Red Sox Notes: Martinez saga drags on; Bradley looking for consistency; Layne returns

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Red Sox’ pursuit of J.D. Martinez lasted for the duration of the offseason. Now that the two sides are in agreement on a contract, an official confirmation and announcement has already taken nearly a week, with no clear end in sight.

The Red Sox continue to review medicals on Martinez, with input from other specialists over an unspecified concern, a source confirmed.

Martinez and the Red Sox reached agreement last Monday night on a five-year, $110 million deal, but have yet to officially ratify the deal.

It’s possible that the club could want to tweak some of the language in the contract that would offer them additional protection in the event Martinez suffers an injury related to a pre-existing condition.

Both Martinez and his agent, Scott Boras, were in Fort Myers earlier this week, anticipating that the deal would be officially signed and an introductory press conference would be held. But the process slowed because some of the Red Sox’ medical staff has returned to Boston, making a review of records somewhat more problematic.

Later in the week, an apparent issue arose. It appears as though both Boras and Martinez have since left town, though it’s uncertain whether Martinez traveled elsewhere to be examined further at the Red Sox’ request.

As has been noted, there have been times in the past where there’s been a delay between an agreement with a free agent and the team’s official confirmation. But the fact that this particular agreement took place in the middle of spring training, and included a visit to Fenway South by Martinez himself, has ramped up the anxiety for many.

It’s possible that more delays could be in the offing since the Sox could confirm the signing with a press release, but require additional time to organize a press conference with both Martinez and Boras attending.

NBCSports Boston was the first to report on the reason for the delay.

***********************

Despite evidence to the contrary, Jackie Bradley Jr. doesn’t like being labeled as “streaky.’’

“I feel like I haven’t played my best baseball yet,’’ he said. “I don’t like to feed into that so-called streaky thing. I know what I’m capable of doing and it’s getting back to doing that on a consistent basis.’’

The numbers are hard to dispute, however. Last season alone, Bradley had three monthly OPS totals at .770 or better and three at .596 or lower.

It’s been a career-long pattern, too. There are times when Bradley looks as though he can’t buy a hit, and other times when he seems incapable of making an out.

The Red Sox would like to see more consistency from him at the plate.

“Everybody talks about how streaky he is,’’ said Alex Cora. “We’ve been talking about a lot of (possible reasons), but in the end, let him be an athlete. You see what he can do in the outfield, his instincts, his reactions. He will hit. He will hit. It’s just a matter of instead of that roller coaster season, just try to be consistent.’’

Bradley rejected the label but vowed to have a better season.

“Just continue to work,’’ he said. “You’re going to go through (valleys). Obviously, my goal is to minimize those and I’m going to continue to work until I get it to a place where I feel is a good place. Even then, I’m going to continue to work and try to get better. I feel like good things are to come.’’

Bradley believes cutting down his strikeouts will go a long way toward achieving more consistency.

“When I make contact, most of the time I try to make hard contact,’’ he said. “Good things happen when you hit the ball hard. Being consistent with barreling the ball up and fighting off good pitches, putting myself in hitter’s counts and don’t chase.’’

When he slumps, Bradley said “there’s no one thing,’’ to pinpoint.

“(The most important thing is to) get a good pitch,’’ said Bradley, “and be able to handle it and don’t miss it.’’

***********************************

The Red Sox signed lefty reliever Tommy Layne to a minor-league deal. Layne was in camp yesterday with the minor leagues but doesn’t have an invitation to major league spring training, though he may see some action in Grapefruit League games.

Layne had been in the Major League Baseball Players Association workout camp in Bradenton for the past week or so.

Layne spent time with the Red Sox in 2004, 2015 and 2016 before being designated for assignment when the Red Sox obtained Fernando Abad at the 2016 trade deadline. He later signed with the New York Yankees and spent part of 2017 with them as well.