Leonys

Martin

Martin wasn’t going to make Seattle’s season-opening roster, so he’s been granted his release to pursue an opportunity somewhere else. The 35-year-old veteran reunited with the Mariners last month on a minor league contract after spending the last few years overseas in Japan.

As Obi-Wan Kenobi famously said, “That’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time.” Martin last appeared in the majors for the Guardians back in 2019. The 34-year-old veteran outfielder has spent the last four years overseas with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. He’ll compete this spring in Cactus League action for a spot on Seattle’s season-opening roster.

It will pay him around $300,000, which is more than he would have made on a non-guaranteed Triple-A deal. Martin was released by the Indians in late June after batting just .199/.276/.343 across 264 plate appearances to open the 2019 regular season. The 31-year-old outfielder may try to return to MLB-affiliated ball this winter.

Martin was designated for assignment last weekend and is now free to seek a job elsewhere. The 31-year-old might have to settle for a minor league contract.

Martin has struggled badly at the plate this year, slashing a paltry .199/.276/.343 with nine home runs and 19 RBI in 264 plate appearances. He got into an argument with star shortstop Francisco Lindor in the dugout on Thursday. The 31-year-old will probably latch on with another team.

Martin is hitting .199/.276/.343, and he’s struck out one more time in 264 plate appearances this year (78) than he did in 353 plate appearances last year. The Indians would sure like to have replaced him with Bradley Zimmer by now, but Zimmer’s health hasn’t allowed it. Anyone else they might choose, whether it’s Oscar Mercado, Greg Allen or Tyler Naquin, would be a defensive downgrade. Still, they might have to bite the bullet.

Martin’s three-run shot off of Ryan Carpenter gave the Indians a 5-3 lead in the fourth inning and they would never look back. Martin also drew a walk against his former club, finishing the night 1-for-4. He has had a disappointing season on the whole, slashing just .206/.285/.358 with nine homers and 19 RBI.

Martin gave the Indians a 4-1 lead with a two-run shot off of Ivan Nova in the seventh inning. The outfielder now has seven roundtrippers on the year, and he’s driven in 15 runs in 51 games. Martin’s line is still a less-than-spectacular .219/.296/.359 with three steals in eight chances, and isn’t a viable fantasy option at this point.

Mercado has now started four straight games while bouncing around the Indians’ outfield. It’s a good sign for fantasy owners who have invested in him in recent days. Carlos Gonzalez and Leonys Martin will also start in the outfield while Jordan Luplow and Jake Bauers are on the bench.

Martin got the scoring started for Cleveland, evening the score at one by swatting a solo shot off A’s right-hander Aaron Brooks in the fifth inning. With the Indians down to their last out in the ninth, Martin came through again, knotting the game at two with an RBI single off closer Blake Treinen. It was all for naught, however, as the Tribe eventually fell 3-2 on a walk-off single by Ramon Laureano. Martin’s return to the majors in the wake of last year’s life-threatening illness is a phenomenal story, though the 31-year-old won’t be of much fantasy interest until he gets his batting average (.221) up to a more respectable level.