As Friday’s non-waiver trade deadline approaches, interest is picking up in several Red Sox players.
The Tribune-Review of Pittsburgh reported on Sunday that the Pirates are looking closely at first baseman Mike Napoli and outfielder Shane Victorino.
Napoli was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs in the Red Sox’ 11-1 victory against Detroit on Sunday night. He has swung the bat well since the All-Star break.
Victorino has hit only .231 with no power since coming off the disabled list, but has played well defensively and, like Napoli, has bountiful postseason experience.
Napoli has $6.2 million remaining on his contract for this season and Victorino approximately $4.9 million. The Red Sox almost certainly would have to absorb the bulk of that to facilitate a deal for either player, particularly to receive a worthwhile prospect.
Ben Cherington has made four trades with the Pirates since he became general manager in 2011. The non-waiver trade deadline is Friday and, for several veteran Red Sox players, it will be a tense time.
“If there’s any talk, what has been handled in the past is that there’s been some communication with the player,” manager John Farrell said. “You try to stem some of those distractions and thoughts. We’re not at that point.”
Farrell said teams generally hope the trade deadline will bring improvements to the roster. But for the last-place Red Sox, it could mean dealing older players for prospects.
“The temperature in the clubhouse can be different depending on the intensity of some of the rumors,” Farrell said. “Our guys, they’re smart. They’re aware of what’s going on, whether it’s communication from their agent or otherwise. I’d like to think we’ve got enough veterans who stay focused on what we have to do tonight.”
Emotional day
As his friend, a former teammate and a countryman, David Ortiz watched Pedro Martinez’s Hall of Fame induction speech Sunday with great pride.
“It was very emotional. It was what I expected,” Ortiz said before belting two three-run homers and driving in seven runs in the Red Sox’ win. “It was awesome, man.”
Most of the Sox players were already at Fenway when Martinez’s speech began just after 4 p.m. All of the televisions in the clubhouse had it on.
Ortiz is the last of the Red Sox who played with Martinez. The two were teammates in 2003-04, helping lead the Sox to their first World Series championship since 1918. They have been good friends in the years since.
“Pedro was special. As much as you know I love Pedro, that’s how he was. Unbelievable competitor. Best stuff I’ve ever seen from a pitcher. The most important thing, an incredible human being,” Ortiz said.
“I think some people misjudge Pedro because of the way he went about his business. Pedro was a very Christian person and a person who had much love for everyone. I don’t think you can ever be around a better human being than what he is.”
What impressed Ortiz was how Martinez opened up during his speech and spoke from the heart in both English and Spanish.
“I know Pedro very well. What I saw was the guy that I know,” Ortiz said.
That Martinez became the second player from the Dominican Republic to enter the Hall of Fame, joining Juan Marichal, resonated with Red Sox left fielder Hanley Ramirez, also a Dominican.
“A great day for our country,” Ramirez said. “Pedro means so much to the people.”
Ortiz could one day join Martinez in Cooperstown. He has 485 home runs, 564 doubles, and 1,587 RBIs. Only four other players in history have reached those levels.
Ortiz also has three World Series titles on his résumé along with the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award.
There are hurdles to overcome. Ortiz was tied to the use of performance-enhancing drugs in 2009 and the Hall has never inducted a player who was primarily a DH.
“As long as David stays healthy and is capable of producing as he’s done for so many years, with each passing day the probability of him getting in continues to increase,” Farrell said.
Weeks called up
The Red sox supplemented their bench by calling up infielder Jemile Weeks from Triple A Pawtucket. Righthanded reliever Noe Ramirez was optioned back to the minors.
Weeks came into the game in the sixth inning and was 1 for 2 with a run scored.
With Dustin Pedroia on the disabled list and Brock Holt now the second baseman, the Red Sox needed a backup infielder. Weeks, 28, was hitting only .207 in 51 games for Pawtucket with a .617 OPS.
He played 14 games for the Sox last season, hitting .308.
Deven Marrero filled the utility role when Pedroia was on the DL earlier this month. But he was optioned Tuesday and has not spent the required 10 days in the minors before being eligible to return.
Ramirez, 25, has been with the Sox twice this season and appeared in three games.
Sandoval snaps skid
Pablo Sandoval (2 for 4) snapped an 0-for-19 skid with a single in the second inning . . . Ortiz’s seven RBIs gave him 1,349 with the Red Sox, moving him past Dwight Evans for fourth place. Hall of Famers Carl Yastrzemski, Ted Williams, and Jim Rice have the first three spots . . . Xander Bogaerts has four four-hit games, tied with Howie Kendrick of the Dodgers for the most in baseball . . . Farrell on whether baseball will ever see another pitcher like Martinez: “I hope so. I hope he’s wearing a Red Sox uniform, too.” . . . Red Sox hitting coach Chili Davis hit .260 with four home runs against the three pitchers inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday. He was 3 for 12 with a home run against Martinez, an impressive 16 of 58 with three home runs against Randy Johnson, and 0 for 3 against John Smoltz . . . Prior to the game, the Red Sox paid tribute on the scoreboard to Roley Martin, who died July 13 at his home in South Yarmouth. Martin, 61, was the son of the late Ned Martin, the ex-Sox broadcaster. . . . ESPN’s Dan Shulman, John Kruk, and Curt Schilling called Sunday night’s game from the Green Monster seats, sitting in the second row of Section 9.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.