MLB notebook: Red Sox introduce J.D. Martinez

J.D. Martinez and agent Scott Boras sat between Red Sox team president Dave Dombrowski and manager Alex Cora as the slugger was officially welcomed to the Boston franchise on Monday morning.

"It's been a long process, I'm happy just to put everything behind me and just go out and play baseball," Martinez said.

Martinez signed a five-year, $110 million deal after a long offseason of flirtation between the two sides. He took a physical with the team on Wednesday but doubt crept in for fans and media when no announcement came in the days following the appointment with team doctors. USA Today reported Monday the concern with the physical focused on the physical review of a right foot injury.

"Anytime you do something like this, it's very thorough," Dombrowski said. "Some of it, at this time of year, everybody's not at one place for your physical. J.D. did fly to Boston at one time -- we didn't have all of our doctors here -- and then it was a matter of us kind of completing the language of the contract. The language was to really protect all sides."

--Seattle right-hander Felix Hernandez left the Mariners' spring training game in pain after being drilled in the upper right forearm by a line drive.

Chicago Cubs catcher Victor Caratini ripped a pitch back up the middle in the second inning at Mesa, Ariz., and it struck Hernandez on his pitching arm near the elbow. The 31-year-old flinched but was unable to raise his glove in time to stop the hard-hit ball.

Hernandez grabbed his right arm and yelled in agony before manager Scott Servais and trainers attended to him. Caratini greeted Hernandez and appeared to wish him good luck as the long-time Mariners star walked off the field.

--Baltimore right-hander Kevin Gausman departed the Orioles' spring training game in Sarasota, Fla., in the second inning after sustaining a head injury during a collision at home plate with Detroit Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario.

Gausman was backing up home plate after giving up a run-scoring single to Leonys Martin and was moving toward the third base side as center fielder Adam Jones' throw was off line. Meanwhile, Candelario, the on-deck hitter, was trying to aid Detroit baserunner Jason Krizan, and collided with Gausman.

Gausman fell to the ground and was evaluated by Baltimore trainers before being removed from the game. He had a cut near his left eye from Candelario's helmet and departed the field in a cart and holding a towel on his head. Gausman told reporters a short time later that he underwent concussion testing.

--Logan Morrison agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins. The contract includes a vesting option for 2019.

Morrison, who hit 38 home runs with the Tampa Bay Rays last season, is likely to serve as designated hitter and spell Joe Mauer at first base.

Morrison made $2.5 million with Tampa Bay in 2017. According to MLB Network, his deal with Minnesota can be for two years, but only the $6.5 million for the 2018 season is guaranteed.

--The New York Mets signed right-hander A.J. Griffin to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training.

Griffin spent the 2017 season with the Texas Rangers and appeared in 18 games (15 starts), going 6-6 with a 5.94 ERA over 77 1/3 innings. He allowed 20 home runs and struck out 61.

A veteran of four seasons with the Oakland Athletics (2012-13) and Rangers (2016-17), the 30-year-old Griffin has a 34-21 record with a 4.34 ERA in 88 games (85 starts). He was a 14-game winner for the A's in 2013 before ligament and shoulder injuries derailed his career.

--Field Level Media