Red Sox re-sign Mario Martinez, add Tommy Layne and Mike McCoy

According to Matt Eddy of Baseball America, the Red Sox have re-signed third baseman Mario Martinez, and signed left-handed reliever Tommy Layne (pictured) and utility man Mike McCoy to minor league contracts. Per the Baseball America minor league free agent tracker, infielder Jonathan Diaz has signed with the Blue Jays and righty Nate Striz has a deal with Colorado. 

Martinez was originally signed to minor league deal by Boston on May 30th and was assigned to Low A Greenville. The minor league veteran hit .285/.328/.424, driving in 54 runs in 76 games while shoring up third base for the Drive. 

Layne, 29, made 40 appearances out of the San Diego bullpen between 2012 and 2013. Layne was used primarily as a left-handed specialist with the Padres, as 27 of the 39 batters he faced on the year hit from the left side. In all, he has compiled a 2.85 ERA and 1.066 WHIP, striking out 31 and walking 8 in 24 1/3 innings. Despite a low ERA, Layne struggled with his control in 2013, walking 27 in 46 Triple-A innings and five in 8 2/3 at the big league level. After being designated for assignment, San Diego outrighted Layne on October 25, making him a free agent. 

A 12-year veteran of professional baseball, McCoy saw major league playing time with Colorado in 2009 and Toronto from 2009 to 2012. In 140 games across those four seasons, he hit .190/.273/.256 while seeing playing time at every position except for catcher. Boston fans may remember him for pitching the ninth inning of a blowout loss for Toronto against the Red Sox in June of 2011. McCoy spent all of 2013 at Toronto's Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, hitting .245/.357/.327. 

Diaz rejoins the Blue Jays after one year in the Boston organization. The utility man made his major league debut with the Red Sox on June 29 after 764 minor league games, scoring a pair of runs to earn his World Series ring. Striz was signed by the Red Sox out of the independent Frontier League in 2012. He spent the bulk of 2013 with Salem, compiling a 3.28 ERA and striking out 62 in 60 1/3 innings.

There is no word on whether any of the three signees received an invitation to spring training. McCoy and Layne are expected to break camp with Triple-A Pawtucket, while Martinez is likely either to join High A Salem or return to Greenville.

UPDATE: McCoy and Layne will indeed receive invitations to spring training, per Alex Speier of WEEI.com.

Photo Credit: Tommy Layne from milb.com

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