The Angels announced last night that they’ve released infielder Richie Martin, who’d been in camp with them as a non-roster invitee after signing a minor league contract back in January.
Martin, 29, appeared in 170 games with the Orioles from 2019-22 after Baltimore selected him with the top pick in the 2018 Rule 5 Draft. He lasted the entire 2019 season on a rebuilding O’s roster and shed that Rule 5 designation, but he’s also never managed to replicate the Double-A production he showed in 2018 that contributed to his Rule 5 selection in the first place.
Martin, a former first-round pick (20th overall by the A’s in 2015), hit .300/.368/.439 with six homers and 25 steals as a 23-year-old in Double-A that year but has since been below average in parts of three Triple-A seasons (.229/.333/.341) and parts of three MLB campaigns (.212/.261/.311). He spent the 2023 season with the Nationals’ Triple-A club, hitting .217/.329/.314 in 425 trips to the plate. He went 1-for-10 with five strikeouts for the Angels this spring before being cut loose.
The addition of Martin was always a depth add for the Halos, who project to have Zach Neto at shortstop, Luis Rengifo at second base, Anthony Rendon at third base, and veteran Brandon Drury to bounce around the infield and spend time at designated hitter as needed. The Angels also brought veteran utilityman Ehire Adrianza aboard as a non-roster invitee last week, and he’ll have a chance to win a bench spot as a backup infielder.
So much for the fantasy team help from him this year.
One Ricky has no pop , hits singles occasionally, other Ricky pop star , many hit singles
For some reason I read the first part of your comment to the tune of “Hey, Mickey, you’re so fine.”
People still deny that the balls were different in 2019, and that’s when 6 of this guy’s 7 home runs occurred.
Oh I am a believer in the juiced ball season. The numbers on a lot guys don’t lie.
Facts man, so many players had career years at the plate in 2019.
Guy has had an OPS+ of 53, 56, 53 lol it’s not like that season did much for him. His slug is essentially the same too.
They play with the balls every year, 2019 was just more severe. The main reason I’m glad Manfred is leaving, even though I’m interested in how crooked the next commish will be
Livin la vida loca
Beat me to it!
La bomba!
For me, it’s Menudo all day every day
Damn. Dude is my 2nd cousin
The Angels are worse than the As.
Wanna bet.?
If I win, you’ll never post on a thread about the Angels again, if I lose, I’ll do the same on a team of your choice.
@Halo they make everyone put icon of their team to to stop the off the cuff remarks about other members teams
@Garry At what respect ?
GarryHarris
No faxs nothing to base this on our a Coward Next time back up your poop
Adrianza has looked good. Not that spring means much. But I do expect him to make the team. Martin never really had much of a chance.
@halos11fan just like the bullpen has looked good besides kolarek and joyce.
For the most part they have. Which is different than other Springs.
He had it coming.
Drury and Adrianza will get the bulk of playing time at 3b with some games at short for Adrianza. This is just letting Martin get a head start to latch on somewhere else.
Rendon has looked much better throwing the ball. Even his detractors must admit that.
I think Ron Washington being the new Angels manager has helped stabilize that clubhouse in general.
Maybe. Maybe he’s healthy for the first time in awhile. I don’t know.
A healthy Rendon is optimal and it’s all that matters.
@halo11fan I’ll eat crow if he can play more than 60 games.
Why eat crow? Sixty games is a perfectly reasonable opinion.
It’s the other stuff that ticks me off.
@halo11fan I get why people hate him, but unfortunately they are stuck with rendon. Looking like enright is turning around the pitching angels are second in walk percentage. That was one of the problems walks and high pitch counts. I think there second in stolen bases too I would say they probably have been picked off the most as well. Atleast it’s a change looking like Washington wants to do more small ball.
This is the no expectation season. It’s relaxing.
Livin la vida loca!
Oh this is his brother Richie, nevermind.
Perfect example of why the Rule 5 draft is the most overrated thing in all of baseball. It’s a 1 in 200 shot of a player actually making an impact in the majors with a new club. It CAN happen, but so can winning the lottery.
NOT MY RICHIE!!!!!
Living la Vida sad today with a bottle of pringles
Enjoy retirement Richie, well deserved. See you in Cooperstown.
Tickets are $24.99