Detroit.– Brewers general manager Doug Melvin confirmed a report that he sent a scout to watch free-agent right-hander Pedro Martinez work out in the Dominican Republic on Friday. The Brewers sent two scouts, in fact. But they never saw Martinez pitch.

"This was twice," said Dick Groch, the Brewers' director of pro scouting. "The second time we sent people there, his publicist was there and said, 'He's on his way.' He was already 45 minutes late. We had other workouts to do. We can't wait forever. We [told the scout], 'Go. You can't stay there forever.'"

The scouts were Bruce Seid, Milwaukee's amateur scouting director, and Fernando Arango, the club's Latin American coordinator. They were already in Santo Domingo for a series of showcases with amateur players ahead of the July 2 international signing date. Melvin, who is on the lookout for pitching help, figured it made sense to swing by for a look at Martinez.

Groch's understanding was that a handful of scouts from other teams left at the same time. That contradicted a report from newspaper Hoy, that said Martinez threw 75 pitches Friday at Estadio Quisqueya in front of 160 reps from the Yankees, Rangers, D-backs, Nationals, Cubs, Indians and Angels.