A “medical matter” has prevented the Red Sox from finalizing the five-year, $110MM agreement they reached with free agent J.D. Martinez on Monday. Former big leaguer J.D. Drew can relate, having agreed to a five-year, $70MM deal with the BoSox in 2007 that took seven weeks to become official because they had concerns with his right shoulder. Drew – who, like Martinez, had agent Scott Boras as representation – looked back on the experience with Rob Bradford of WEEI. “My first words were, ’There’s nothing wrong with my shoulder.’ I was like you can put whatever you want in there,” Drew recalled. “But [Boras] said, ’I have to protect you.’ From that point on I gave him complete freedom to do whatever he needed to do.” Eleven years later, Drew remains a believer in Boras’ tactics, and he expects the agent’s expertise to benefit Martinez. “I guarantee Scott and J.D. are on a page where they know what’s happening, he’s completely assured by Scott that they know what they have to do,” he said. “He’s going to fight, he’s going to fight, he’s going to fight and get the best he can and make sure it’s fine with him.”
More from Boston and a couple other East Coast cities:
- Phillies third baseman Will Middlebrooks suffered a fractured left fibula and a potential ankle injury during the team’s game Saturday, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. It’s obviously an awful development for Middlebrooks, who joined the Phillies on a minors deal in January in hopes of earning a major league roster spot. Although Middlebrooks is likely to need surgery, he’s optimistic he’ll be able to play this season. Still, the 29-year-old admitted Sunday that he’s somewhat concerned about his future in baseball. “The game is getting younger every day,” Middlebrooks noted. “I’ll be 30 this year. Unfortunately, that’s not prime anymore. You look in this clubhouse and everybody is 23, 24 years old. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t cross my mind. But the small window of time I’ve spent here with this staff and training staff, I think I’ll be just fine. If it takes two months, if it takes four or five months, I don’t know how long it’s going to take yet. I’m not counting myself out. I plan on playing this year.”
- The Red Sox expect to begin the year without either left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez or righty Steven Wright, manager Alex Cora told reporters, including Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com, on Sunday (Twitter link). Rodriguez is working back from the right knee surgery he underwent in October, and Wright had a season-ending procedure on his left knee last May. With those two on the shelf, the Red Sox will choose among Hector Velazquez, Roenis Elias and the out-of-options Brian Johnson to serve as their season-opening fifth starter.
- As of December, the league office was investigating Wright in the wake of a domestic incident that occurred early in the winter. However, MLB officials still haven’t interviewed Wright, Sean McAdam of BostonSportsJournal.com tweets.
- Mets first baseman Dominic Smith suffered a strained quad and will undergo an MRI on Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com writes. Smith isn’t worried, though, as he said Sunday “there’s no real concern” that it’s a major problem (Twitter link via DiComo). Meanwhile, outfielder Jay Bruce downplayed the plantar fasciitis in his left foot, calling it a “non-issue” (via David Lennon of Newsday, on Twitter).
Middlebrooks stunk when healthy and wasn’t going to make the 25 man so an injury just guarantees he gets a paycheck.
Geez he just broke his leg give him a break. Also hey you know what anyone can have one amazing season
Middlebrooks and Pullin collide. Hate to see it. But it easily could have been JP Crawford colliding with Rhys Hoskins. Stay healthy, boys!
Really? What did he do to you personally?
Had a crush on Jenny Dell, perhaps
Didn’t we all
Sign Brett Lawrie now that Will Middlebrooks suffered a fractured left fibula.
What ever happened with Steven Wright being investigated for domestic abuse?
espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22438757/steven-wright-bos…
It’s absolutely comical that Spring Training has started, the Steven Wright issue/investigation has been open since December, and he hasn’t even been interviewed yet.
There’s absolutely no excuse for waiting months before even a preliminary interview is held.
The Players, and everyone else in fact, have every right to believe that the Commissioner’s Office, who is allowed to place Detective, Judge and Jury in these instances, are in way over their heads when it comes to proper investigation and authority.
Yet another screw up by the MLBPA – letting the League run riot on them. They are completely inept, and Tony Clark is overseeing a period where they have lost a significant amount of traction, that will take years to claw back. What an embarrassment.
News flash….the MLB Commish has always had the authority to do any and all investigations under every CBA and before. It is written into the MLB Constitution and the MLB constitution is and has been agreed upon by the MLBPA since day one. You can blame Clark all you want…doesn’t make it factual.
The Joint Domestic Violence Policy, introduced in 2015 and overseen by Manfred and Clark, was a massive moment in the shift in power.
The DVP, which Clark signed off on, allowed The Commissioner’s Office full control over investigation and discipline.
While the Constitution did outline the Commissioner’s authority from the beginning, section 3A ensures that the Basic Agreement between the OC and MLBPA has authority when controlling the significance of punishment handed out. Tony Clark and Co effectively wiped that and gave the OC full power.
You can cite what you like, just make sure you’re looking at the whole picture, not just what you want to see.
There’s a reason why it’s widely perceived that Clark has overseen a dreadful time for the PA.
Sighs…SMDH…have a nice day.
Cam gave you nothing but facts. I disagree with his former post but agree with the latter.
And I have decided to no longer engage in arguments that will become circular or a time suck. There is nothing in the policy – attachment 52 page 308 ( mlbplayers.com/pdf9/5450407.pdf ) that violates, alters or in anyway overrides the CBA, just as there is nothing in the CBA that violates, alters or in anyway overrides the MLB Constitution ( drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx4PW47PiAi-ZjJlMzY0YmYtN… ) Article II, Sec. 2 (b).
On top of that neither the CBA or the Constitution have stand alone sections…it’s Article defined by Roman numerals, Sec defined by number, and subsection letters, After that it’s Attachments defined by numbers.
See…time suck. Now I will get back to hurling my guts up with this flu.
This is a concerning issue and a politically correct issue as well.
It will likely be decided when the fans are watching.
The MLB can then show it cares about this issue more visibly and publicly.
In other words, at a time when the issue will gain more free press..
A message has to be sent and it will be.
Did you even understand whatever nonsense that was you were trying to type?
Joe Kelly will also be on the Red Sox list as a potential 5th starter.
He will not be a starter for the Sox. That ship has sailed. He is way more valuable in the pen.
Nah, Brian Johnson will
I think Johnson is a serviceable back end starter. I don’t think there’s a lot of upside there but he should be able to toss a mid 4 ERA and throw some innings up until E-rod returns.
No way. It will go to johnson unless someone else goes crazy in the spring. I would like them to see if they could sign someone like Lackey or Peavy for some depth.
Johnson and Elias almost certainly will be in the pen as the Red Sox need 2 LRP’s.
And ERod goes to the pen when he comes back to build up his arm.
So now we’re down to Velasquez or Kelly being the 5th starter until ERod is ready.
One will start 5th and the other will be in the pen.
Kelly has had more starts in the MLB than Velasquez so we’ll see.
Will you stop going on about Kelly being the 5th starter? It’s just not a thing. Erod is not going to the pen. Johnson and Elias will not both be in the ben. There is no room. Dirty Craig, Kelly, Smith, Robby Scott, Barnes, Hembre, Thornberg, and workman. Plus Wright when he gets back. One of Johnson, Elias and Velasquez will start, the other two will probably go to triple a. No idea where you are getting these ideas.
We can debate this all day but it doesn’t matter.
Let’s just see what happens.
It’s up to Cora.
It’s only a thought, only an idea.
The Red Sox are blessed to have so many options.
On ERod I said he goes to the pen until he builds up his arm and is ready to start. I see ERod as being the likely #5 if he’s healthy.
It’s not a debate though, because literally every source of reason says that Kelly is not going into the rotation. Why would you put him into the starting five, only to put him back in the pen weeks later? It’s absurd. Erod doesn’t need to go to the bullpen to build up his arm. That is what extended spring training/rehab starts are for. Right now the rotation will be something like this Sale,Price, Pomeranz, Porcello, and then Johnson until one of Wright or Erod get back. Johnson will probably end up DFA, or traded unless they decide to start him in triple A and use Velasquez or Ellias as the number 5.
If I were J.D. Martinez I wouldn’t want J.D. Drew explaining how he also was a Boras client and also had a “medical matter” health issues with his Boston signing. …. LOL
That is not a great selling point ….. LOL
J.D. Drew wasn’t a favorite in Boston and Boston fans will be reminded that Scott Boras was again connected with a questionable player with a health issue that did not meet expectations.
J D Drew. What an idiot
Mets players hurt already? Kinda quick, even for them! Smith and Bruce and even Tebow too
Smith commented to reporters this morning that “this way there will be no issues about me being late anymore. I can take my sweet time getting to the park. Cespedes is a great teammate to teach me the limp and what you say—as the expression goes you talk the talk and you walk the walk.”