BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox have activated reliever Billy Wagner and released struggling starter Brad Penny.

Thursday’s moves came two days after the Red Sox obtained Wagner in a trade with the New York Mets.
Penny went 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA in 24 starts with Boston after signing a $5 million, one-year contract in the offseason. The right-hander is 1-6 with a 6.38 ERA in his last 11 games.
Penny last pitched in last Friday’s 20-11 loss to the New York Yankees, yielding eight runs and 10 hits in four-plus innings.