Greinke would gladly welcome Martinez back

GM Hazen offers no update on talks with outfielder; bullpen sessions underway; Miller progressing

February 15th, 2018

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- D-backs general manager Mike Hazen said Thursday that the team is still looking at the possibility of adding an outfielder, but once again he was not about to mention the name of free agent J.D. Martinez.
"No, no update," Hazen said when asked about Martinez. "I think, again, we're engaged in the entire market. As I've said throughout the entire offseason, we're continuously looking for ways to make our club better, and there are still options available out there. We're staying intimately engaged in the market."
One person who didn't mind commenting on Martinez was ace Zack Greinke.
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The right-hander was asked if he wanted to see Martinez come walking through the clubhouse door.
"I mean, if he's going to hit that many homers, yeah, that'd be fine," Greinke said with a sly grin.
Martinez slugged 29 homers in 257 plate appearances for the D-backs after coming over from the Tigers in July.
Just a little rain
The overnight rain made a couple of fields unusable Thursday, which prevented some pitchers' fielding practice drills, but all the pitchers who were scheduled to get in bullpen sessions were able to do so.
Speaking of bullpens
At the beginning of camp last year, D-backs pitchers threw bullpens every other day. This year, they will take two days in between their first and second sessions as a way of easing them into things.
That means that on Friday, only and will throw bullpens. The two right-handers did not throw in the first two days of camp, as the team takes it slower with them following injuries last season.
Miller update
, who is coming off of Tommy John surgery, has done some pitchers' fielding practice work. He is expected to throw his first bullpen session by the end of March. If all goes well, he could be ready to rejoin the team around the middle of the season.

Humidor
Greinke said he is not sure what effect, if any, the installation of a humidor at Chase Field in 2018 will have, but he's open to it.
The D-backs have said they are adding the humidor not to reduce home runs, but in order to be able to store baseballs at the humidity level recommended by Major League Baseball.
"I wish every park was neutral so that everyone dealt with the same circumstances," Greinke said. "I know my ball moves more in most places than it does in Arizona, like my two-seamer and some of my changeups I feel like, too."
Up next
The D-backs will likely hit the field for stretching after 9 a.m. MT on Friday. It could wind up being a shorter day with fewer pitchers throwing bullpen sessions.