Tim Wakefield of the Red Sox delivers a pitch to the Indians’ Grady Sizemore in the first inning of last night’s game.

AP / Mark Duncan

CLEVELAND — Though the Red Sox weren’t prepared to make a move before game time, all signs pointed to utility infielder Alex Cora being placed on the disabled list, perhaps as soon as today.

Cora has been out of the lineup since last Wednesday after getting plunked on the right elbow. On Monday, manager Terry Francona said Cora had “no restrictions” in terms of what he could do, but apparently Cora’s progress has been minimal the last few days.

He hit in the cage yesterday afternoon, but the Sox don’t think he’s ready to return to action.

If Cora is placed on the DL, the Sox could backdate him to last week and be without him for another week.

Beyond the decision to disable him, the Sox were debating whether to replace him with an extra pitcher or another utility infielder. Among the infielder choices: Joe Thurston or Keith Ginter.

Neither player is on the 40-man roster, though the Sox have room to add players.

Schilling balks at Yanks talk

After his longtime physician said yesterday that Curt Schilling might return next year with the Yankees, Schilling denied the assertion.

Dr. Craig Morgan, a Delaware orthopedic surgeon who has operated on Schilling several times, said Schilling is intent on pitching in 2009 and would consider the Yankees an “option” — something Schilling has categorically ruled out in the past.

But Schilling told WEEI yesterday that Morgan wasn’t speaking for him.

“Me wearing pinstripes, regardless of what point of the season or my career it would have been, is not an option,” said Schilling. “I can’t think back to having that conversation specifically it’s not an option. Never has been an option.”

Schilling is on the disabled list with a shoulder/biceps injury, and while he is traveling with the team and undergoing therapy and doesn’t feel the discomfort he did in the winter, hasn’t yet been given permission to throw.

“From a rehab standpoint,” Schilling told the radio station, “I’m probably as surprised as anyone how well it’s gone and where I’m at. I don’t have any pain at all, which is a huge change. (But) I’m still nervous about getting on the field and throwing.”

“His strength is improving,” said Francona, “but he’s not there yet.”

Earlier in the spring, Red Sox medical personnel thought Schilling might be able to return to the mound after the All-Star break. Schilling was asked whether he thought he would pitch again this year.

“Based on where we’re at now, there’s a very good chance that I will pitch, and be better than I was, this year, but again, there’s another huge step to take,” Schilling said.

Drew gets a breather

Outfielder J.D. Drew was out of the lineup last night for the first time since April 1, after the Sox returned from their season-opening series in Japan. Francona said he was merely trying to keep everybody fresh with three late-night travel arrivals in the span of five days.

Drew had been hitless in his last 11 at-bats before last night.

With Drew on the bench, Jacoby Ellsbury played right field with Coco Crisp remaining in center for the second straight night.

Around the bases

Bartolo Colon still hadn’t been given clearance to begin throwing, though Francona suggested that was imminent. Colon remains sidelined with a slight oblique strain. Francona said that the pitcher would need about a week or 10 days after he begins throwing to reclaim his place in the Pawtucket rotation. … Mike Lowell, on the DL with a strained thumb, reported that the swelling on his left thumb has been significantly reduced. Lowell is now able to flex the thumb some. … When Kevin Youkilis struck out in the first inning last night, it ended his streak of 34 plate appearances without a strikeout, a career-best.

smcadam@projo.com