Boston ? Javy Lopez was traded from the Baltimore Orioles to Boston on Friday, a deal that gives the former All-Star another chance to play and provides the Red Sox a replacement for injured catcher Jason Varitek. The Orioles sent Lopez and $1.3 million to the Red Sox for a player to be named.

Varitek had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Thursday and was expected to begin rehabilitation immediately. The Red Sox have not indicated when their captain might return and were delighted to get Lopez as a replacement.

“He’s an experienced catcher. I know he hasn’t caught much (this season), but he has caught for a long time,” Boston manager Terry Francona said in Tampa Bay, where the Red Sox played the Devil Rays. “He’s caught some pretty good pitchers in the past.”

Lopez pinch hit for Doug Mirabelli in the third inning of Friday night’s game against Tampa Bay and struck out swinging. Mirabelli limped off the field in the first after he tagged out a sliding Carl Crawford trying to score on Greg Norton’s infield single. He returned to the plate in the second, but Lopez stayed in to catch in the third.

The Red Sox lead the wild-card race and are competing with New York for the AL East title. The Orioles are out of contention and didn’t have much need for Lopez because Ramon Hernandez is their starting catcher, and Jay Gibbons is the designated hitter.