Jose Martinez has joined the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League, according to a team announcement.
Martinez broke into the big leagues in 2016 and built a reputation as a bat-first player. Though his defense at first base and in the outfield corners was clearly lacking, he could certainly hit. Spending 2016 to 2019 with the Cardinals, he played 398 games and got 1,288 plate appearances, hitting .298/.363/.458, wRC+ of 122.
Prior to the 2020 season, the Cardinals traded Martinez, Randy Arozarena and a draft pick to the Rays for Matthew Liberatore, Edgardo Rodriguez and a draft pick. His production slipped a bit in the pandemic-shortened season, as he hit .239/.329/.388 for the Rays, before being dealt to the Cubs and not hitting at all in ten games there, finishing the season with a line of .182/.265/.295.
After the Cubs non-tendered him, he was signed by the Mets for the 2021 campaign. Unfortunately, he collided with an umpire in a Spring Training game, suffered a torn meniscus in his knee and never made it back to the big leagues. The club outrighted him at the end of the year.
This is the latest in a string of former big leaguers who have joined up with the Acereros. The club has also signed Josh Reddick, Pablo Sandoval and Keon Broxton in recent weeks.
That team has many notable players and manager coaches.
Mickey Callaway is their manager
Julio Franco hitting coach I believe
Addison Russel Bartelo Colon Bruce Maxwell I think is back there as well.
Okay.
Josh Reddick, Jose Martinez, Pablo Sandoval, Chris Carter and Addison Russell.
Nice middle of the order
If you were constructing a lineup between 2013-17
Or if you were constructing a lineup for the Mexican League.
Another trade the Cardinals would probably like back
Why? Martinez is out of the league. Liberatore hasn’t even debuted yet. Way too early to call a winner in that trade
Ariz arena is pretty good.
Arozarena ducking autocorrect
Collected $1M to rehab last year. Maybe he gets healthy and can make a MLB return.
Cafecito!
His dad was big coffee.
He’s little coffee.
Both big leaguers for a period of time. Cafecito literally grew up with the game.
A couple years back he seemed like a player hoping for the Universal DH. I can see a big league return if he can show the bat is still there.
Anyone know about what ex-big leaguers get paid per year in Mexico?
PESO.
According to what I am seeing for 2021 the max that players get is $10,000/mo apparently puig when he signed wanted 25k/mo but it wasn’t allowed
Have you ever seen eastbound and down? Was portrayed that a side deal was met with Kenny P and the owner. That probably would’ve circumvented that paperwork limitation you spoke of. Lol not using Kenny P as real life example but the metaphor works.
Salaries are not announced in Mexico, but most of these former MLB players get over 20k USD a month.
Salary cap is not respected