Martinez stays in Boston, breathes a sigh of relief
HOUSTON — Red Sox manager Alex Cora entered the dugout from the clubhouse at Minute Maid Park and emphatically clapped his hands. The trade deadline was over and J.D. Martinez, the player implicated in many of the Sox’ trade talks, remains in Boston.
“We’re good,” Cora said before the Sox tipped the Astros, 2-1, Tuesday. “This is what we got. We have a good baseball team. Obviously, we have work to do. Where we’re at as a team, it’s not perfect, but there’s some pieces that came out of here.”
Martinez was on the field prior to batting practice, signing autographs for kids on the field. Martinez said that he never felt the stress that can come with the trade deadline, noting that he’s been traded before. Now, though, he’s ready to move forward.
”I think it’s a relief for everybody,” Martinez said. “We’ll see what happens. We [got] a couple of more pieces. Everybody got a little bit stronger so we have to step up a little bit.”
The Red Sox kept Martinez informed leading up to the deadline. Martinez, who is a free agent at the end of the season, told president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom he understood the business aspect and wouldn’t take it personally if he was dealt.
“Do whatever you think is going to be best for the franchise,” Martinez said he told Bloom. “It’s really not going to affect me wanting to come back here next year. Make the franchise better. If you think we have a chance then let’s go for it. I want to go for it. I don’t have so many years left.”
Ultimately, the Sox decided to try to go for it and retain Martinez.
”We’re in a good position to make a run,” Bloom said. “We’re in a good position to give our fans meaningful baseball.”
New threads
Christian Vázquez Face-Timed his wife, Gabriela, when he put on his new Astros uniform Tuesday.
Her response? “Oh my god!” Vázquez wearing his new uniform brought some finality to his years with the Red Sox, which began in 2008 when Boston took him in the ninth round out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy.
“It’s the game, you know,” Vázquez said during his introductory press conference. “I gave everything to the city of Boston, everything I got. We have a lot of good memories together. And this is a new chapter in my book of my career here. Let’s see where these memories [take us].”
Cora told Vázquez prior to batting practice Monday he was being traded. Vázquez felt it was important to be with his teammates one last time, so he asked Cora if he could join them for BP.
“Of course,” Cora told him. “You’re a part of the family.”
Vázquez hit in his normal group. Then he went out to shortstop to be with Xander Bogaerts, his best friend on the team with the pair playing together since their minor league days.
“I was telling him, now you believe me that I got traded?” said Vázquez jokingly. “It’s tough because we came up together from High A in 2011 to big leagues. We won a World Series together. He won two. It was a fun ride with him.”
Bogaerts, who said he wasn’t in the right headspace during Monday’s game because of the trade, had a chance to reflect on his friendship with Vázquez over the last 10-plus years. Bogaerts remembered always having to catch rides with his friend while in the minors.
“He had the car,” Bogaerts said. “I never had a car so we go way back. Our families know each other. It’s more than just baseball when it comes to us.”
In the ninth inning Tuesday, Vázquez pinch hit against Tanner Houck, his first at-bat as an Astro. With the Sox leading, 2-1, Vazquez grounded to second base. “It was weird,” Vázquez said.
Pham slots right in
The Sox activated newly acquired outfielder Tommy Pham for Tuesday’s contest. He played left field with Alex Verdugo shifting to right field. That will be the alignment when both play.
Pham, who came over from the Reds, a team that entered the day 20 games under .500, said he’s excited to play meaningful baseball down the stretch.
“Whenever you’re playing meaningful baseball at the end of the year, it’s always nice,” Pham said. “It’s a historical, winning franchise. Just a complete organization.”
Outfielder Franchy Cordero and catcher Ronaldo Hernandez were optioned to Triple A Worcester. Outfielder Rob Refsnyder was placed on the injured list with a right knee sprain retroactive to July 30. Catcher Reese McGuire was selected to the major league roster. Rafael Devers was reinstated from the 10day IL.