By JOEL SHERMAN

The Rays have checked in on free agent Pedro Martinez, interestingly with an eye on him joining a bullpen that has lost Troy Percival and Jason Isringhausen, and has no set closer.

But Martinez is looking for a significant amount of money to return and the Rays are not in position to meet a significant price.

Martinez was quoted in the past few days saying he expects to sign this year and the only two teams known to have watched him workout recently are the Rays and Cubs.