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Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford could miss the start of the 2012 Major League Baseball season after undergoing wrist surgery on Tuesday, the team said.

 

The Red Sox also announced they signed outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, infielder Mike Aviles and pitcher Franklin Morales to one-year, non-guaranteed contracts.

 

Financial terms were not disclosed but Boston media reported Ellsbury's deal was worth $8 million.

 

The runner-up in voting for American League most valuable player, Ellsbury hit .321 with career-highs in doubles (46), home runs (32) and runs batted in (105) last season.

 

Crawford's surgery was performed after he felt soreness in his left wrist during off-season hitting activity, Boston General Manager Ben Cherington told reporters.

 

Since the pain was consistent with soreness Crawford had experienced in recent years, his doctor recommended surgery.

 

"We expect him to be hitting at some point during spring training and then expect him to be in position to return to play at some point very early in the season," said Cherington.

 

Crawford, 30, hit .255 with the Red Sox last season with 11 home runs and 56 runs batted in.

 

The Red Sox open their season on April 5 against the Detroit Tigers, who are not without some injury problems as well.

 

Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez will likely miss the 2012 Major League Baseball season after the four-time All-Star injured his left knee in off-season conditioning, the team said on Tuesday.

 

Martinez, 33, tore his anterior cruciate ligament while working out last week and an examination on Monday revealed the injury. He will be re-evaluated next week.

 

"If surgery is required as anticipated, Martinez will most likely be lost for the 2012 season," the Tigers said in a release.

 

Martinez had a .330 batting average with 103 runs batted in for the American League Central Division champions in 2011.

 

Meanwhile, Boston rival, the New York Yankees, avoided arbitration with relievers Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson by signing the two right handers to one-year, non-guaranteed contracts, the American League team said on Tuesday.

 

Chamberlain, 26, is returning from surgery that sidelined most of the 2011 season.

 

He went 2-0 with a 2.83 earned run average in 27 relief appearances before undergoing surgery for a strained right flexor muscle in June.

 

Robertson, 26, was 4-0 and had a 1.08 earned run average in a team-high 70 appearances. — Reuters