BOSTON -- Mike Stanley exited Sunday through the Boston Red Sox revolving door, which promises to keep spinning in the next few days.

	Stanley

The 37-year-old first baseman-designated hitter was designated for assignment after struggling at the plate before being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder July 5.

The Red Sox also activated reliever Rod Beck from the disabled list and assigned third baseman Sean Berry from Pawtucket of the International League to Boston. Pitcher John Wasdin and first baseman-designated hitter Morgan Burkhart were sent outright to Pawtucket.

What's next?

Right fielder Trot Nixon appears ready to come off the disabled list after playing a total of 14 innings Thursday and Friday for Boston's rookie league team, the Gulf Coast Red Sox, in Fort Myers, Fla.

"We'll evaluate tomorrow when tomorrow comes," Boston manager Jimy Williams said.

The Red Sox reportedly are trying to obtain first baseman Rico Brogna from Philadelphia. Brogna, who can become a free agent after the season, has hit more than 20 homers and driven in over 100 runs in each of the last two seasons. Brogna is healthy after fracturing a bone in his left forearm when he was hit by a pitch May 10.

The departure of Stanley, who was not at Fenway Park before Sunday's game with the Chicago White Sox, shook some of his teammates because of his leadership skills.

But, Williams said, "this is basically a business decision."

Stanley had two separate stints with Boston. He hit .270 with 24 homers in 1996, and .300 with 13 homers in 1997, before being traded to the New York Yankees. He started the 1998 season with Toronto, but returned to Boston on July 30, just before the trading deadline.

He hit .288 with seven homers in 47 games for Boston that season, when the Red Sox lost the AL division series to Cleveland. And last season, he hit .281 with 19 homers in 136 games.

This season, Stanley was hitting just .222 with 10 homers in 58 games. He batted only .187 in 17 games in June.

Beck, who had been sidelined with a cervical irritation in his neck, has no record and a 1.50 ERA in six appearances. Berry, who is expected to be activated shortly, was acquired after Milwaukee designated him for assignment on June 16. In 16 games at Pawtucket, he hit .368 with two homers and four RBI.

Wasdin, who started the season with Boston, was sent to Pawtucket for the second time this year. He was 1-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 25 games in the majors. Burkhart, called up from Pawtucket on June 27, hit .290 with two homers and 15 RBI in 62 at-bats for Boston.