The Cubs announced to reporters just before tonight’s deadline for postseason roster eligibility that they’ve acquired outfielder Leonys Martin and cash from the Mariners in exchange for a player to be named later or cash (Twitter link via Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times).
The addition of Martin will give the Cubs a fleet-footed reserve outfielder to serve as a pinch-runner and/or late-inning defensive upgrade, at the very least, over the season’s final month. While such players aren’t rostered throughout the bulk of the regular season, the month of September is its own animal; rosters expand to 40 beginning Sept. 1, allowing teams the luxury of having this type of highly specialized player on board.
Of course, Martin isn’t that far removed from being regarded in considerably better fashion. He logged a .247/.306/.378 batting line with 15 homers and 24 steals as Seattle’s primary center fielder in 2016. While that line checks in below the league average, Martin’s glove and baserunning prowess still allowed him to check in at 2.2 wins above replacement, per Fangraphs. And from 2013-14, Martin contributed more than six total WAR thanks largely to his speed and defense.
While those heights appear likely to be squarely in the past for Martin, he’s posted a strong .307/.348/.494 batting line with 11 homers and 25 steals in 87 Triple-A contests this season. He’s earning $4.85MM this year after avoiding arbitration last offseason, but the inclusion of cash from the Mariners surely indicates that they’re picking up the majority of the tab on that salary. Martin seems a likely candidate to join the Cubs’ big league roster in the very near future, where he’ll look to improve on the dismal .174/.221/.287 slash he’s posted through 122 plate appearances in the Majors this year.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
More post deadline trade announcements please.
Cool.
It’s over with now!! Back2Back Baby!!!!!
Not sure I have any idea what you’re talking about.
Are you saying that the Cubs are setting themselves up for yet another disappointing 2018 with this acquisition?
Wait…2018 has already come and gone?? And now, it’s…OMG…gasp…back, AGAIN???!!!
Who is the odd man out on the roster?
Usually last guy in, first guy out
So look at whoever the last guy added to the 40 was
Per Carrie Muskat of mlb.com: m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/251764958/cubs-acquire…
The Cubs acquired outfielder Leonys Martin and cash from the Mariners on Thursday in exchange for a player to be named and cash. Martin was not added to the Cubs’ 40-man roster, but joined the organization in time to be eligible to play in the postseason.
Obviously Martin would need to be added to the 40-man roster if and when he is promoted in September. Right now he is more of an insurance policy at AAA in case of an injury to an already crowded Cubs outfield.
Rosters expand to 40 players today. No move required.
A move is required to add him to the 40 man roster if it’s already full.
True!
Adding Martin to the 40-man reserve list is also required the moment he is added to the Cubs expanded MLB roster in September regardless of whether it’s full or not at that time.
They needed a SS not an OF.
Baez is the SS and is doing just fine, you goofball.
And who’s their backup SS?
Mike Freeman I believe. Just called him up.
And he’s hitting a whopping .054. Pretty sure it was his ML debut. He started with an .054 BA
I know, I thought they were looking for a backup SS too. Addison is out for the rest of the regular season at least.
The Cubs could have used a veteran defensive minded SS down the stretch to spell Javier Baez with Addison Russell suffering a set back in his rehab while on the disabled list. Adding another outfielder to an already crowded roster is a head scratcher.
Latest update on Addison Russell per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times: chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-say-addison-russe…
The Cubs say shortstop Addison Russell will be out in the ‘‘neighborhood of three weeks’’ after an MRI exam showed an aggravation of his plantar fasciitis.
your right I don’t get what’s so special about this deal…a log ram.of outfielders a SS or SP would be a better choice.for the Cubs
If baez gets hurt they can get any scrub to finish the season out, russell should be ready to go in october.
I like martin, he gives you better defense than jay and prob a better bat vs righties than almora plus he can steal a base
Jon Jay made to amazing catches last night vs Pittsburgh. He’s better off the bench. I’m hoping that Martin is a good Addition but they should have gotten an insurance SS
Better off the bench? When manager Joe Maddon finally decided to replace Kyle Schwarber as his primary leadoff hitter in late June he eventually turned to the man who should have been in that role to begin the 2017 season…Jon Jay!
Yes he’s more valuable off the bench. With a few spots starts a week. Schwarber should’ve been a lead off guy.
Last I checked the Cubs are still in a tight race to win the N.L. Central. If Javier Baez goes down with an injury tomorrow who plays SS until Addison Russell returns in 3 weeks (maybe)?
If baez goes down tomorrow they can get whatever ss they were going to get today, he wont be needed in postseason
Because any “scrub” SS can just be plugged into a contenders middle infield in a tight pennant race at a moments notice with no ramifications. lol
Haha no but who did you want to be the teams third ss? Cozart?
A scrub is all the cubs were gonna get if they traded for one…a ruben tejada type guy
The Cubs were reportedly talking to the Tigers about defensive minded SS José Iglesias this past week. He’s hardly a scrub and would have been a fine addition to not only backup Javier Baez at SS but also start a couple games a week there which would allow Joe Maddon to use Baez at 2B more often.
A double play combination of Iglesias and Baez starting a couple of games a week in September and finishing games in which the Cubs hold a lead would have been a slick one to behold. It would also provide an insurance policy into the postseason should Russell have yet another setback with his rehab.
I hear the Cubs plan using Zobrist as their backup SS, plus they’re going to bring up Mike Freeman soon. I’m surprised they don’t get LaStella to learn SS, I’d like to see him get more playing time.
Iglesias would have been a perfect fit. Zo is not fast enough to play short anymore.
Agreed, but that’s the Cubs plan
Iglesias could still be added, he just won’t be available for the playoffs.
Cubs have nothing spectacular in the minors to call on if they need a SS. Not much at all, really.
I still think Torres was too valuable to trade for 2 months of Chapman. I thought when they did that, they were going to extend Chapman for a few years. Oh well.
Zobrist plays short until Russell comes back. Having baez off the bench is just a luxury as most teams don’t have that. If bryant or Rizzo would go down you would look at lastella playing everyday which is adequate.
Iglesias didn’t clear waivers
Those “reports” only surfaced in the days leading up to the August 31st deadline. What’s not known is what team may have claimed him and whether they did so to block another club or to actually add him via waivers or a trade for themselves. In either event, a deal wasn’t consummated within the prescribed 48 hours and the Tigers were then said to have revoked the waiver claim. It’s possible that the team may have been the Cubs but a trade couldn’t be worked out.
Regardless, the Cubs still could have used a SS of Iglesias’ ilk with their current dilemma of no competent backup on their roster to support Javier Baez.
The way Baez has been playing (and hitting)….Russell will be lucky to get his job back if he returns in October.
Baez might be the most gifted defensive player in the League.
Now…..if he could just corral that “plate discipline” thing……..(maybe he should talk to Stanton about “Finding A New Stance” at the plate)…….LOL
This is fun. Has there ever been a deadline this active and impactful?
Maybe they thought they had a deal for velander and almora was part of the package and then a booboo happened
Eh, theres a hundred guys in that clubhouse in sept so it dont really matter tbh
What will the Mariners do if one of their outfielders gets hurt? They have 3 outfielders now, though that’ll probably change in September. Oh well, they’re not going to the postseason anyway.
Put Cruz in right field because it worked great in Game 6 in 2011
They’ve got Heredia, Haniger, Gamel starting, and Dyson coming off the 10 day DL, plus they’ve also played Valencia in left at times to get him and Alonso both in games.
Motter can play OF too. I don’t think there is a problem with the OF. We just need to keep a pitcher healthy.
You can have a trade Deadline with out Jerry Dipoto