1:04pm: San Diego announced the move. Martini will join the active roster on Thursday, per an announcement.
12:49pm: In an intriguing development, the Padres have claimed outfielder Nick Martini off waivers from the Athletics, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter). The corresponding roster maneuvering isn’t yet known.
It’s a bit of a surprise to see the San Diego org summoning the bartender for the 29-year-old, left-handed-hitting outfielder. It remains to be seen whether Martini will have a shot at holding his roster spot over the course of the offseason.
To be sure, Martini seemed likely to be claimed by some team — so much so that it might’ve been expected he wouldn’t have made it to the San Diego organization’s spot on the waiver priority list. But the Friars already have an outfield mix that includes Wil Myers, Hunter Renfroe, Manuel Margot, and Josh Naylor. Only Naylor hits from the left side, but the club also still controls the southpaw-swinging Travis Jankowski.
Making any use of Martini this year will surely mean reducing the opportunities available to those other players. If nothing else, Jankowski’s roster footing now seems more tenuous than ever.
Perhaps the Friars think Martini could be a fourth outfielder candidate in 2020. He’s optionable, which certainly helps. There are some shades of Alex Dickerson, who was jettisoned earlier this year by the Pads. But holding open a role for Martini would create a tight squeeze once Franchy Cordero is added back to the mix, even assuming Naylor is sent back to Triple-A. It’s also certainly possible the Padres simply see this as a value proposition and intend to explore offseason trade possibilities involving any number of current assets.
Regardless, it’s clear that Martini stirred real interest in the San Diego front office. He certainly impressed in a 55-game big-league debut showing last year, though the A’s never saw fit for a second round this season. While he received only 13 MLB plate appearances in 2019, Martini did boast a .328/.432/.482 slash line and impeccable 51:49 K/BB ratio over 329 plate appearances at Triple-A.
No surprised he was claimed. nothing wrong with having a OBA hitting 4th outfielder on a team. He is a cheap version of Grossman on the A’s.
I’m just surprised teams like the Marlins and Orioles passed on a controllable player with moderate upside with the players they’re rolling out currently.
Me too. Really surprised the Orioles didn’t make a claim.
Shouldn’t be that surprising… they need roster spots to gamble on guys they see with upside… martini pretty much has a set ceiling as a 29 YO minor league journeyman
If he competes for playing time the other outfielders might be shaken, if not stirred.
I used the same pun in yesterday’s article, but I still gave you a thumbs up because I might have used it again if you hadn’t have beaten me to it.
Appreciate it. Hopefully someone makes this type of joke on olive the posts related to Martini.
SD is just trying to gin up their base.
your humor’s a little dry.
What this guy needs is an accomplished hitting instructor. I’m thinking of Bonds.
Barry Bonds.
To give proper credit, Jeff served it up on a silver platter on this article.
And in a bit of useless trivia… in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the bartender’s name was Nick and the bar was called “Martini’s” (then called “Nick’s” in the alternate timeline)..
Grossman sucks , shouldve kept martini or called up skye bolt instead. Heck, even mark payton a minor league rule 5 pick from yankees, hit 30 homeruns in AAA. Yes inflated las vegas stats but he seems somewhat interesting
Grossman is a guy who’s stats look intriguing, until you see him play, then you wish he was on someone else’s team.
He’s probably the singles hitter who should’ve been waived.
Burroughs ?
I take someone hitting consistent singles right there than swinging for the fences and striking out. A good team has players that get on and not every player swinging for the fences
and add to that, Melvin has put him #2 in the batting order 31 times this year.
Insane for anyone to say “Martini is a cheaper Grossman” when Grossman makes $2M and the A’s have routinely eaten more than that to cut ties with a guy who doesn’t fit. Grossman’s salary should play ZERO factor as to why he’s on the team.
They thought he was the better player and apparently still do… he’s a switch hitter and can play all 3 of spots in a pinch… martini is a platoon lefty left fielder
Have you ever watch Grossman in the OF? Luckily for the A’s Brown was out there yesterday and made 2 plays that Grossman would not have made. It would have been a tie game or a loss if Grossman was playing. No worries because Grossman is gone next year.
Couldn’t agree more. Grossman is just extremely average in every category. Just a waste of a roster spot. Would’ve much rather kept Martini then Grossman. I want to see Payton come up at some point as well to see what he can showcase.
Payton’s only 27 too, its not like his career is DOA.
How do you know Payton’s not replacing Grossman?
I’m all for replacing any player who is not helping this team. I’m also all for using the waiver wire and trade process in order to improve this team. Our young players, besides Tatis, just aren’t showing enough to heighten any optimism. I really hope this is a prelude to getting rid of Myers and anybody else, including Renfroe.
Seemingly, bringing up a super young top prospect, and signing a record contract star in the same year doesn’t always work so well for the rest of the team. A plan CWS pursued last off season, and likely this one too.
What does this have to do with the White Sox?0
more than you might be comprehending at this time.
A very interesting move. I agree with the comments above about the Marlins and the Orioles. Also, I also agree about them calling up somebody instead of having Robbie Grossman. Mark Payton is a very good player. He is currently hitting .331 in Triple-A in 110 games. Heard he has some good speed too. Also, the A’s have guys like Sean Murphy, Jorge Mateo, and Sheldon Neuse on the Triple-A team. I think Martini is a good pickup for the Padres. Naylor is not an outfielder, he is a 1st baseman. Although he has been playing well up there.
Naylor is a bad first baseman. That’s why they signed hosmer. The over pay was for his leadership. This is why he was moved to the outfield and will be a prime dh candidate in future
Hosmer is a bad first baseman though.
Hosmer is an average first baseman. some numbers suggest he is good, some is bad, but i dont buy him being as bad as people tend to say.
Career high errors already and can’t hit lefties
Who goes to the 60 day? Who gets release?
They got two spots they can swift people to do the 60 day. One of them had his second tjs in April but still on the 40. Avila is broken. Dfa kinsler?
Baltimore and Miami’s lack of claiming players this year is why they have not found considerable success in recent years and will probably continue along this path for the near future.
Giants did well playing the claim game this year. Miami lost their starting RF 2 days ago it should have been a no brainer to pick up and test out Martini.
I’m sure not picking up a 29 year old is what will hamper the Marlins and their top 5 farm system in the near future. Could you also refresh my memory, where did Jon Berti and Harold Ramirez, two decent short term pieces, come from?
I met him he is really nice and cute my friend on Facebook
What!
Surprised Colorado didn’t put in a claim. They could have used a Martini on the Rox.
Wow! A lot of typing going on, and for who? A guy who may, if he’s lucky, be someone’s 4th or 5th outfielder next year? But, hey what have the Padres got to lose? Might have found a diamond in the rough. It happens.
Bet the O’s would like to have Yaz back. I don’t think the Pirates ever dreamed Bryan Reynolds (Acquired from SF for Cutch) would be challenging for the NL batting crown this year. Cinncy got two solid years out of Scooter after the Brewers released him in 2017. And I’m sure LA is very pleased with a few guys they pretty much got for nothing: Justin Turner, Chris Taylor, Mike Muncy, and Kiki Hernandez.
Padres picking up A’s rejects now