Astros' Martinez declines to comment on PED report
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Astros outfielder Fernando Martinez issued a no-comment through a team spokesman Wednesday morning, one day after an ESPN report linked him to the South Florida clinic that's been connected to performance-enhancing drugs and some two dozen Major Leaguers.
ESPN's "Outside the Lines" cited a source that said the names of Martinez, Padres shortstop Evereth Cabrera, A's reliever Jordan Norberto, Padres reliever Fautino De Los Santos and Mets outfield prospect Cesar Puello are on documents obtained from the Miami-area Biogenesis clinic that list them as receiving PEDs. The report says the documents are not proof the players received or used PEDs.
Martinez, claimed off waivers from the Mets a year ago, hit .237 with six homers and 14 RBIs in 118 at-bats last year for Houston, playing in a career-high 41 games. The 24-year-old Dominican is battling for a starting spot in the Astros' outfield this year and earlier this week backed out of a commitment to play in the World Baseball Classic.
The Astros said Tuesday night through a spokesman they had no comment.
Astros manager Bo Porter told reporters Wednesday that he spoke to Martinez prior to the team's morning workout at Osceola County Stadium.
"His agent gave him a call, and once the information came down, we felt the need to bring him in and make sure that he understood his name was implicated, but we're not going to make any comments until we have concrete information," Porter said.
Porter said Martinez would continue to be involved in camp activities, and he was on the field Wednesday.
According to the documents obtained by "Outside the Lines," Martinez's name is listed next to the amount $2,000 and the months February and March. A year is not indicated.
Several high-profile players have recently been linked via reports to the logbooks of clinic owner Anthony Bosch, including Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera, Ryan Braun and Nelson Cruz. The now-shuttered clinic is being investigated by Major League Baseball for allegedly supplying some players with banned substances.