The Padres and Nick Martinez have each declined their simultaneous options on the right-hander’s services for the 2024-25 seasons, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports, and Martinez is now a free agent.
Martinez re-signed with San Diego last winter on a contract that is now ultimately a one-year, $10MM pact, though it represented three years and $26MM in guaranteed money. Following this season, the Padres had to decide whether or not to exercise $16MM options on Martinez for both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. If the Padres rejected those club options, they turned into player options worth $8MM apiece, and Martinez then had to decide whether or not to exercise both years’ worth of options at once.
This rather complicated setup ended up being pretty simple, since both sides declined the two years’ worth of options and Martinez will head back into the open market. Though the Padres have some holes to fill in their rotation this winter, it seemed like retaining Martinez wasn’t too likely, as he had mostly worked as a reliever over his two seasons with the team. The $32MM price tag for a pitcher who might be best suited for swingman work might’ve also been too pricey for a San Diego franchise that looks to be cutting costs to some extent in 2024. If the payroll will indeed be pared down to a relatively smaller $200MM figure, Martinez could’ve been seen as a luxury.
The 33-year-old Martinez has taken an interesting career path, starting his MLB career pitching with the Rangers from 2014-17 before heading to Japan in search of a revival. Those four years in Nippon Professional Baseball led to improved results, and the Padres signed Martinez to a four-year, $25.5MM guarantee prior to the 2022 season. This was another option-heavy contract, as Martinez had the ability to opt out after each of the deal’s first three seasons, and he took that first opt-out last winter before re-signing with San Diego on his $26MM contract.
Martinez’s second stint in the majors has gone much more smoothly than his time in Texas, as the righty has a 3.45 ERA in 216 2/3 innings and 110 appearances since the start of the 2022 campaign. Martinez has started 19 of those 110 games, while posting a 22.1% strikeout rate, 8.9% walk rate, and an impressive 50.6% walk rate. Martinez had better numbers as a reliever than as a starter in 2022, and vice versa in 2023.
The Padres have just enough injury problems to create some openings for Martinez to receive looks as a starting pitcher, even if San Diego’s general surplus of arms mostly kept Martinez limited to bullpen work. As such, he is an intriguing pitcher to watch this offseason, with the added wrinkle that Martinez has changed representation and is now represented by the Boras Corporation (as per Dennis Lin and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic).
It stands to reason that Scott Boras will shop Martinez first as a proper starter, to maximize his possible earnings. Since Boras is no stranger to complex contracts, so he might seek out another option-heavy type of deal for his new client with options or different incentive bonuses or price points tied to usage — appearances, innings pitched, games finished, etc. It’s possible such a deal might come from the Padres once again, given how they already reunited with Martinez after his opt-out last winter, and how the Padres are in need of rotation help.
Seth Lugo also opted out of his deal with San Diego, and the Padres haven’t yet revealed how they’ll approach Michael Wacha’s club option, which is structured in relatively similar fashion to Martinez’s deal. Blake Snell is also headed for free agency, leaving Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish as the only two sure things for next year’s rotation. It’ll be tricky for president of baseball operations A.J. Preller to find pitching while still keeping the payroll in check, and it could be that the Padres might consider adding arms when exploring potential trades involving some higher-salaried players (such as Juan Soto.
Saw this coming… now just waiting on word if they will Option up on Wacha.
I think this had to happen but, another poster (padfans maybe) shared that he has a connection and Martinez told him after 162 that he would see him again in Peoria in ST in 2024.
I have to believe that players and front office talk about these things. They have a 2-3 year deal in mind – unless someone shows up with a crazy offer that he can’t refuse.
Wacha – I think they have to decline but also have to believe talks have been had on a 3/4 year deal coming – if he wants it.
Lugo too for that matter. Hey, I’m opting out but want to stay so what do you think you have for me on a 2/3 year deal to finish my career here?
All 3 of them may get other offers that they didn’t expect though and he gone.
I’m actually leaning toward them all staying if all offers are pretty equal.
The unknown personal preference of where they want to be can’t be overlooked though.
It will be fun to watch it all play out.
Sure, all this is quite reasonable thinking. Declining the options also means these players can wait to see who the manager is going to be before re-hitching to the padres. They could even influence the manager decision.
@Longtimecoming Why didn’t Matt Carpenter opt out? You said he would opt out so it MUST be true!
Find me saying he WOULD opt out and post it. I was just laying down a possibility and made that clear but you go ahead and play fantasy ball and live in your world.
It was never a possibility. It was never going to happen.
Wonder what alt account this troll is.
Only “troll” here is Longtimecoming who said Matt Carpenter would opt out and thinks he can hide behind the mute button when he gets called on it.
Taking Matt’s decision a bit personal eh?
I’m not taking Matt’s decision personal at all. It was the correct decision. What I am doing is calling Longtimecoming out on the carpet because he never gets anything right and tries to hide behind the mute button.
Since you sound like you keep a listing of people’s earlier posts so you can troll them and only one person on here has ever done that, I am going to guess you are Ryan. We will see, but that is my initial reaction.
You obsessed with Ryan. Always mention him. And I’ve seen a whole bunch of commenters call others out for their bad prior takes. You’ve probably done it at least once.
Frankly, the take about Matt Carpenter opting out was just atrocious. And the fact that LTC chooses to hide behind the mute button rather than being a man and admitting he got it wrong just proves that he isn’t interested in doing any better.
Didn’t see where he said that. Only you seem to remember him saying that.
mlbtraderumors.com/2023/09/padres-to-select-nick-h…
Still don’t see where he said that Carpenter WOULD opt out. Just IF he did.
“I never said that he WOULD do it. I brought up for conversation as an observation that it I could happen.”
Must have people in the conversation muted then. It’s there. And you know how to Ctrl-F for his comments.
By that point Carpenter was obviously not opting out. There was no conversation to be had. And his logic was flawed in saying that Carpenter would opt out to sign with someone who would actually let him play. Odds are excellent the Padres will try to trade him or simply cut him anyway this offseason. And Carpenter knows this. It’s not a secret to him.
But he didn’t say that. He said that he wasn’t saying that he would opt out, only that it was possible.
“I never said that he WOULD do it. I brought up for conversation as an observation that it I could happen..”
And yes, I know how to search on page.
Again. There was no conversation to be had. Matt Carpenter opting out wasn’t realistic by that point. He’d be lucky to get a major league contract if he opted out.
Guess they don’t have winning as a priority then, if they all stay for less.
Wacha is too injury prone to get a guaranteed $16 million AAV deal. I think that at least 2 of Martinez, Wacha, Lugo will be back on multi year deals that give them a slight raise. My guesses – 3/36 for Wacha, 2/24 to 3/36 for Lugo, or 3/24-27 for Martinez.
I’m right there with you on the estimates – maybe make use of the 2 + option if you can. I’ve had 3/39 (wacha), 2/20 (age but give an option) for Lugo for awhile now but who knows when the real money and desperation comes out.
I agree on wacha a lugo, little less so on Martinez. Think the padres see him as a pen arm and that makes 8m the top end of his market. They have had two season to make him a full time starter and haven’t. I believe Avila fills that role next year and he cost basically nothing.
I agree Simm
I agree with you on that Simm. To opt out Martinez must believe he will get a shot to be a full-time starter like Lugo got with the Padres. I don’t think he will. I was frankly surprised that he opted out instead of renegotiating an additional year at the end of his deal.
Lorenzen signed with the Angels based on him getting the opportunity to start. Due to a shortage of starters, someone will give him the chance.
Martinez made $10 million in 2023 and maybe he thinks he can get that on the open market. I don’t think so.
He made only 9 starts and went less than 5 innings in those starts. In high leverage situations he got pounded to the tune of a .290 BA and .817 OPS.
I think of the 3 Padres pitchers that elected FA, Martinez may be the most disappointed with the result.
Maybe the Padres offer to add another year to his deal at the same $8 million AAV, but I think they can pick up another pitcher off the scrap heap like they did Martinez and pay much less money.
You guys don’t have an article yet on Ross Stripling opting into his contract for 2024 with the Giants. It’s been reported for a day.
Lol. Imagine this being a concern. Some pretty ridiculous people on these boards.
Padres rotation next year:
Darvish (shoulder problems, ancient, still owed 100 m)
Musgrove (shoulder problems, hurt for 44th time in his career, still owed 80 M)
Pedro Avila (5’10, 240, 5 bb/9)
Matt Waldron (Matt Waldron)
Jay Groome (sat 94 in high school, now sits 91)
Depth:
No
Tough scene for the Rockstar
Rangers were 1st in the AL in runs scored. Keep Dunning esp. with DeGrom up in the air next season.
Huh, it’s almost as if it’s the off season when teams retool their rosters.
Squad is desperately trying to shed payroll. They ain’t signing anyone relevant
Cool opinion I guess. We’ll find out next April.
Another (correct) opinion: Tony doesn’t belong in the hall
Cool, well he’s in so people who actually know baseball disagree.
Yeah, GMoney wins the dumb take of the day award!
97.6% (10th highest ever still) of the people that actually had a vote disagree. But you knew that and are just a knot her troll that we have to endure until the button gets hit….
Played 500 more games than guys like Edmonds, Lofton, Andruw, Reggie Smith w basically the same WAR. Not top 150 in wRC+. Take the plaque down
Maybe someone will memorialize you some day: “Here lies the keyboard warrior GMoney, whose only hobby was trolling on mlbtr”
Unfortunately, he won’t be alone in that part of the cemetery!
97.6% out of 100%. That is math my friend and it wins the argument every time with those that matter – they all knew the stats when they voted my friend.
I recall a couple for the no votes were publicized (and criticized) as being int the camp of “no one gets 100%” so they threw away their votes to ‘make a point’ LOL.
Citing dinosaur journalists’ opinions isn’t an argument
Is that why MLB.com has the Padres as one of the favorites to land 12 of the top 25 FA this offseason?
I guess you pay more attention to rumors that the writer who made them has already debunked instead of the owner and CEO of the Padres.
The 97.6% is not an argument but a fact and the ONLY fact that mattered then and now.
Your opinion – you get to have it. Your vote for HOF – not so much.
It was their opinion that he should be in the hall of fame
…..
Theirs had a vote attached to it – yours doesn’t.
Which one matters when plaques are concerned?
You’re arguing that a guy that won 8 (EIGHT!!) batting titles, the 2nd most in the HISTORY of the game doesn’t belong in the HOF?!?
Against Greg Maddux over 103 PA’s he hit .429/.485/.538, with 39 hits and 0 strikeouts! You know the guy that 4 won CY’s and is 10th all time in strikeouts with over 3300?!
He faced the Braves 3 stud HOF’s (Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine) a combined 270 times and struck out only 3 (THREE) times in all. He actually hit more HR’s off them (4) then they managed to strike him out while having 98 hits. He had 9x more xbh’s off them then k’s. That would be 27 xbh’s for the mathematically challenged.
He faced Pedro Martinez 36 times and struck out 0 times.
Career vs SF: .351/.399/.468
Career vs LAD: .330/.396/.445
Pretty sure you are a fan of one of those teams.
Dude was one of the best batsmith’s that ever played the game.
Those stats are mind boggling. I’ve never seen them broken down quite like that.
I have always marveled at how few strikeouts he had every year – year after year.
The way guys chase now – Bo wonder what TG would say about them!
Hey guys GMoney is just being a dick. He knows Tony is one of the greatest.
That was like watching the Globetrotters dunk all over GFunny… I just needed fresh popcorn to make it perfect!
Yeah, discount guys that saw him play!
TG struck out 434 times over a 19 year career.
That is so hard to imagine being possible.
Preller’s a failure.
The short answer is that he learned “how to pitch” while away and mastered (or bettered) the control aspect of the art of pitching. He was very vocal about this upon his return – probably on the internet still.
Martinez completely dumped the slider, added a cutter, and has increased usage of his changeup.
It’s all the same – he just moved to the bullpen. When he tries to start he still gets slaughtered
Slaughtered as a starter???
2022-2023 he has made 19 starts while posting a 3.41 era and allowing a .231 average.
#stats
Imagine caring about ERA lmao. And half of those appearances are 1-2 inning opener ones. Had 0.0 fWAR when he actually tried to start
WAR is a counting stat. The more starts, the higher the possible WAR.
Kyle Gibson is a perfect example of how WAR doesn’t tell the story. No one would call him an effective starter. He would not have made the PAdres 2023 team. In 2022-2023 Gibson made 64 starts and had a 4.4 WAR, but he gave up 199 runs. His ERA+ was 83, 17% worse than league average. Run prevention is a pitchers main job.
The Padres chose to have Martinez in a hybrid role so he didn’t get as many starts. Few are dumb enough to try to say he was not a more effective pitcher than Gibson. He had a 114 ERA+ over that period. 14% better than league average.
Lets take this to the ridiculous. Patrick Corbin, the worst starter in baseball, had a 1.7 fWAR over the past 2 seasons. Martinez had a 1.8 WAR. Would you even try to say that Corbin was as effective of a pitcher over those 2 seasons as Martinez? So what was the difference? 19 starts vs 63 starts.
You are full of it. His fWAR wasn’t 0.0 as a starter. Over those 19 starts as a Padre he pitched 95 innings, so no they weren’t mostly 1 or 2 IP variety. He was 5.2 IP per start in 2022 and 4.7 in 2023. He was worth .7 fWAR in 9 starts this year, appx a 2.5 over 32 gs rate
As a starter in 2023, opponents hit .183/.269/.288 off of him! That .557 OPS against over 171 PA’s is pretty good, no? He wasn’t great as a starter in 2022 allowing around an .800 OPS against, but consider this:
Of starting pitchers that pitched at least 80 IP over the past two years, his 83.3% LOB% was bested by only two pitchers in baseball. Not allowing opponents to score is a big part of the equation.
The Padres SP in 2023 was overall very good, best era in baseball, most quality starts, 4th best fWAR (2nd in the NL behind Phi). Point being Nick would have gotten more starts had the need been there.
That said, I wish every SD pitcher would get “slaughtered” to the tune of an opponent’s OPS of .557.
War is a terrible stat for non starters and isn’t even a great star for starters.
He did leave a lot of guys on base and I can tell you from someone who watched every game he caught a lot of breaks with line drives at people. He was overall much worse this year then last even if all the stats don’t say it.
Was he terrible no…but he wasn’t any special either.
From a starter side the padres really had a shot leash on him not only in the games he started but also in allowing him to start. While the padres starting era was great they would have been better off giving starts to Martinez than rich hill and a couple of other dudes.
He had a 1.4 fWAR in 2023.
Mark having a busy day today!!!
The Darvish extension will be another albatross, possibly as soon as 2024.
Dervish is fine, it’s will be a decent deal
Saw this coming. The option was too expensive for what he is.
Agree. He was not worth $16 million AAV. If he had shown he could handle a full time starting job with the same ERA, then he might have gotten that money. But he didn’t. I still think that he comes back. He has said that he wants to be a Padre for life. So give him a 3/24 to 3/27 deal and make that happen.
Every player says they want to sign with their current team. Are you new to this time of year?
More money saved, expect more to come.
They should be a 200 million dollar team at most. You don’t want 100% veterans, mix up the talent with prospects and veterans
Exactly, I said the same about the Reds last year.
The best teams always have a mix of both.
The best team in baseball this year, the Rangers was mostly big salaried stars with only two young players under 27.
The best team in baseball last season was older than the Rangers were this season.
Mix up the roster with young and older players. Tatis and Soto will be 25 next season. As young as most rookies. Prospects are unproven and more than 80% of the top 100 prospects never become even league average. While young players like Tatis and Soto ARE proven stars.
I want mostly proven stars with a few trying to prove they are stars. Get rid of the mediocre. Goodbye to Grisham, Hill, Barlow, and Nola. Hello to some young talent like Lee and Yamamoto if they can sign them. Resign a couple of proven vets like Wacha and Martinez.
Padres CEO and owner have now both said they will maintain the same level of spending. That is about $250 million in salaries.
Yeah people will be looking at every player the padres let go as a a cost cutting move when most will just be moves because they aren’t worth the money.
Why isn’t the “same spending” being reported ?
It’s literally the entire internet versus a couple of MLBTR posters. Surely it’s on there somewhere.
It’s not being reported because the padres owner nor preller have talked about payroll since those articles came out. I can tell you it was reported by the media two months ago that Seidler the owner said payroll next year would be about the same as this year. Whether something has changed since idk. Preller when asked a couple of weeks ago said they were still deciding on what the number will be. Some people have said here the ceo has now said it will be about the same but I haven’t seen that anywhere.
So for the most part you have people here who believe seidlers last comments on it more than the recent reports. Most at this point prob really don’t know which way it will go. I for one will believe they will cut spending by 50m from last year when I see it. Nobody of control from the padres has been quoted say so.
Ok. Thanks. I assumed the order was the other way around and could not understand why it’s being ignored by literally everyone whose job it is to report such things.
Yeah most outsiders and some padres fans believe they will cut payroll. It’s a big question of the offseason for the padres. If they do cut payroll then trading Soto becomes a real possibility. If they don’t then heck you could see them sign Ohtani. It’s all over the place right now.
Its literally the owner and CEO in articles that were referenced on articles here on MLBTR. Maybe try clicking on those links and reading the source articles. And the ONLY article that has said the Padres were going to lower payroll was by Acee or referenced one article by Acee.
The quote from Greupner was in the article from the Athletic about the loan.
Is this what you are hanging your hat on ?
“The Padres organization continues to have access to all the resources, financial and otherwise, it needs to field a championship calibre team for the fans of San Diego,” Padres CEO Erik Greupner said in a statement to The Athletic.
Yeah I read that whole article and read nothing of him saying payroll would be around the same as last year.
With that said I expect it to be at the very least closer to 250m then 200m.
Part of it, yes.
Geez. There’s some liberal interpretation going on there. The rest of the whole must be a lot more concrete.
It will be 250MIL , or greater. They didn’t go for it only not to mow suddenly not go for it
People call them broke also because of the loan they took out. Yet they just spent 20m on j dating the ball park. Which construction just started. Not something a broke team does.
Everything about the last 3 years says they aren’t broke. And everything about the last 3 years has made rival fans desperately want them to go broke. Peter Sellers, Magic Christian
They are about to start a $1.5 billion development. Not something a broke team does.
I’m sure MLB was pleased to hear that.
They do if its in the stadium agreement.
They just bought the land last year, waited through a lawsuit that the city had to fight, and are finally getting to start building it in 2024. Its not part of the stadium agreement.
MLB is overjoyed about developments like this one. Very similar to what the Braves did.
An impressive 50.6 walk rate…. Yeah MLBTR needs to hire an editor
Even Daniel Bard hasn’t been that “impressive.”
I’m rather surprised Martinez opted out of his end. Is the pitching market so thirsty that a 33 year old who didn’t have great starting numbers and isn’t quite an 8th inning guy can get over 8mil a year?
I can’t see anybody wanting a long term deal, 3 years max and that would be a stretch. Swing guys just don’t get 10mil a year. What am I missing?
Yeah watching him this year he was worse than last year. Padres declining his option was a no brainer. I actually thought he would opt in for 8m as a reliever which to me is more than he is worth. I think the padres are happy with this and Martinez I am sure still wants to start and will look to get a deal done as a starter.
Martinez made more appearances, pitched more innings, had a lower ERA, FIP, and had a higher ERA+ and K rate while walking less.
While his performance did not justify a $16 million AAV over 2 years, it does justify a 3/24-27 deal.
I’ll take the under on him getting that.
He made $10 million in 2023 and his option was 2/16 for 2024-2025. If his agent felt he could not get more than that he would have opted in.
After a successful 2023 he is going to get a 3+ year deal for at least that $8 million. Just hoping its back with the Padres.
One he wants to be a starter and after two years of the padres saying he would get a chance the padres had a very quick hook on him starting. So he may have opted out to find a team that would give him a better chance at starting. He may find a deal for around 8m if someone thinks he is a starter. As a reliever he really isn’t worth 8m. So what he gets will be determined a lot by how other teams view him. Like is said I’ll take the under in him get 24m or more in guaranteed money.
31 relievers made more than $8 million last season including Martinez. Only 7 were closers. As a guy that can both relieve in high leverage situations and start games when needed, he will get at least $8 million.
As I said, if he and his agent had not talked to people in the business and been certain he could get at least $8 million AAV over more than 2 years they would have opted in. They are pretty sure he can get more.
I have no doubt that it will take at least 3/24 and likely more. Be happy to take your bet on that. I am just hoping that he decides to stay with the Padres.
Still paying Eric Hosmer $13mm for 2024 and $13mm for 2025 is just brutal.
It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
If it is true in what I have been reading that the Padres were going to slash payroll for 2024, this could be the start. Instead of big-name FA’s they maybe settle for 2nd tier Free Agents. Article read that they may drop into the 200 – 225 payroll range for 2024.. Grisham, Cronenworth other than what FA’s they have leaving maybe had by offseason trade. What really going to hurt the Padres this off season is the lack of revenue dollars from Bally Sport Network, can’t replace the future dollars of that income, so back to small revenue from network broadcast.
MLB has the Padres as one of the favorites for 12 of the 25 top FA. The owner and CEO have now both said that they will maintain spending in 2024. Even the one writer, Kevin Acee, that floated that rumor of decreased spending has since debunked his own claims.
As far as TV goes the Padres only missed one payment from DSG/Ballys. MLB paid them 80% of that. They were back on the air one day later on all the same places they were when DSG owned their broadcast right, and they added about $4 million per month in revenue from the single team streaming deals on MLB.tv. The PAdres certainly are not giving away those broadcasts to Cox, Spectrum, AT&T, DIRECTV, and FUBO for free, They actually increased their market share of potential TV homes by over 2 million. Padres are probably making more revenue from TV than they were with DSG/Ballys.
The question is whether MLB is paying 80% going forward, or are they on their own? As to MLB.com, its full of writers trying to get click bait on the net. Check their accuracy on last years FA predictions and then tell me how the predictions mean something.
MLB doesn’t have to pay 80% going forward. The Padres missed only 1 payment from DSG and have new contracts with each of the individual carriers, not one overarching deal with an RSN like DSG. They are better protected if one carrier like Cox or Spectrum or DIRECTV goes bankrupt. They are getting their TV money and they are also getting to do something no other team is getting to do that I know of, sell single team MLB.tv packages that are not blacked out in their local market.
The point is not whether Feinsand is accurate on which teams the FA sign with, its that he is saying the Padres are one of 3 or 4 favorites to land that many FA. Can’t be a favorite to land FA if you have no money.
Just to clarify, that I can find there is no article in 2022 on MLB.com by Mark Feinsand regarding a top 25 free agent rankings. The only article on potential free agents no MLB.com was this one. mlb.com/news/top-mlb-free-agents-2022-23-offseason It does not mention favorites to land these players. It was written by Anthony Castrovince. If you can find one, post a link to it. I would be very interested in seeing it.
This isn’t the start, Martinez was t worth 16m per year. There was zero chance they were picking that up even if they wanted to have a 400m payroll.
“Agree. He was not worth $16 million AAV. If he had shown he could handle a full time starting job with the same ERA, then he might have gotten that money. But he didn’t. I still think that he comes back. He has said that he wants to be a Padre for life. So give him a 3/24 to 3/27 deal and make that happen.”
What I said up above.
He was expendable…
Not that these are all lights out guys but the pitching market just gets deeper and deeper. A decent handful of front line starters and plenty of mid rotation and back end rotation guys. Even the reliever market is shaping up the same way. The hitters market is thin you may see a few teams trade pitching from their roster for hitters from another roster not just hitter or pitcher for future prospects. Interesting offseason to come
I will keep repeating this. For every pitcher that becomes a FA there is a team with a new need for a pitcher, and there weren’t enough starting pitchers to begin with. Pitching will remain expensive.
Did he start hitting his spots? Did he learn to hide the ball better? Did he start wearing garters?
It’s obvious that Nick breathes through his eyelids now…