Drew near $70-million deal in Boston

J.D. Drew and the Boston Red Sox reached a preliminary agreement on a contract that could bring the former Dodger free-agent outfielder $70 million over the next five years.

Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein said the deal was not done because Drew has not yet taken a physical. But he told reporters that Drew is earmarked for the No. 5 spot in the batting order behind David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez -- if Ramirez isn’t traded.

“With David and Manny, if they want to walk those guys, we want them to pay a steep price,” Manager Terry Francona said.

The 31-year-old Drew played in 146 games for the Dodgers last season and hit .283 with 20 home runs and a team-high 100 runs batted in. He became a free agent when he opted out of the last three years of his five-year, $55-million contract last month.

Trot Nixon, Boston’s longtime right fielder, is a free agent. Wily Mo Pena, who played the position when Nixon was hurt last season, had trouble fielding there and would serve as the fourth outfielder.

Another former Dodger landed in Boston on Tuesday, as the Red Sox reached a preliminary agreement with shortstop Julio Lugo that would pay him $36 million over the next four years. Lugo must pass a physical before the agreement is completed.

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Jon Lester’s doctors have told him he’s cancer-free from lymphoma, and the Red Sox pitcher is planning to report to training camp on time.

“It was my expectation from the beginning to be at spring training at some point,” Lester said. “Now that everything is looking good and ready to go, I’m ready to be there on the reporting day that pitchers and catchers need to be there.”

Lester won his first five starts as a rookie this year and was 7-2 with a 4.76 earned-run average when he was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma at the end of August, ending his season. He had four courses of chemotherapy before a scan came up clean.

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The Chicago White Sox and infielder-outfielder Pablo Ozuna agreed to an $800,000, one-year contract.... Right-hander LaTroy Hawkins and the Colorado Rockies finalized a $3.5-million, one-year contract.