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Padres Claim Nick Martini

By Jeff Todd | August 28, 2019 at 12:49pm CDT

1:04pm: San Diego announced the move. Martini will join the active roster on Thursday, per an announcement.

12:49pm: In an intriguing development, the Padres have claimed outfielder Nick Martini off waivers from the Athletics, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter). The corresponding roster maneuvering isn’t yet known.

It’s a bit of a surprise to see the San Diego org summoning the bartender for the 29-year-old, left-handed-hitting outfielder. It remains to be seen whether Martini will have a shot at holding his roster spot over the course of the offseason.

To be sure, Martini seemed likely to be claimed by some team — so much so that it might’ve been expected he wouldn’t have made it to the San Diego organization’s spot on the waiver priority list. But the Friars already have an outfield mix that includes Wil Myers, Hunter Renfroe, Manuel Margot, and Josh Naylor. Only Naylor hits from the left side, but the club also still controls the southpaw-swinging Travis Jankowski.

Making any use of Martini this year will surely mean reducing the opportunities available to those other players. If nothing else, Jankowski’s roster footing now seems more tenuous than ever.

Perhaps the Friars think Martini could be a fourth outfielder candidate in 2020. He’s optionable, which certainly helps. There are some shades of Alex Dickerson, who was jettisoned earlier this year by the Pads. But holding open a role for Martini would create a tight squeeze once Franchy Cordero is added back to the mix, even assuming Naylor is sent back to Triple-A. It’s also certainly possible the Padres simply see this as a value proposition and intend to explore offseason trade possibilities involving any number of current assets.

Regardless, it’s clear that Martini stirred real interest in the San Diego front office. He certainly impressed in a 55-game big-league debut showing last year, though the A’s never saw fit for a second round this season. While he received only 13 MLB plate appearances in 2019, Martini did boast a .328/.432/.482 slash line and impeccable 51:49 K/BB ratio over 329 plate appearances at Triple-A.

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Oakland Athletics San Diego Padres Transactions Nick Martini

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View Comments (41)

Comments

  1. arc89

    3 years ago

    No surprised he was claimed. nothing wrong with having a OBA hitting 4th outfielder on a team. He is a cheap version of Grossman on the A’s.

    Reply
    • JDGoat

      3 years ago

      I’m just surprised teams like the Marlins and Orioles passed on a controllable player with moderate upside with the players they’re rolling out currently.

      Reply
      • Christopher_Oriole

        3 years ago

        Me too. Really surprised the Orioles didn’t make a claim.

        Reply
      • jchiaratti

        3 years ago

        Shouldn’t be that surprising… they need roster spots to gamble on guys they see with upside… martini pretty much has a set ceiling as a 29 YO minor league journeyman

        Reply
  2. n888

    3 years ago

    If he competes for playing time the other outfielders might be shaken, if not stirred.

    Reply
    • connfyoozed

      3 years ago

      I used the same pun in yesterday’s article, but I still gave you a thumbs up because I might have used it again if you hadn’t have beaten me to it.

      Reply
      • n888

        3 years ago

        Appreciate it. Hopefully someone makes this type of joke on olive the posts related to Martini.

        Reply
        • countregular

          3 years ago

          SD is just trying to gin up their base.

        • nymetsking

          3 years ago

          your humor’s a little dry.

        • neo

          3 years ago

          What this guy needs is an accomplished hitting instructor. I’m thinking of Bonds.
          Barry Bonds.

      • nymetsking

        3 years ago

        To give proper credit, Jeff served it up on a silver platter on this article.

        Reply
      • BigFred

        3 years ago

        And in a bit of useless trivia… in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the bartender’s name was Nick and the bar was called “Martini’s” (then called “Nick’s” in the alternate timeline)..

        Reply
  3. Asfan0780

    3 years ago

    Grossman sucks , shouldve kept martini or called up skye bolt instead. Heck, even mark payton a minor league rule 5 pick from yankees, hit 30 homeruns in AAA. Yes inflated las vegas stats but he seems somewhat interesting

    Reply
    • connfyoozed

      3 years ago

      Grossman is a guy who’s stats look intriguing, until you see him play, then you wish he was on someone else’s team.

      Reply
      • JDGoat

        3 years ago

        He’s probably the singles hitter who should’ve been waived.

        Reply
        • lowtalker1

          3 years ago

          Burroughs ?

        • lowtalker1

          3 years ago

          I take someone hitting consistent singles right there than swinging for the fences and striking out. A good team has players that get on and not every player swinging for the fences

      • Strike Four

        3 years ago

        and add to that, Melvin has put him #2 in the batting order 31 times this year.

        Insane for anyone to say “Martini is a cheaper Grossman” when Grossman makes $2M and the A’s have routinely eaten more than that to cut ties with a guy who doesn’t fit. Grossman’s salary should play ZERO factor as to why he’s on the team.

        Reply
        • jchiaratti

          3 years ago

          They thought he was the better player and apparently still do… he’s a switch hitter and can play all 3 of spots in a pinch… martini is a platoon lefty left fielder

        • arc89

          3 years ago

          Have you ever watch Grossman in the OF? Luckily for the A’s Brown was out there yesterday and made 2 plays that Grossman would not have made. It would have been a tie game or a loss if Grossman was playing. No worries because Grossman is gone next year.

    • OaklandFan22

      3 years ago

      Couldn’t agree more. Grossman is just extremely average in every category. Just a waste of a roster spot. Would’ve much rather kept Martini then Grossman. I want to see Payton come up at some point as well to see what he can showcase.

      Reply
      • Strike Four

        3 years ago

        Payton’s only 27 too, its not like his career is DOA.

        Reply
      • sacball

        3 years ago

        How do you know Payton’s not replacing Grossman?

        Reply
  4. petcopadre

    3 years ago

    I’m all for replacing any player who is not helping this team. I’m also all for using the waiver wire and trade process in order to improve this team. Our young players, besides Tatis, just aren’t showing enough to heighten any optimism. I really hope this is a prelude to getting rid of Myers and anybody else, including Renfroe.

    Reply
    • Rallyshirt

      3 years ago

      Seemingly, bringing up a super young top prospect, and signing a record contract star in the same year doesn’t always work so well for the rest of the team. A plan CWS pursued last off season, and likely this one too.

      Reply
      • Gettin greedy

        3 years ago

        What does this have to do with the White Sox?0

        Reply
        • Rallyshirt

          3 years ago

          more than you might be comprehending at this time.

  5. Caleb Clark

    3 years ago

    A very interesting move. I agree with the comments above about the Marlins and the Orioles. Also, I also agree about them calling up somebody instead of having Robbie Grossman. Mark Payton is a very good player. He is currently hitting .331 in Triple-A in 110 games. Heard he has some good speed too. Also, the A’s have guys like Sean Murphy, Jorge Mateo, and Sheldon Neuse on the Triple-A team. I think Martini is a good pickup for the Padres. Naylor is not an outfielder, he is a 1st baseman. Although he has been playing well up there.

    Reply
    • lowtalker1

      3 years ago

      Naylor is a bad first baseman. That’s why they signed hosmer. The over pay was for his leadership. This is why he was moved to the outfield and will be a prime dh candidate in future

      Reply
      • Strike Four

        3 years ago

        Hosmer is a bad first baseman though.

        Reply
        • DarkSide830

          3 years ago

          Hosmer is an average first baseman. some numbers suggest he is good, some is bad, but i dont buy him being as bad as people tend to say.

        • padreforlife

          3 years ago

          Career high errors already and can’t hit lefties

  6. lowtalker1

    3 years ago

    Who goes to the 60 day? Who gets release?
    They got two spots they can swift people to do the 60 day. One of them had his second tjs in April but still on the 40. Avila is broken. Dfa kinsler?

    Reply
  7. DarkSide830

    3 years ago

    Baltimore and Miami’s lack of claiming players this year is why they have not found considerable success in recent years and will probably continue along this path for the near future.

    Reply
    • arc89

      3 years ago

      Giants did well playing the claim game this year. Miami lost their starting RF 2 days ago it should have been a no brainer to pick up and test out Martini.

      Reply
    • OofAndYikes

      3 years ago

      I’m sure not picking up a 29 year old is what will hamper the Marlins and their top 5 farm system in the near future. Could you also refresh my memory, where did Jon Berti and Harold Ramirez, two decent short term pieces, come from?

      Reply
  8. patsfan

    3 years ago

    I met him he is really nice and cute my friend on Facebook

    Reply
    • VegasSDfan

      3 years ago

      What!

      Reply
  9. rizdak

    3 years ago

    Surprised Colorado didn’t put in a claim. They could have used a Martini on the Rox.

    Reply
  10. Lou Orlando

    3 years ago

    Wow! A lot of typing going on, and for who? A guy who may, if he’s lucky, be someone’s 4th or 5th outfielder next year? But, hey what have the Padres got to lose? Might have found a diamond in the rough. It happens.

    Bet the O’s would like to have Yaz back. I don’t think the Pirates ever dreamed Bryan Reynolds (Acquired from SF for Cutch) would be challenging for the NL batting crown this year. Cinncy got two solid years out of Scooter after the Brewers released him in 2017. And I’m sure LA is very pleased with a few guys they pretty much got for nothing: Justin Turner, Chris Taylor, Mike Muncy, and Kiki Hernandez.

    Reply
  11. padreforlife

    3 years ago

    Padres picking up A’s rejects now

    Reply

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