The Marlins have acquired minor league catcher Carlos Martinez from the Giants, according to announcements from both clubs. The Giants receive international bonus pool space in return. The amount of pool space changing hands wasn’t specified. No corresponding move is necessary since Martinez wasn’t on the 40-man roster.
Under the international bonus pool system, each team has a finite amount they can spend on international amateurs each year. Broadly speaking, the bigger-market teams get smaller pools and vice versa, in the name of competitive balance. Teams are allowed to trade pool space in increments of $250K but no team can increase its initial pool size by more than 60%.
Per Ben Badler of Baseball America, Miami started with a relatively larger pool of about $7.3571MM. The Giants began with the smallest pool of $5.44MM, tied with three other clubs. That was because they paid the competitive balance tax in 2024 and then signed Willy Adames, who had rejected a qualifying offer from the Brewers, ahead of the 2025 season.
The Giants gave out the biggest bonus for any individual player in this class when they signed Venezuelan shortstop Luis Hernandez for $5MM, using up the vast majority of their pool. This deal gives them a bit more wiggle room for other signings, though it’s unclear exactly how much. Conversely, the Marlins don’t appear to have given any one player more than $1MM, at least with the deals Badler has tracked at BA.
The amount traded isn’t likely to be huge, as Martinez isn’t a top prospect. The 18-year-old was just signed by the Giants as part of last year’s international class and was given a modest bonus of $47.5K. He slashed .143/.259/.242 in 27 games in the Dominican Summer League last year.
It’s the second year in a row that these two clubs have lined up on a swap of this nature. Last year’s deal featured a player much closer to the majors, as the Giants sent right-hander William Kempner to Miami for pool space. Kempner was going into his age-24 season and pitched well enough in the minors last year to get a spot on Miami’s 40-man roster in November.
Photo courtesy of Sam Navarro, Imagn Images
Marlins going all the way
Gore to the Rangers.
We hardly knew ya Carlos
SFG trying to outbid Chevron for Venezuela.
Ha ha.
Where’s the Panda ? Got to be a show for the new government !
Last seen playing in the Independent League with the Staten Island Ferry Hawks. The man still loves the game.
Biggest move the Giants have made in weeks.
Luis Hernandez picked the Giants to sign with? Damn Giants are breaking baseball.
/yes it’s sarcasm
Bendix has made some shrewd moves in his Marlins tenure with his smaller moves. I wonder if teams should be making these moves with Bendix without taking a second look at the guy Bendix is asking for.
Giants are in decent shape behind the plate especially if Jesus Rodriguez sticks with the big club. Daniel Susac is also on the 40-man with a number of others—including Erick Haase—stashed in the minors.
Rodriguez has a full set of options, but Susac as a rule 5 guy has to stay on the 26 man or goes back to the A’s. I just hope he can produce all year, and is worth keeping. I do think Rodriguez will probably be better in the long run.
Papago and cash. Lethal combo for aspiring young South Americans. Reward for effort. It’s good.
I do wonder how the money affects these youngsters. It can pose a risk to them and their families depending on where they live. It could motivate them to make more, or could be viewed as all they would ever need.
Certainly an incalculable risk for a team.
Looks like the actual amount traded won’t be revealed ? SF has been killing it in this area for two consecutive years. You know, making teenagers millionaires. Five years or so we’ll find out if it was worth it.
It’s been a sadly catatonic Winter for SF Giants. Even the BR writers are begging for a story. Another “gap” season ahead for sure.
This is an under the radar move that might pay dividends later. The Giants were able to get Luis Hernandez this past signing period, partly because they traded Blake Sabol for bonus pool space.