NEW YORK -- Newcomer Mark Kotsay made his debut yesterday in right field for the Red Sox.

It was obvious after Wednesday’s game that he has quickly meshed well in his new surroundings. He was hanging with Mike Lowell — the two played together in Florida — and joking around with Dustin Pedroia and Alex Cora.

“I’m just thrilled to be here,” said Kotsay after yesterday’s game, in which he went 1-for-4 with a double. “It was great.

When he first joined the club, on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, he told manager Terry Francona he was ready to play.

“He’s made it clear,” Francona said. “He said, ‘I’ll do whatever I can to help you win.’ So, [by] the same token, we’ll communicate with him about when he plays and where. I’ll get some input from him, too. I would like to get to know him a little bit better and see what’s important to him and how he feels about things.”

Since the non-waiver trade deadline, Boston has acquired pitcher Paul Byrd, catcher David Ross and Kotsay to help in the stretch run.

“Theo seems to be accumulating baseball players, which is really a nice thing,” Francona said.

-JOE McDONALD