ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It remains unclear what it means to Curt Schilling’s future with the Red Sox, but the Boston pitcher this week placed his Medfield, Mass., home on the market.

Red Sox left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, center, is surrounded by teammates after making a running catch of a fifth-inning fly ball off the bat of the Devil Rays’ Greg Norton during last night’s game in St. Petersburg, Fla.

AP / Chris O’Meara

Schilling, who bought the home from former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe, is eligible for free agency after the season and has said he intends to continue his career — in Boston or, if necessary, elsewhere.

“There are many family things that have to be prioritized,” said Schilling when asked about the significance of the move. The Schillings have four school-age children.

He declined to elaborate about his future plans or whether the house could come off the market if he ends up re-signing with the Red Sox.

After changing his mind about retiring, Schilling approached the Red Sox last spring about a one-year contract extension for the same base salary – $13 million – that he earned this season. But Red Sox management declined the offer and said the team would revisit talks with Schilling after the season is completed.

In retrospect, that might have been a good decision, since Schilling’s 2007 has been a decidedly mixed bag. Schilling, who turns 41 in November, sports a respectable 3.97 ERA, but is just 8-8 and missed seven weeks on the DL with shoulder weakness.

Should Schilling enter the free-agent market in November, he may command plenty of attention. Potential free agents Carlos Zambrano, John Smoltz and Mark Buehrle have all signed contract extensions this season, making this year’s pitching class one of the weakest in recent memory.

Crisp in lineup

Last night saw the return of Coco Crisp (back, hip) to the lineup after missing the final two games of the series in Toronto.

Crisp has been bothered by soreness in his lower back and hip for the last week, resulting in him being scratched from the lineup last weekend in the series opener against the Yankees, then two more games against the Blue Jays.

Crisp worked a walk, then stole a base in the second inning last night, indicating that he’s not hampered by the injury.

Meanwhile, first baseman Kevin Youkilis (wrist) missed his fifth straight game.

“Youk’s getting better,” said manager Terry Francona, “but he’s not ready to play.”

Not this weekend

Francona said it was “unlikely” that Manny Ramirez (strained left oblique) would return to action here this weekend.

“I don’t see it happening,” said Francona.

Should Ramirez miss these three games, he would have just six regular-season games remaining to come back and get his timing down at the plate before the start of the postseason. But even if Ramirez doesn’t find his hitting stroke right away, Francona said his mere presence in the lineup will help the Sox.

“Having him sit in that fourth hole (in the batting order),” Francona said, “I don’t care if it’s Christmas, pitchers aren’t going to be running out there to face him.”

Out until Thursday

Hideki Okajima continues with his throwing program, but won’t appear in a game until Thursday, the start of the final series of the year.

Okajima has thrown from a distance of 120 feet and shown improved arm strength.

“He’s doing exactly what we wanted him to,” said Francona, “and the results are starting to show.”

The plan calls for Okajima to have a side session Tuesday, rest Wednesday and then get into a game Thursday against Oakland.

Around the bases

Jacoby Ellsbury belted a leadoff double, giving him hits in 17 of the last 18 games since being recalled on Sept. 1… Francona said he was unsure whether the Sox will stage a celebration when they clinch a playoff spot — entering last night, their magic number was three to guarantee themselves a spot —– or wait and see the outcome of the division race. The Sox held a closed-door meeting last night to discuss the matter.

Web gem

Ellsbury made the defensive gem of the game when he raced into foul territory in the fifth and made a sliding catch on a fly ball from Greg Norton. Ellsbury had to navigate his way over the bullpen mound and through a crowd of Red Sox relievers. As he slid, he wiped out a folding chair, but held onto the ball.

The Red Sox set a road attendance record for themselves with a crowd of 27,369, pushing their road attendance of 3,065,098 . . . Mike Lowell became the first Red Sox third baseman in history to post back-to-back 20-homer seasons . . . The Sox now have 44 road wins, their most since they won 51 away from home in 2002 . . . Beckett became the 15th Red Sox 20-game winner since 1950 . . . The last time the Red Sox struck out more than 17 times in a nine-inning game they won was Sept. 18, 1968 at Baltimore.

smcadam@projo.com