With the impending arrival of free-agent slugger J.D. Martinez, the Boston Red Sox cleared room on their 40-man roster Tuesday by trading away one of their insurance players.

Outfielder Bryce Brentz, 29, was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates for “cash considerations,” the Red Sox announced.

Brentz, a first-round draft choice in 2010, came up through the Red Sox system, batting .296 with 17 home runs for the Sea Dogs in 2012. He also hit 31 homers for Triple-A Pawtucket last year.

While he displayed power in the minors, Brentz was hampered by injuries and he had few opportunities in the major leagues. In 34 games with Boston, he batted .287 with one homer.

RULES: Managers or coaches must make a pitching change if they head to the mound for the seventh time in a game under baseball’s new pace of play rules.

Commissioner Rob Manfred and executive Joe Torre explained some of the parameters one day after MLB imposed stricter limits on mound visits in an effort to speed up games.

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Umpires will keep players from proceeding to see the pitcher if six mound visits have already occurred.

Manfred says: “I don’t see pace of games issues as harsh or not harsh. I see them as a fan friendly issue.”

HALL OF FAMER Orlando Cepeda has been hospitalized in the Bay Area.

The San Francisco Giants said the 80-year-old Cepeda had been taken to a hospital late Monday.

Cepeda has been a regular at Giants home games and attended an 80th birthday event for Hall of Famer Willie McCovey last month.

Cepeda was a first baseman during his 17 big league seasons, beginning with the Giants. He also played for St. Louis, Atlanta, Oakland, Boston and Kansas City.

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A seven-time All-Star who played in three World Series, Cepeda was the 1958 NL Rookie of the Year with San Francisco and NL MVP in 1967 with St. Louis. In 1961, he led the NL with 46 homers and 142 RBI. Cepeda was a .297 career hitter with 379 home runs.

ANGELS: Manager Mike Scioscia says the spring training game plan for Shohei Ohtani is still being mapped out.

Scioscia said Ohtani will throw a bullpen session on Thursday and a decision will be made after that on when the multitalented Japanese pitcher/hitter will make his first appearance in a spring training game.

TWINS: The team finalized their low-risk contract with right-hander Anibal Sanchez, securing another experienced candidate for their rotation.

Sanchez agreed to terms last week for $2.5 million this season, according to multiple reports.

TRADE: The Arizona Diamondbacks sent infielder Brandon Drury to the New York Yankees and received outfielder Steven Souza Jr. from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade that includes five players.

Drury gives the Yankees a new option at third base or second, where New York was projected to start a pair of rookies.

Arizona pitching prospect Anthony Banda goes to the Rays, who also get minor league second baseman Nick Solak from the Yankees. Minor league right-hander Taylor Widener goes from New York to the Diamondbacks.


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