The Red Sox have designated left-hander Tommy Layne and utilityman Michael Martinez for assignment in order to clear spots on the roster for newly acquired southpaw Fernando Abad and newly promoted outfield prospect Andrew Benintendi, as MLB.com’s Ian Browne and Tim Britton of the Providence Journal first noted (links to Twitter).
[Related: Updated Boston Red Sox Depth Chart]
Layne, 31, has a 3.77 ERA with 7.9 K/9, 4.4 BB/9 and a 53.2 percent ground-ball rate in 28 2/3 innings out of the Boston bullpen this season. He posted fairly similar numbers in 2015, but the key difference between the two seasons is his performance against left-handed opponents. Last year, Layne was unhittable in such situations, limiting left-handed hitters to a comical .148/.248/.170 slash in 102 plate appearances. This year, though, lefties batted .259/.355/.333 against him, thus prompting the Sox to look outside the organization for an improvement, which they found by flipping hard-throwing relief prospect Pat Light to the Twins in exchange for Abad.
Martinez, meanwhile, scarcely saw playing time during his brief tenure with the Red Sox. He appeared in just four games and totaled seven plate appearances, going 1-for-6 with a walk and two strikeouts. The 33-year-old is a career .198/.244/.271 hitter in parts of six big league seasons (542 plate appearances). He has experience all over the diamond, having spent time in the outfield and at second base, third base and, to a lesser extent, shortstop.
Glad to hear it! Sometimes the best moves are addition by subtraction. Abad may not be a very flashy addition, but he’s a substantial improvement over Layne. Martinez is absolute garbage, and I can say without a doubt, no matter if Benintendi becomes great, or totally bombs, he is already better than Michael Martinez.
I agree
I agree….never could understand how he was selected to come up the majors. He has got to be one of the worst players I have ever seen both offensively and defensively. He should be back in single A.
Better clear out that 3rd roster spot now for Yoan Moncada who should follow on the heels of Benintendi up to the show within days
Not until he learns to play another position. Second base is taken. Maybe next month. Or hey, they may want him to play in AAA first.
Not going to happen. Moncada just started doing some work at 3rd base and there is no where else on the roster for him right now. Maybe he’ll get called up in September but I expect him to be on the team early next year not this season.
Unlikely
m.providencejournal.com/sports/20160801/red-sox-un…
Maybe Benintendi will be half the player Frazier is.
Benintendi has outhit Frazier by a lot at every level and rates higher with pretty much every prospect analyst. Anything can happen under the YCPB mentality, but by all accounts, Benintendi is the superior player.
Frazier has proven nothing… Another Yankee fcn loser
Neither has benintendi, both could be superstars, both could be out of baseball in 5 years, stop.
Neither has proven anything. Relax dude.
Troll
Trial period, if he does well, flip him in the off season with others for Sale?
If that was the case they would’ve traded him and other for Sale already numb nuts.
Benny is going nowhere period.
Worry about your gar-bage Atlanta team.
You are the worst
Jeez, just chill dude…
He’s the LF of the Sox for the next five years.
Where is the hall of famer Swihart going to play? Is he back to being the next Carlton Fisk behind the plate?
Easy there mentioning HOF and LF at Fenway.. After all? Boston had one of 3 straight playing that position SOLID for about EVERY SEASON from 1939-mid 1980’s, except couple of WW2 years..
Probably not another team in the game, other than maybe classic NYY of the early years that have that claim of 3 straight HOF players at a position who played their entire long careers with 1 team.
I don’t think that’s the case. The chance that his stock will rise after this promotion is very weak, unless he plays like mike Trout instantly. The chance that he will have some troubles initially is much bigger. Remember Jackey Bradley?
Either way, I don’t think the Sox will trade for Sale, unless they can get him without severely overpaying (which seems unlikely in today’s market, especially with the weak free agent class this year).
Agreed, and most people forget that JBJ essentially skipped AAA, with <30 AB's at AAA before being selected to the majors. Only Mike Trout could skip AAA without stumbling in the majors, everyone else is merely human.
I think this is a great move, I think he will help us on the offensive an defensive side
I’m surprised Martinez was still on someone’s 40 man roster to begin with. That guy is one of the worst light hitting players of this century.