Red Sox add 2 pitchers to major league roster
The Boston Red Sox added right-handed relief pitcher Kyle Martin and left-hander Luis Ysla to the major league roster on Friday from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Martin, 25, spent the entire 2016 season with the PawSox in his Triple-A debut. He converted each of his six save opportunities and went 3-4 with a 3.38 ERA over 66 2/3 innings and 10.53 strikeouts per nine innings in 36 appearances, all in relief.
Martin has made each of his 120 professional appearances in relief, going 15-12 with 24 saves, a 3.41 ERA over 229 innings, 242 strikeouts, 63 walks and 19 home runs allowed.
Ysla, 24, made 39 of his 40 appearances in 2016 with the Double-A Portland Sea dogs before finishing his season with a solo outing for Pawtucket. He combined to go 2-5 with four saves, a 3.99 ERA over 56 1/3 innings and 62 strikeouts, pitching exclusively out of the bullpen for the first time in his career.
From June 1 through the remainder of the season, the Venezuelan native held opponents to a .208 batting average in 24 appearances between the two clubs.
Originally signed by San Francisco as an international free agent in 2012, Ysla was acquired by the Red Sox from the Giants Aug. 31, 2015. He has made four relief appearances for Margarita of the Venezuelan Winter League, his third consecutive season pitching for the team.
Rangers sign Cashner for $10M
The Texas Rangers agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent right-hander Andrew Cashner on Friday, according to published reports.
The deal is reportedly worth $10 million.
Cashner will be looking to rebound in 2017 after going just 5-11 with a 5.25 ERA while splitting last season with the San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins.
The 30-year-old Cashner has a 31-53 record and 3.89 ERA over seven big-league seasons, beginning with the Chicago Cubs in 2010.
Pelicans’ Holiday to make season debut
New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday will make his season debut on Friday night after being away from the club due to his wife’s battle with a brain tumor.
Holiday is expected to come off the bench in the contest against the Portland Trail Blazers. New Orleans has gone just 2-10 in his absence, which ties for the worst record in the NBA.
Holiday does provide the floor leadership the team badly missed while he was dealing with the situation involving his wife, Lauren.
Lauren Holiday, a former member of the United States women’s national soccer team, was diagnosed with a benign tumor on the right side of her brain in late June.
Stars send F Smith to AHL affiliate
The Dallas Stars reassigned forward Gemel Smith to the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League on Friday.
Smith, 22, posted two goals, one assist and 21 penalty minutes in 12 games for Dallas this season. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 22 and scored his first two career NHL goals on Nov. 6 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
With Texas this season, Smith has one goal and seven shots on goal in three games.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Smith, a native of Toronto, was originally selected by Dallas in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL draft.
Lakers recall C Zubac from D-League
The Los Angeles Lakers recalled center Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League on Friday.
Zubac, 19, made his NBA D-League debut on Thursday night against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, converting 6 of 9 attempts for 13 points with three rebounds and two blocks in 23 minutes of play.
The 7-foot-1, 240-pound Zubac was selected by the Lakers in the second round (32nd overall) of this year’s draft. He has appeared in three games for the Lakers this season, averaging 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per contest.