Texas Rangers

Boston Red Sox star designated hitter J.D. Martinez suffered back spasms and will not play Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Sean McAdam of Boston Sports Journal provided the report.

Martinez is one of the most potent offensive weapons in baseball. He hit .330 with 43 homers, 130 RBI, 111 runs and an OPS of 1.031 in 2018, winning Silver Slugger awards at both designated hitter and outfielder.

He also finished fourth in the MVP voting and was named an All-Star for the second time. And he was excellent in the postseason during Boston's run to a ninth World Series title, hitting .300 with three homers and 14 RBI.

The 31-year-old has now hit 40 or more homers in consecutive seasons and at least 35 homers in three of his past four full campaigns. And paired with defending MVP Mookie Betts and players like Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and Andrew Benintendi, he's given Boston one of the most fearsome lineups in baseball. This year Martinez is hitting .340 with four homers and 13 RBI. 

The Red Sox are deep enough to remain potent without Martinez in action. Of note, 2018 World Series MVP Steve Pearce should see additional time in the starting lineup while Martinez recovers. He's the designated hitter in Martinez's place Saturday.

NL East rivals Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets are reportedly each in the trade market for Texas Rangers starting pitcher Mike Minor.

On Wednesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported both teams are "showing strong interest" in Minor, who owns a 2.60 ERA through four starts in 2019.

The 31-year-old left-hander struggled in his first start of the season, allowing six earned runs across 4.2 innings against the Chicago Cubs. He's been dominant since, giving up just two earned runs in 23 innings (0.78 ERA) in three outings so far in April.

That includes a complete game shutout of the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night. He struck out seven while allowing only three hits and two walks.

"I think I have better stuff now than I did back then," Minor told reporters after going at least seven innings in three straight starts for the first time since 2014. "That's what you want every time, to go deep into game, give the bullpen a day off and help out the other guys."

Minor, who previously pitched for the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals, posted a more pedestrian 4.18 ERA in 28 starts for Texas in 2018. His career ERA is 3.93.

The Phillies and Mets could both benefit from adding more depth to their starting rotations in what's projected to become a heated four-team race in the NL East with the Braves and Washington Nationals.

Philadelphia ranks 22nd in starter ERA (5.10) in the season's early stages, while New York is 25th (5.62) in that category, per ESPN.com.

The Rangers are expected to endure a rebuilding campaign—FiveThirtyEight forecasts them to finish with a 73-89 record—but may want to wait to see whether they can build off a solid 9-7 start before beginning to move their veteran assets.

If the selling process does begin, Minor figures to become one of the most coveted pieces, as the early interest from the Phillies and Mets showcases.

Texas Rangers pitcher Luke Farrell was removed from Saturday's spring training game against the San Francisco Giants after being hit in the face by a line drive.

Per ESPN.com, Farrell had an X-ray that revealed a non-displaced fracture in his jaw and was later released from the hospital.

Per MLB.com's Dave Sessions, Farrell is expected to be examined by a maxillofacial specialist on Monday.

"That was a terribly frightening moment," Rangers manager Chris Woodward said after the game, via Sessions.

The Rangers claimed Farrell off waivers in January. The right-hander has played for three teams since making his MLB debut in July 2017 with the Kansas City Royals. He finished that season with the Cincinnati Reds, posting a 2.61 ERA in 10.1 innings over nine appearances.

After the Chicago Cubs claimed Farrell off waivers following the 2017 season, he appeared in 20 games for the team last year. Despite striking out 39 hitters in 31.1 innings, the 27-year-old had a 5.17 ERA.

Outfielder Hunter Pence will get a chance to continue his career, as he signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on Thursday with an invitation to the MLB team, per TR Sullivan of MLB.com.

Pence has spent the past seven seasons with the San Francisco Giants, although his 2018 campaign was one to forget.

The veteran missed more than a month with a thumb injury and was relegated to a part-time role when he returned to the active roster. He finished the year with a .226 batting average and four home runs in 97 games, and his .590 OPS was the worst of his 12-year major league career.  

Despite his struggles, the 35-year-old could make a positive impact for the Rangers.

Pence is a three-time All-Star who is only two years removed from posting an .808 OPS. He had 13 home runs in each of 2016 and 2017 after topping 20 home runs in seven of his first eight seasons.

Even if he doesn't play a full-time role, his experience and hitting ability should make him valuable in 2019.

As long as he stays healthy, Pence could be an asset at the plate and both corner outfield spots for the Rangers.

The Texas Rangers have signed free-agent reliever Shawn Kelley to a one-year deal the team announced Tuesday.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the deal is worth $2.5 million on Monday.

Per the Rangers' announcement, the contract also includes a club option for the 2020 season.

Kelley split last season between the Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics, totaling a 2.94 ERA in 49 innings.

The 34-year-old has played for five different teams during his 10-year major league career, but he looked as good as ever over the past two months of last season.

After being traded to Oakland for international slot money at the start of August, the right-hander posted a 2.16 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in 19 appearances. He also pitched a scoreless inning against the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card Game, which the Athletics lost 7-2.

His vast experience could make him a useful addition to a Rangers staff that ranked 28th in the majors last season with a 4.92 ERA, per ESPN.

Kelley could handle the mid-to-late innings ahead of closer Jose Leclerc, who took over the role midway through last season.

Although Texas finished last in the American League West last season with a 67-95 record, an improved bullpen could help the squad climb up the standings.

Shelby Miller will have a chance to re-establish himself as a starting pitcher in 2019 with the Texas Rangers. 

Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, Miller agreed to a one-year deal with the Rangers on Thursday after he appeared in nine games over the past two seasons combined. 

Miller made four starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks in April 2017 before undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The 28-year-old returned last June but landed on the disabled list with elbow inflammation for more than two months from July 12 through Sept. 28 after making four starts. 

Rosenthal noted Miller is "healthy and ready to go" for the start of the 2019 season. Despite having one more year of team control next season, the Diamondbacks chose not to tender him a contract, allowing him to become a free agent. 

Miller posted a 10.69 ERA over 16 innings in five appearances with Arizona in 2018. Since making at least 30 starts in three straight seasons from 2013 to 2015, the right-hander has started 28 games in 29 appearances since 2016. 

With the Rangers needing rotation depth coming off a 67-95 record, Miller will join a low-pressure situation that allows him to audition for a long-term contract next offseason.