The Indians officially announced today that outfielder Leonys Martin will not return to the playing field in 2018. Manager Terry Francona delivered the news to reporters (Twitter link via MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian) but indicated that Martin is recovering well from a life-threatening bacterial infection and has not experienced any type of setback. Doctors have instructed him to focus on his immediate health rather than getting back into baseball shape, however.
Martin’s recovery is a welcome sight for his current and former teammates alike, as well as fans throughout the game. And while that’s clearly the most important element of this story, his absence does leave the Cleveland organization with a rather thin outfield mix — especially after placing Rajai Davis on the 10-day disabled list earlier today. The reasoning behind Davis’ placement on the disabled list is curious in its own right, as the team attributed it to a non-baseball medical condition without going into further detail. Bastian, though, tweets that Davis is expected to return to the team in early September.
With Davis sidelined in the short term and Martin unable to return at all this year, Cleveland’s outfield currently consists of Michael Brantley in left field, Greg Allen in center and Melky Cabrera in right. Brandon Guyer is on hand as a fourth outfield option, but the rest of the roster has sparing outfield experience at best. Jason Kipnis, Yandy Diaz and Erik Gonzalez have all appeared in the outfield in recent seasons, though that group has combined for a total of just 108 innings there. Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote last night that the Indians are still on the hunt for outfield upgrades on the August trade market, so it’s possible that Cleveland will still supplement that group.
Looking down the line, Martin’s season-ending illness doesn’t necessarily bring his time with the Indians organization to an end. He’ll have five-plus years of big league service at the end of the year but won’t reach six full years, so Cleveland will have the opportunity to retain him via arbitration. Martin was earning an affordable $1.75MM base salary this season and posted a solid .255/.323/.425 slash with considerably above-average defensive marks in the outfield. Given that level of play, the Indians should have plenty of interest in retaining Martin barring any setbacks in his recovery that would cloud his outlook for the 2019 season.
mrmet17
Cutch?
Solaris601
He’s not in the Giants’ lineup tonight. Looks like a trade is imminent, and I pray he’ll be in Cleveland by tomorrow, but I have a suspicion he’s headed to the Yankees.
pmatulis
CLE has the waiver priority. If he end up in NY then the Tribe passed in him. But I too hope he is a Wahoo by end of the week.
bradthebluefish
NL has first say. Dodgers May be interested though would want financial assistance.
snotrocket
No chance the Giants help the Dodgers stay under the tax.
Perksy
He passed through waivers so it’s anyone’s game now
Cat Mando
Solaris601……Twitter from a SF beat writer…John Shea
@JohnSheaHey 2h2 hours ago
Bochy said McCutchen has day off today and will play tomorrow. I assume he meant with the Giants. But we haven’t seen McCutchen in clubhouse nor on field so far.
watup0100
Does anyone know what kind of infection he has? Is it something uncommon?
layventsky
Not sure exactly, but it spread to his bloodstream and affected the functionality of his organs.
Cat Mando
Sounds like sepsis…..very scary….I almost died from it and that was a few weeks after dying on the OR table
jd396
Life threatening sepsis can originate from nearly any kind of lesser infection. Just recently two of my co workers have had similarly serious issues. One came from a simple UTI and the other came post surgery.
partyatnapolis
get well soon!! LM13
CubsRule08
Good to hear. Rest up and get ready for 2019, Leonys!
Garza Nathan
Indians might have passed on Cutch
Rumors are he might be headed to Houston
Michael Chaney
What rumors?
Polish Hammer
Everyone passed on him, he cleared waivers.
mt in baltimore
Adam Jones anyone??
osfandan
I wonder if Adam Jones would reconsider waiving his no trade if it meant everyday ABs in Cleveland?
mt in baltimore
You have to think so…they have a real shot at winning the Championship this year..
partyatnapolis
if he didn’t the first time i don’t think he’s gonna now
Polish Hammer
Yeah but he’s a swell guy…and bought Cal Ripken’s house…and his kids go back to school soon…and he has 10/5 trade coverage…and he’d rather stay with a loser than join a pennant race…
osfandan
You make it sound like prioritising family over baseball is a bad character trait…
xabial
Who cares about 2018? Praying for his MLB career.
Good luck Leonys
sufferforsnakes
Who cares about his MLB career? Pray for his life, instead.
Dennid
I’m unsure why Cleveland is so conservative this season with the pick ups. Martin was a good add but you can’t tell me they couldn’t have improved the second base position. I like the relief pitching we added as well but we are too weak at second and outfield depth to go very far in a playoffs.
greg1
Curtis Granderson anyone? Passed through waivers already, and can most likely be had for a lower level prospect. Not great defensively any longer, but sufficient enough to have value with the pop still left in the bat and clubhouse leadership.
Better options exist, but this may be the easiest one to complete.
sufferforsnakes
Another LH outfield bat? No thanks. Got plenty already.
Jjbeach
How about Robbie Grossman? He’s off the DL and healthy again. Doesn’t cost much and probably doesn’t fit into the Twins’ long-range plans. He could be had cheaply enough.