Dec. 1: The Reds have formally announced their deal with Martinez. Interestingly, GM Nick Krall tells Reds beat writers that Martinez will come to camp and compete for a job in the rotation — obviously implying that Martinez has not been assured of starting job just yet (link via Mark Sheldon of MLB.com). Martinez will make $14MM next season and will have a $12MM salary in 2025 if he doesn’t opt out, MLBTR has learned.
Nov. 30: The Reds are in agreement with Nick Martinez on a two-year, $26MM guarantee, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN (X link). The deal allows the right-hander to opt out after the first season. Yusseff Diaz of Pelota Cubana first reported that Martinez, a client of the Boras Corporation, was signing with Cincinnati.
Martinez, 33, has spent the past two seasons in San Diego. After a three-year run at Japan’s highest level, he signed with the Padres during the 2021-22 offseason. Technically a four-year guarantee, the deal afforded Martinez an opt-out chance after each year. He turned in a 3.47 ERA over 106 1/3 innings in a swing role during the first season and elected to retest free agency.
He parlayed that free agent trip into a new three-year pact with the Friars. Martinez locked in a $10MM salary for this past season, while each side had a two-year option covering the 2024-25 campaigns. He posted a remarkably similar year to his debut campaign as a Padre.
As was the case in 2022, Martinez went into this past season battling for a rotation spot. He took four turns through the rotation while Joe Musgrove was on the injured list in early April. Once Musgrove returned, Martinez moved back into the relief role he had occupied for the majority of the previous season.
He would ultimately appear in 63 contests, starting nine of them. Martinez worked 110 1/3 innings, allowing 3.43 earned runs per nine. He struck out 23% of batters faced behind a solid 12.6% swinging strike percentage. Martinez demonstrated average control and kept the ball on the ground on nearly 54% of batted balls allowed. He excelled at staying off barrels, with opponents making hard contact (a batted ball hit 95 MPH or harder) less than 30% of the time. That contact suppression ranked within the top five percent of qualified pitchers, according to Statcast.
Over his two seasons in San Diego, he combined for a 3.45 ERA with a 22.1% strikeout rate across 216 1/3 frames. At year’s end, both he and the Friars turned down their respective option provisions. San Diego declined to retain him at $16MM annually for the next two seasons, while the player passed on successive $8MM salaries. He ultimately lands between those two price points, securing a $13MM average annual value. The guarantee is in line with MLBTR’s prediction of two years and $25MM. The opt-out affords him the flexibility to again get back to free agency a year from now if he turns in a strong season in Cincinnati.
Whether he decides to retest free agency likely depends on how well he holds up over a full season as a starter. The Friars never quite entrusted him with an extended rotation run. Martinez has started only 19 of his 110 appearances since his return to MLB. There hasn’t been a material difference in his run prevention in either role. Martinez owns a 3.48 ERA in 91 relief outings over the past two seasons; he has allowed 3.41 earned runs per nine as a starter.
As one might expect, he has had better underlying marks when working in shorter stints. Martinez’s strikeout rate is a couple points higher out of the bullpen (23% against 20.9%). He has been much better at avoiding free passes as a reliever, walking 7.1% of batters faced in that role compared to an 11.2% rate from the rotation.
Regardless of the slightly worse peripherals, it’s not outlandish to project Martinez as a viable starting pitcher. He has a far deeper repertoire than the typical reliever, turning to five pitches (sinker, changeup, curveball, cutter, four-seam fastball) with regularity. Martinez was effective this year in the few opportunities he received to turn an opposing lineup over a second or third time. He has held his own in unfavorable platoon situations, keeping left-handed batters to a reasonable .242/.322/.408 line since the start of 2022.
Martinez should get a look in Cincinnati’s Opening Day starting five. The Reds had one of the sport’s least effective rotations, finishing 28th in MLB (ahead of only the A’s and Rockies) with a 5.43 ERA. The rotation’s ineffectiveness was the single biggest reason for the team coming up a little shy of the postseason. Addressing the group was a clear priority for GM Nick Krall and his staff heading into the offseason.
Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott headline the in-house options. Nick Lodolo’s 2023 campaign was wrecked by left leg injuries, but he’ll surely have a rotation spot so long as he’s healthy. Graham Ashcraft projects as the #5 starter after overcoming a disastrous first half to turn in a 2.81 ERA from the All-Star Break onward. Brandon Williamson, who pitched to a 4.46 ERA over 117 innings as a rookie, would be the top depth option. Prospects Connor Phillips and Lyon Richardson each made brief big league appearances late in the year.
It’s not a group without talent, but no team can count on its top five or six starters staying healthy for an entire season. Greene and Lodolo have each missed extended chunks of action over the past two years. Abbott and Williamson have yet to play a full season at the MLB level. Martinez doesn’t have an extended track record of starting. The front office could still look for another arm to solidify the group. They’ve been linked to each of Tyler Glasnow and Shane Bieber on the trade front. Signing Martinez doesn’t necessarily take them out of that market.
Paired with Wednesday afternoon’s signing of reliever Emilio Pagán to a two-year, $16MM deal, this is the most active that Cincinnati has been in free agency for the past few seasons. As reflected on MLBTR’s contract tracker, the Reds hadn’t signed a free agent to a multi-year contract since adding Nick Castellanos on a four-year pact in January 2020. Where ownership sets the spending limit remains to be seen, but there should still be some financial flexibility.
Roster Resource projected the Reds’ 2024 payroll commitments in the $58MM range before the Martinez deal. If the money is evenly distributed — the contract’s specific financial breakdown remains unreported — it’d bring them around $71MM. The club opened the 2023 season with a player payroll approaching $83MM and was well above $100MM in the two preceding seasons.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
I guess we won’t be seeing him in ST as he was quoted saying.
Fairly good signing for the Red’s. They need the arms.
Yikes
Yeah his pants are a little too tight
Make the trade for Logan Gilbert and it’s a rotation with potential. Greene Gilbert Ashcraft Martinez Abbott. With Williamson slotting into the bullpen.
And there’s Lodolo !
I still say Lodolo should be the first guy out of the pen after Greene throws his 3, 4, or 5 innings. Less taxing on the bullpen as Lodolo gives 3 or 4 then too.
Lodolo is a starter capable of giving 6 quality innings. Those guys stay out of the bullpen until they can’t. Let’s judge him this upcoming season.
mariners are not giving up gilbert
I’m pretty confident that Gilbert isn’t moving. We have no reason to do that.
I do not like the way the Reds spent $21MM today.
I don’t like Emilio Pagan at all. Definition of volatility and there were a lot of red flags in his performance last year.
2 guaranteed years at $8MM per is more than I’d like to pay for a guy who I think is truly a middle relief type arm.
Unfortunately, that’s the going price if you want even an average to slightly above average free agent bullpen piece.
The Reds needed bullpen help and they needed pitching depth. They acquired both with their most recent two moved.
With that being said, they aren’t spectacular moves by any means, but the Reds truly did get better. Plus, the more quality arms you have in the bullpen the more you can afford to use guys in more favorable situations, and the less you have to consistently rely on the same guys over and over again. That depth can keep their top guys from wearing down by the end of the season.
The home run has hurt him for so long it doesn’t seem to bode well that he will now play half his games in the best home run park in the league.
It ain’t my money. Plus each deal has an opt-out, so get a good year from them, let them try to get something better, and spend it again next year. If they stink, they aren’t going to kill the budget. Not spectacular moves, but nothing too shabby.
Pa-Gone in a bandbox like Cincy? LOL. He’s gonna give up more HRs than get K’s.
I don’t either. I have no idea what they want to spend on payroll next year but I assume no more than what they spent last year. We shed $40 million with Votto and moustakis and had 4 needs in order of cost and need below and the signings yesterday didn’t fill any of those 4 needs.
1. An ace or top of the rotation pitcher like sonny gray or Blake snell. Cost of about $25 million a year. A trade for glasnow could work and would be out only a year of $25 million but still $25 million added to last years payroll.
2. A number 2 start type starting pitcher either a trade involving India for Dylan cease or Shane Bieber. The difference in Bieber or cease contract/arbitration projection and India arbitration is adding about $7 million. Or not as good of an option is signing Rodriguez or Montgomery which would cost about $20 million a year.
3. A left handed power bat either try to work out something with Votto for a year or sign someone like Joey gallo for 3 years. Either way it adds another $10 million for 2024.
4. A left handed middle inning reliever. Could probably pick one up on a minor league deal.
Our needs to be good next year going into the offseason were going to cost $55 million or $42 with a trade of India and a few prospects. We still have those same needs and $21 million less to work with unless our payroll is going to be significantly more next year.
Sorry they forgot to ask for your permission.
This is exactly the kind of guy the Reds needed. He induces a lot of ground balls and can work as a starter or in relief. I’m still hopeful the Reds get a front of the rotation guy. After that, they could use a power hitting right handed OF. Not bad “Po Boy” LOL.
I don’t know. Ask This One Belongs to the Reds…
He will def have something bad to say about this signing lmao
Always does.
We have some right handed power with CES who is capable of 30 or more home runs and steer who is capable of 25. I think we need left handed power but not near as important as a few top end starting pitchers. Neither Friedl, fraley or benson are 25 home run type hitters.
As far as rotation goes we still lack 2 front end types. Greene and Lodolo are not front end pitchers until they actually are. Talent is there but health and even results when healthy has not been there.
Martinez is not a front end starter so I don’t see him moving the needle and after the 2 signings yesterday we have $21 million less payroll space for 2024 to work with to get 2 front end starters. I have no idea what the castellinis want to spend on payroll next year. If $125 million like a few years ago then we still have plenty of room to get what we need. If $80 million like last year then we probably are not going to get out 2 most pressing needs.
I liked the Pagan deal this one not so much. This guy has another opt out after 2024? That would be 3 years in a row that has to be some kind of record. Yeah just not a fan of this move.
Funny because I’m the exact opposite. I like adding Martinez on this deal mich more than Pagan for 16 million.
Pa-gone…dude gives away runs. Martinez is a solid arm, a true competitor, and a great teammate
This seems wiser than the Mets signing Severino for $13m. Martinez is almost as good, has none of the randomness Severino brings, and adds 100 projectable innings for the same salary. The Mets need certainty from SPs this offseason, and they added either a #1-2 or a guy who will still be in their Florida complex in August.
Yeah I’m the complete opposite on that. Severino has the upside to truly impact. A guy you can possibly recoup prospects for at the deadline or helps you elevate your teams ceiling. I don’t see anyway for the Mets to contend this year—might as well throw high upside guys out there. If they flounder you can pitch Tylor Megill and the like while you work on getting a top pick.
The problem with getting a “top pick” for the Mets is that they are so far beyond the luxury tax limits that their 1st round draft pick will automatically drop 10 places. If they end up with the #3 pick, they will fall to #13 in Round 1.
Right ! Hader and snell signings would generate end of first round picks for most teams if they sign elsewhere. For Padres, they’ll get didly for hader and squat for snell bc they are over the cap. I thought that’s why pads where reducing payroll til that loan story broke
First 6 picks (or is it first 10?) are protected. If the Mets get one of those picks their SECOND pick drops 10 spots.
@dorothy
Not if it falls in the top 6. Their 2nd highest pick gets moved back. I had to check the rules because I wasn’t clear.
mlb.com/glossary/transactions/competitive-balance-…
Edit: I see Harambe beat me to it but there’s the link.
Except this guy hasn’t had lower than a 3.92 FIP.. Severino has shown he can be better and pitch on the real stage when healthy
Great addition. If the “big 5” are healthy, Martinez battles Sims, Pagan, & Moll for 2nd closer/ setup guy. Or he battles for an sp job if someone injured. Gives Krall some more versatility to work with in pursuing additional pitching help. Still only about $55MM in 2024 payroll.
It does give the pitching staff some good depth. I believe this move puts the Reds projected payroll at $73m now. I don’t think they’re done just yet though.
Martinez is getting paid starter money. Doesn’t matter who’s healthy. He’s in the rotation, until he loses the job or get injured.
I think he’s gonna start in the season in rotation, reds will still sign/trade for a better piece and send everyone else to louisville.
So (in order)
Greene
Acquisition (call it giolito)
Lodolo
Ashcraft
Martinez
Abbott and Williamson start in louisville.
Giolito? The dude that got absolutely murdered at the end of last season. No thanks.
Unless he has a meltdown (or injury) in spring training, there’s a snowballs chance in hell Andrew Abbott is going to AAA.
Forgot to include the $13.25MM Reds owe Votto, Myer, Moose, & Casali in 2024. Payroll is at about $67-68MM right now.Roster at 39.
The Reds were at about $67-68 million for 2024 before signing Pagan and Martinez. Add $21 million to that now.
baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/cincinnati-reds-s…
That isn’t accurate.
Follow your last place Padres. You are incorrect as usual.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1DARIEC-6fvXM1v…
With what is owed to Votto, etc… its accurate.
Interesting consolation prize after barely missing out on Sonny Gray. I liked the Maeda signing more (for less money to boot), but this isn’t a bad signing as long as they don’t stop here. I’ve been saying it for months – the Reds need a true ace to anchor the rotation and for a legitimate chance to truly compete. They have more than enough pieces to get Glasnow, or even Cease. Land a true top of the rotation arm and perhaps a decent right handed hitting outfielder like Adam Duvall, and call it an offseason.
When the dust settles, reds will prefer to add a TOR via FA, but if they can’t get one – I think it’s gonna be Glasnow. And just as long as it’s some sort of india/Richardson package – I’m happy w that.
Reds may add an outfielder, I was surprised they were linked to solar, but I think they like Hinds to be that guy of the future and he’s a righty. If he continues to improve like he did last season – he’ll get the call this summer
To me, it doesn’t make sense adding Glasnow for 1 year and $25MM. Cease seems like a more sensible option
Another deal I’m not so sure about. His FIP isn’t fantastic….
Reds could use the money so much more elsewhere, but at least it’s only a year.
Where could they use it more than pitching?!
Better pitching… these last two guys have questionable FIPs
3.92 FIP last year is very solid for a back of rotation arm. That’s a pretty good deal for $13 million per annum.
My apologies for the confusion, what I meant to say is that the 3.92 FIP last year is solid for a guy who is likely to slot into the back end of Cincinnati’s rotation. It informs that he will likely be able to hang on as a starter who puts up a sub-4.50 ERA. Martinez is undoubtedly one of their five best arms with starting capabilities in Cincinnati, His numbers were similar to Lorenzen and Lugo in 22 who both transitioned into starters in 23 (with a good degree of success). You are right though, definitely not an innings-eating signing. I don’t care either way, I am not a Reds fan so this is just my observation as an impartial observer.
Ban-A lot of that was because he started many of the bullpen games, and they only let him go 2-3 innings in those games.
Nick always seemed to be a guy who is great for 3 weeks, the has a third of an inning and gives up 4 runs kinda guy.
That being said, I can definitely see him starting 20+ games for the Reds, and going 130 innings with a high 3’s era.
Yes, but this year was way better than his career numbers. He has a career FIP close to 5.
Maybe it’s a good gamble. I just think Cincinnatti could have scraped the dumpster for similar talent at a far lesser price.
I agree. They needed 2 top of the rotation starting pitchers. To a lesser extent a left handed power bat and a left handed middle reliever. This guy seems to be a back of the rotation starter and we have plenty of those. Green, lodolo, Ashcraft and Williamson.
Maybe Greene and lodolo can pitch to their talent and be top of the rotation types next year but they have not had the health or even the results when healthy to be that so far. They are what they are until they are something different and going into next year hoping they will pitch to their potential is hoping we will make the postseason. A hope however is not a plan.
Overpay.
Would have been ok deal but I don’t like opt outs. Solid versatile arm to have.
Again, a guy on the lower end instead of an ace they need, as predicted. I do like how he can go either way and throws ground balls, though.
With opt outs, these are one year deals, plain and simple. But at least they are doing something.
These seem like a last minute, holy crap response to the Cardinals grtting their three starters than actual roster building, but that is Po Boy’s MO.
Best we can hope for is they keep building the pen, I guess, and one of these lottery tickets has a good year.
You are way too quick to criticize this move. Nick M is a solid signing. Its not flashy, but if you really are a Reds fan, you wouldn’t expect flashy. As to the St Louis moves, the only two responses to the Lynn and Gibson signings would be laughter and bewilderment. Gray alone won’t get them out of the hole they dug with those signings. Cincinnati was always targeting pitching, and just wasn’t in a rush to sign junk.
Lot of ptsd if you are fretting over the cardinals moves lol
My fear is they stop spending. I don’t know the details of the Lynn and Gibson deals but we really needed sonny gray. I do think $25 million a year for 3 years to a 34 year old pitchers is not a great deal but considering we needed a starting pitcher of grays caliber more than we needed bullpen help or back of the rotation starter I would have signed gray for 3 years $25 million s year before I would have Martinez and pagan for 2 years $21 million combined.
Hey if we can still afford a 5 year $25 million a year Snell then I am all good though. We get our top of the rotation and improve our bullpen. I just don’t see the reds making $46 million in additional payroll moves annually for multiple years. It would be outside the norm.
Cincy knows laughter, especially when you count payroll
So long big booty Nick!
Pagan and Martinez? Yikes
Check out the 2023 home/away splits. Looks like 4,50 ERA away from Petco. Buyer beware.
Personally I hope both Pagan and Martinez have great seasons and opt out. Works for everyone. These moves upgrade the Reds relief corp for 2024 and make signing in Cinn. more attractive for FA SP. I think these 2 signings reduce the chances that Reds trade for Glasnow, Bieber, or Cease- at least for now.
Spot on cguy about signing these two to make other signings more attractive. That’s a big deal for reds !
I’m convinced they’ll still add a TOR. Now more than ever and possibly solar too which idk how I feel about.
I thought he was worth the 8m he opted out of. I didn’t think he was worth the 16m the padres declined. Turns out he was worth in the middle.
Though 13m was more then I’d want to give him if you look at the guys that have signed in the 10-13m range he was better than all the others at that price.
Franchise record! Reds are spending!
I had him going to the Cardinals.
Another 0-for-1. Noooo!
If this was a steakhouse it’d be Chili’s. Not the best but it’ll get the job done.
One thing about chilis, as a guy who typically gets the same thing from restaurants, chilis has a lot of options ! And reds have a nice variety of options too
oh they’re really going for the bullpen help, this is scary as a cards fan
I don’t think anyone figured Krall to sign Pagan & Martinez.
He just continues to improve the franchise in somewhat unusual ways.
He’s finally got a plan that’ll work ! I’ve been coming around quite a bit on him. Just looking for him now to establish leadership and culture
The Reds needed a swing man for insurance for the rotation and middle relief. This signing fills that need. The best part is that if they can get India to agree to being an. OF/IF swing man, they are starting to be in good shape going into next season. No need to trade for or sign a RH OF bat. Move Marte to SS and De La Cruz to 3B or back to the minors if he doesn’t perform. It wouldn’t hurt to sign another middle reliever for even more insurance. Trading for or signing a top SP would cost them too much. With the young starters they have up and close to being ready, the Reds can come close to matching the performance of any expensive((in players or dollars) starter they could obtain.
Agree but McLain is actually the best SS on the team. Marte to 2B imo. India provides IF depth, as does Steer. Good place to be. But I also wouldn’t mind an India trade for the right piece, say Tanner Houck.
I agree. I wouldn’t rule McCain out at SS. De La Cruz (if he develops) is also a SS candidate. Arroyo might wind up being the Reds SS of the future. A nice problem to have with so many SS candidates already in the system.
Reds DESPERATELY needed that swing man/long reliever
Now if Bell will actually allow a reliever to pitch more than 1 inning
@dhud
How bout w all these young arms reds use a flurry of openers to keep innings down. They already had 6 starters. Martinez is 7. Use three power lefty’s to open first time through lineup w lodolo Abbott and Williamson….
I wouldn’t be opposed to it in some sense.
The other side of that though is at what point does going that stunt the development for these pitchers? Cant ever learn to pitch 6+ innings if you’re placed in a system that shields you from it
Nice topic Horn !
I think these 2 signings are those swing pieces. Neither will start that way but there’s so much competition now, especially after they add 1 more piece, the swing men will be the guys who miss out on rotation and back end jobs.
Trade bait they got india, Williamson and Richardson without hitting farm hard. That should be enough to acquire a top of rotation piece and I like Glasnow to fill that roll- a 120 innings of stellar pitching is all the reds will need of him and they got the funds to pay the full 25 mil. Plus they’ll get an end of first round pick if/when he signs else where.
The best ss has to be arroyo. Elite defense w some pop already. Reds will make way for him to be that guy of the future. Another guy who can make his way is Reece Hinds. I initially pegged him as a valuable trade chip but refs need that power bat in right field w this future team. I won’t be shocked if reds sign solar now but if he’s willing to play for reds and they don’t sign him – I believe Hinds has a lot to do w that since solar is wanting a new 3 year deal
Look at the stats for the last 2 years of lodolo, Greene and Ashcraft. Greene and Ashcraft have close to 50 career starts now and lodolo 25. That is enough starts to see a trend especially with Greene and ashcraft.
None have the stats of anything except back of the rotation and as talented as Greene and lodolo are they are not top of the rotation until they perform like they are. Going into a season with a proven top of the rotation is a plan. Going into a season hoping Greene or lodolo turn into s top of the rotation starter is well a hope.
A plan is different than a hope. Sometimes plans don’t work out and sometimes hopes and wishes come true. We could sign Blake snell and he gets injured and doesn’t pitch next year or doesn’t perform and if that happens we are no worse off. Maybe lodolo and Greene matches their era and whip to their talent and we wouldn’t have really needed a snell or a gray but with 3 aces we win 120 games.
Point is a plan is going by what has been proven in the past without any guarantee. Lodolo and Greene have never proven themselves and pitchers like snell and gray have.
What are the Cubs doing? They better watch out, the Reds have a nice young team, and if Milwaukee holds onto Burnes and Adames, they’ll be good again. I like what St. Louis did signing those 3 pitchers. Meanwhile, the Cubs seem to be banking their hopes on pitchers that are on most everyone’s list, so there’s no guarantee they will sign any of them. They could be the bride left at the altar.
Coop
Not to worry.
Brewers already lost Woodruff – feel bad for the player.
Compared to Pagan, Martinez will be St. Nick.
Gray replaces Monty, but Gibson is weak and Lynn is plain bad.
Cubs are still in mix in weak division. Reds are best competition. Let’s see if Cubs make a splash in December or January.
Gibson had some better stats than Nola. Typical flubs fan
Smart move signing with Reds. Look how he did in the American League, as soon as he transferred to the minors, he’s been much better.
I think Martinez was looking for an opportunity to be a starter. He wasn’t going to get that in SD based on how they utilized him these last 2 years. He’s a solid pitcher. I trust him more than Pagán.
this seems like a good signing for both parties. He gets a chance to start and Cincy gets a known quality pitcher. With Greene and Ashcraft, plus a healthy Lodolo, they have perhaps a better rotation than last year. I still expect them to trade for Glasnow or Bieber.
Why does everyone forget how reliable abbot was last year
Because if you don’t play for a major market team, then you are not noticed if you do a good job.
Abbot was great first time through the league but was a little shaky on the second go around. We will see if he makes adjustments.
Most Padre fans have posted they hate to see Martinez go so I am going to be happy he’s coming to Cincy!
Would rather have Maeda honestly
Martinez was another great under the radar signing by the Pads at a discount as a super utility spot starter and multi innings reliever. He wanted a secure spot in rotation but never proved himself there. He’s worth 13M if he can become a SP.
Holy overpay Batman. He had some good starts and he would always celebrate when he would pitch himself into and out of trouble, but there were a number of games last year where he came out of the pen and gave the game away. Good on him for getting a deal like this.
Much better signing than the flyball reliever they signed yesterday, but expensive unless he only starts. $13 million for a reliever or a swingman is too much for my blood. But then it’s not my money.
I do find it interesting that he is now the highest paid player on the Reds by more than 50% and he couldn’t make the Padres rotation.
Reds wouldn’t even pay Votto
13mil for a (quite good) swing man? Is that what the market is?
The luxury tax needs to go up pretty high next cba at this rate..
Or we could lower ticket prices and salaries. Lol
Ok, I’m not calling this an overpay because as a Pad fan I saw what he did for 2 years. However, I have to wonder how his signing helps Lugo get a 3 / 42 type deal that some are projecting. I had Lugo at 2 / 22 ish with maybe an option. He is 3-4 years older and yeah, started a few more games but not really enough to call him a reliable 30 starts / 180 inning guy either.
Just what this signing made me think about. I don’t think reds will regret it if he stays healthy – they need to match their expectations with his ability though.
Seth and Nick are only about 6 months apart in age. I don’t think this signing will make any difference in how many years Lugo asks for but I think it makes the $14 million AAV that has been projected more likely.
You are right – I thought Nick was a year younger than he is and that Lugo was a year older than he is.
Ok so I think it helps Lugo on AAV but not that 3rd year that everyone is throwing out there. 2/27 -2/28 instead of my original 2/22 – 2/25, then.
Lots of people including Rosenthal are throwing a 4th year on there for Lugo.
Good for Martinez. Other than the change of venue, San Diego to Cincinnati is going to be a big difference, he seems smart enough to get through the lineup three times.
I think AJ Preller dictated his utilization poorly. But the Padres were lucky last year to have a mostly solid rotation.
He was on my wish list for the Angels. He provides quality depth in both the rotation and bullpen.
Nice signing by Cincy.
I like it, especially compared to the recent Pagan and Severino signings.
Sad to see Nick go and happy he is getting his money. Its obvious that the Padres did not see him as a starter and were not willing to go beyond what he was signed for last year.
I wish him well in Cincinnati unless the Reds are playing the Padres.
Pagan isn’t going to be horrible. Martinez is a swing man and will be serviceable. Not bad signings for the money but does this push them out of the Glasnow talks?
Good question
Saw they signed Pagan. I don’t think that will work out well in GAB. Its the most homer friendly ballpark in baseball and he is a FB pitcher. I see a 4+ ERA in his future.
Nice contract. Good on you Nick. Best of luck
BLEEP! Martinez was one of the guys I was hoping Minasian would sign this offseason. He is a decent starter and a good reliever and would give the Angels some depth. Oh well.
His HOME/AWAY split – looks troublesome for reds being that reds is a hitters park, like texas – He looks like he will revert to his Texas form while on Reds maybe worse.
Pirates should of jumped on this signing
I can confirm it’s official. Nick Martinez and Emilio Pagan were both introduced at Redsfest.
Buffalo Bob isn’t paying anyone 12 million to pitch out of the bullpen, despite what they are saying.