Red Sox sign Martinez for five years at $110M

FORT MYERS, FLA.» Hours after Red Sox owner John Henry said talk of collusion in free-agent negotiations was “ridiculous,” his team made a splash by reaching agreement with slugger J.D. Martinez on a $110 million, five-year contract.

About half the 166 players who exercised free-agency rights in November remain unsigned.

“There are a lot of factors, I think, driving it, and I think they’ve all been identified,” Henry said Monday as Boston began full-squad workouts. “There’s a lot of factors that have driven this offseason, and you just can’t expect every season to be a feeding frenzy, so to speak.”

Jake Arrieta and Mike Moustakas are among the free agents still looking for a place to play.

“This one, it’s surprised me,” Henry said of the slow pace of agreements. “I think it’s surprised all of us in baseball. But I think probably next year will be quite different.”

By late afternoon, word had spread that Martinez was headed to the Red Sox.

Next year’s free-agent class includes Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and Josh Donaldson, plus possibly Clayton Kershaw.

• Anthony Rizzo is back with the Cubs after spending time at home in Florida in support of victims of the deadly shooting at his former high school.

The veteran first baseman rejoined the 2016 World Series champions Monday for their first full-squad workout of spring training. He had been an early arrival before leaving Thursday for Parkland, Fla. He spoke at a vigil for victims of the attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday.

• The Diamondbacks agreed to a twoyear, $7.5 million deal with outfielder Jarrod Dyson.