MLB notebook: Red Sox still evaluating Martinez's physical

[February 24, 2018]  Four days after agreeing to a reported five-year, $110 million deal with the Boston Red Sox, outfielder J.D. Martinez has yet to be introduced by the club or take the field with his teammates.

And now, the speculation as to why is heating up.

MLB Network on Friday reported the club is still studying the free-agent slugger's physical, which took place on Wednesday. Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told ESPN's Scott Lauber via text that Martinez "continues to take his physical."

The delay sparks particular interest considering Martinez's injury history, plus the size of the contract and the amount of time it took to get done. A knee sprain and wrist injury limited Martinez to 86 games with the Astros in 2013, and he's also missed more than 40 games in each of the last two seasons. In 2016 he suffered a broken elbow crashing into a wall, and a foot injury sustained in spring training cost him the first six weeks of last season.

--Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Brent Honeywell was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and needs Tommy John ligament replacement surgery.

The Rays announced the diagnosis Friday morning, one day after Honeywell shouted expletives and marched off the mound in pain after releasing a pitch.

Honeywell, the No. 1 prospect in the Rays' system and No. 12 in Major League Baseball according to MLBPipeline.com, threw 10 pitches before cutting the session short when he felt discomfort in his right forearm. The starting pitcher is ranked 14th in a Baseball America ranking of prospects.

 

--Left-hander Francisco Liriano signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Detroit Tigers on Friday.

Liriano, who ended last season with the World Series champion Houston Astros as a reliever, is expected to compete for the No. 4 or No. 5 spot in Detroit's revamped rotation.

Liriano struggled with control and excessive walk totals with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017. He was 6-7 combined last season with a 5.66 ERA. The 34-year-old was traded in July to the Astros and was used exclusively out of the bullpen from then on.

--The Texas Rangers signed free agent right-hander Jesse Chavez to a one-year contract Friday.

The $1 million deal is not guaranteed and reportedly would escalate to $1.5 million if the 34-year-old Chavez is on the 25-man active roster on Opening Day.

Chavez had a 7-11 record and a 5.35 ERA over 138 innings in 38 games (21 starts) last season with the Los Angeles Angels.

--Field Level Media

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