BOSTON -- The bad news for the Boston Red Sox was having to put ace Pedro Martinez on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday. The silver lining was resolving the situation with reliever Bryce Florie -- for now.

	Pedro Martinez Starting pitcher Boston Red Sox Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS IP H R SO W-L ERA 103.2 72 27 150 7-2 2.26

Martinez, who hasn't won since May 30 and gave up four runs in less than five innings in Boston's 7-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Tuesday, will be out at least through the All-Star break.

The team said the three-time Cy Young winner was being evaluated for right shoulder soreness and inflammation Wednesday at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester.

The Red Sox also placed Carl Everett on the 15-day DL on Thursday with a sore right knee.

The Red Sox filled Martinez's roster spot with Florie, who is returning to the majors for the first time since being hit in the eye last Sept. 8 by a line drive off the bat of the New York Yankees' Ryan Thompson.

It's the third straight season Martinez has been injured at approximately this point in the season.

"It seems to be a tough stretch for him," Red Sox catcher Scott Hatteberg said on Wednesday. "But he always seems to come back stronger afterwards."

Martinez is 7-2 with a 2.26 ERA in 15 starts this season.

	June Swoon
	Pedro Martinez's combined numbers in April, May and June since joining the Red Sox in 1998:
		W-L	ERA
	April	13-1	1.92
	May	18-4	1.70
	June	9-4	3.42*
	* 0-1, 5.16 ERA this season

Florie's activation came just a day after he said he expected his days with the team were likely over.

Boston offered the right-hander a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday, but Florie said he would likely refuse it because he was ready to pitch in the majors.

Florie had also complained that the team and general manager Dan Duquette communicated poorly with him throughout his nine-month rehabilitation.

Refusing to accept the assignment would have forced the Red Sox to either activate him or place him on waivers -- for the purpose of an outright assignment or unconditional release.

Because Florie has more than three years of major league service, he had the right to reject an outright assignment and become a free agent.

The point became moot with Martinez's injury.

"I'm not asking any questions," Florie said. "I just know that for nine months I've hoped and dreamed of getting back into the Boston locker room. I walked in today, and I'm playing."

Florie said he was ready to pitch and put the matter behind him.

"I don't have any hard feelings," he said. "Basically they made a decision to do what they thought was right. I don't know what the night's sleep did for that decision, but they changed their mind."

Reliever Rolando Arrojo will take Martinez's spot in the starting rotation.

Red Sox manager Jimy Williams praised Florie for coming back from the injury, which required surgery to repair broken facial bones and contact lenses to correct impaired vision.

"Just a tremendous battle, a tremendous amount of courage," Williams said. "I don't know if there are a lot of players who could have come back."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.