Carlos

Martinez

This suspension, which is retroactive to June 18, comes after he received an 80-game ban for performance-enhancing drugs on May 27. Martinez was an electric pitching prospect when he arrived in the majors in 2013 and posted a 3.22 ERA with 745 strikeouts over 747 innings with the Cardinals between 2015-2019 before injuries and inconsistency pushed him out. He had been with the Red Sox this year on a minor league deal before they released him on May 17. The righty’s career in MLB-affiliated ball could very well be over at age 30.

No word on exactly what the substance was that Martínez tested positive for. He was released by the Red Sox last week after signing a minor league deal earlier in the month. Still just 30-years-old, it’s possible that Martínez could come back from this next season, but it would have to once again be on a minor league deal from a club willing to take a chance on the former two-time National League All-Star.

Martinez signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox in early May, about a week after getting cut loose by the Giants, and went on to allow 10 earned runs over 4 1/3 innings (two starts) with Triple-A Worcester. The 30-year-old former two-time NL All-Star will aim to latch on with yet another organization.

Martinez signed a minor league deal with the Giants in March but did not pitch in a game before he was released on April 28. The 30-year-old right-hander showed potential during his nine years with the Cardinals but was released after a torn thumb ligament ended his season last year.

Not a ton of updates regarding Martínez’s status this spring and it appears that he won’t be a potential option for the Giants’ starting rotation (or bullpen) right away. The 30-year-old righty, who is coming off surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, inked a minor league deal back in March and doesn’t appear close to making an impact yet.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic notes that Martinez will earn $2.5 million if he makes the big league roster with the ability to earn an additional $1.5 million in incentives. The 30-year-old hurler was a major disappointment in his final season with the Cardinals, registering a 6.23 ERA over 82 1/3 innings before going down in July with a season-ending ligament tear in his right thumb. It’s a very interesting flier by the Giants.

Martinez needed season-ending surgery in July for a torn ligament in his right thumb, but he recently began a throwing program and will try to showcase his health for interested MLB teams with an upcoming stint in LIDOM (Liga de Beisbol Dominicano). The 30-year-old right-hander officially became a free agent last week when the Cardinals declined their $17 million club option on him for 2022.

He’ll get a $500,000 buyout and hit the free agent market. Martinez went down in early July with a season-ending ligament tear in his right thumb and had struggled to a 6.23 ERA in 16 starts (82 1/3 innings) before the injury. The 30-year-old may have to settle for a one-year bounceback type of deal for 2022. St. Louis has also declined its $18.5 million option on Matt Carpenter.

Martinez required surgery in mid-July to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and he has yet to resume a throwing program, so the writing is on the wall. The 29-year-old holds a $17 million club option for 2022 that is almost certain to be declined by St. Louis. He’ll then hit the free agent market, having struggled to a 6.95 ERA over his last 102 1/3 innings (21 starts) dating back to the beginning of the 2020 campaign.

There’s no timetable for his return, but it’s possible, if not likely, that his season is over. If that’s the case, Martinez’s tenure with the Cardinals is surely over, as he has a $17 million club option for 2022 that undoubtedly would be declined.