disk in his lower back was the cause of some muscle spasms.

Hansen continues to undergo treatment. Yesterday, he was cleared to stretch on the field with the rest of the players. He later soft-tossed. He could be back up on a mound by the weekend.

“It’s frustrating,” he said, “because this offseason I trained so hard to come here and earn a spot (in the bullpen). To have a setback is tough. But it’s slowly getting better.”

“It’s not a big deal,” said Francona of Hansen’s inactivity, “as long as he can get back into the flow pretty soon.”

Timlin, who suffered a slight oblique pull over the weekend, is also improving, but he’ll need to throw a bullpen session before the Sox get him into a game.

Opening lineup

Francona announced his lineup for tonight. It features Julio Lugo leading off at shortstop, followed by Kevin Youkilis (first base), David Ortiz (DH), Jason Varitek (catcher), Mike Lowell (third base), Wily Mo Pena (right field), Dustin Pedroia (second base), David Murphy (left field) and Jacoby Ellsbury (center field).

Only the starting outfield (Manny Ramirez, Coco Crisp and J.D. Drew) will be absent from the first Grapefruit League game.

It appears that Ramirez, who reported to camp Monday, won’t get into a game until sometime next week.

Ramirez told Francona that he wanted to play in the exhibition opener tonight, but the Sox are proceeding cautiously with the slugger.

“There’s a difference between being in camp,” said the manager, “and being ready to play in a game.”

Around the bases

Adam Bernero, who had been suffering from discomfort in his elbow the last week or so, will be seen today by noted orthopedic surgeron James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. ... Abe Alvarez was excused from camp for a few days for personal reasons. … Francona lauded Pena for the extra work being put in on outfield play with coach DeMarlo Hale. ... Tonight is the first of five meetings between the Twins and Red Sox this spring as part of the competition for the (Fort Myers) Mayor’s Cup. The Twins won the Cup and the series, 4-1, last spring. … Matt Garza will be the starter for Minnesota.

smcadam@projo.com