The Indians have announced that they’ve outrighted utilityman Michael Martinez. They’ve also signed outfielder Daniel Robertson to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite.
Martinez, 34, spent 2015 and part of 2016 in the Indians organization before heading to the Red Sox in a minor trade last July. He then headed back to the Indians in August on a waiver claim. He made sporadic appearances with Cleveland throughout its playoff run, collecting three plate appearances and scoring once in the World Series. (His last plate appearance was the ground out that clinched the Cubs’ Game 7 victory.) In the regular season, he appeared at six positions and batted .238/.267/.307 in 106 plate appearances. He was set to make a projected $600K in the arbitration process, a relatively paltry sum, but he still figured to be a non-tender candidate due to his light bat. The Indians still hope to keep Martinez, though — as Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com tweets, they’ve offered him a minor league deal to remain in the organization.
The 31-year-old Robertson spent 2016 in the Mariners organization, batting .287/.357/.412 for Triple-A Tacoma and briefly appearing in the big leagues. Robertson has batted a mere .273/.322/.325 in parts of three seasons in the Majors, but he can play all three outfield positions and has fared reasonably well at the Triple-A level, with an offensive game built heavily around walks and a .362 career Triple-A on-base percentage.
This story links to the wrong Daniel Robertson.
I’m glad Martinez is gone. he’ll always be the last out in the world series
Exactly, worst excuse for a major leaguer, I wouldn’t have him in my AAA lineup.
I don’t think he had a chance. He was way way overmatched vs Montgomery.
He had no business on the roster, he’s overmatched by any MLB hurler. That he was sent in and replaced Coco was a travesty.
He actually came in because his defense and arm is superior to Crisp.
He’d be way overmatched against any of us too…
Daniel Robertson will be the key in the outfield with Brantley Naquin and Chisenhall in spring training
Robertson? The key? I sure hope not. Guyer, Almonte are two names that will probably get more action…
Guyer and Almonte will see some time in the outfield and Robertson would be the bench outfield with the indians or be playing LF CF and RF in Triple A Columbus we will see
Michael Martinez is like a cockroach, he just finds a way to stick around.
That’s funny. They told the dude that had the last out of game 7 to hit the road
Should the tribe pursue Braun? We need an upgrade in right, we need another power bat…trade anyone but zimmer. That and bring back Davis and it is a good outfield.
They can’t afford Braun, but I sure would love to have him
No thanks, dump Almonte and don’t bring any more known cheaters in., there has got to be somebody with some integrity that can also add some pop to the lineup.