TODAY: Martinez and his camp are “seeking a bonus closer to $3MM,” MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez reports.
YESTERDAY: Giants GM Bobby Evans acknowledged weekend reports of an agreement between his team and Cuban center fielder Eddy Julio Martinez yesterday and said the team was excited about the prospect of finalizing the deal, but ESPN’s Keith Law now reports that the Giants are not signing Martinez, who remains available as a free agent (Twitter links). It’s worth noting that while Evans confirmed an agreement, the team did not formally announce the signing. While that may lead to speculation of a physical issue, Law says there’s no injury in this instance. In fact, he adds that he watched Martinez take batting practice today and came away very impressed.
Martinez, 20, was believed to be in line for a signing bonus in excess of $10MM, but the reported agreement with the Giants was a $2.5MM signing bonus. One of the most talked-about and highly ranked free agents earlier in the summer, Martinez curiously went months with his name scarcely coming up in news and rumors before the agreement with the Giants was reported. Fangraphs’ Kiley McDaniel chronicled the reasons for his falling stock in a chat with readers today, noting that teams were offering as much as $7MM earlier in the summer, but when Martinez’s camp wouldn’t bite on those offers, the teams moved on.
With Martinez back on the market, other teams that showed interest in him — the Dodgers, Cubs, Astros, Reds and Rangers were all intrigued, to varying extents — will again have the opportunity to strike a deal. Martinez reportedly switched agents in mid-September, hiring Rick Thurman and Rafael Nieves of the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
Martinez is said to possess a powerful, compact swing and the ability to hit the ball to all fields in addition to base-stealing upside due to his above-average speed. However, some scouts feel that he’s more of a doubles hitter than a home run hitter, and not all are convinced that he can stick as a center fielder. MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez and Ben Badler of Baseball America each have scouting reports on Martinez (the latter requires a highly recommended subscription).
Of course….
Michael you took the words right out of my mouth
Wow.
Bochy must have insisted Pagan be starting in CF until 2025. This news really upsets me.
Maybe you’ll get over it before you die.
Hahahahahaha wow..
This made too much sense to be true.
Reds could certainly use OF help…
The Giants are a very stingy team.
Unlike the Dodgers, the Giants have to spend a lot of money to display their recent World Series trophies.
When have they done that?
Why aren’t the Orioles all over this?
We need an outfielder!!!!!!
Presumably because their current financial priorities involve keeping 1/3 of their team from leaving in FA?
Unfortunately cause the Os sell players and not buy them.
If the projections are accurate, that he won’t remain in CF, that he will only have doubles power, I can understand why he is not commanding the attention that he wishes for. Not many teams are looking for a Carl Crawford type for LF. It’s ok if you have it, but it’s not how you plan it.
Since the Braves are going to go overboard in the intl market next year (I hope we sign Maitan, Lazaro, and a few more players)….
I wish we could ask Martinez to wait out until next year and that we will pay him a bit more. Similar to what the Dodgers did to Alvarez, but not to the $16MM extent.