Major League Baseball has announced that right-handed pitcher Carlos Martinez has been given an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Ibutamoren, a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
This is yet another setback in what has been a very difficult few years for Martinez, despite an encouraging start to his career. From his 2013 debut as a 21-year-old through the 2019 campaign, he appeared in 253 games for the Cardinals, including 118 starts, logging 864 2/3 innings. In that time, he had a 3.36 ERA, 23.4% strikeout rate, 9% walk rate and 53.1% ground ball rate, producing 14.6 wins above replacement, according to FanGraphs.
Unfortunately, injuries started to wear on him in recent campaigns. Though he was still effective in 2019, he had been bumped from the rotation to a bullpen role due to injury concerns. In 2020, he missed a bunch of time due to a bout with COVID-19 and an oblique strain, ending up with a 9.90 ERA in 20 innings for the campaign. Last year, he returned to the rotation, making 16 starts, but struggled to a 6.23 ERA over 82 1/3 innings, along with a tepid 15.7% strikeout rate. A torn ligament in his pitching hand required surgery that ultimately ended his season, as he last pitched in the big leagues on July 4 last year.
The Cardinals signed him to a five-year extension in February of 2017, while he was in the midst of the high point of his career. That came with club options for 2022 and 2023, though the Cards ending up declining to pick up the option for this year on the heels of those rough campaigns. Martinez latched on with the Giants via a minor league deal in March, though he was released at the end of April and signed another minors pact, this time with the Red Sox. He made just two starts for Triple-A Worcester but was bombed to the tune of 10 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings before getting released again.
That’s incredibly sad
Remember when he buzzed Acuña in the playoffs for not “respecting the game” because he admired a home run?
Cry me a river.
To be fair, Acuna irritates all opposing players.
*pitchers. FTFY
what does ftfy mean
No idea. Abbreviation is getting out of hand
Fixed That For You
Thanks. The only abbreviation I use is “OK” and that doesn’t even stand for anything as far as I know.
Np, nbd, ttyl!
Rightfully so.
Ocuna was also benched for dropping a ball while styling that allowed a rally to begin during a pennant race.
Is this?
I mean really…
A baseball player put something in his body to increase his performance…plenty of guys on this board pop Viagra to increase theirs.
Government regulates and limits scientifically produced enhancers, but allows for unchecked performance in fire arms.
This isn’t sad. Just a weird hypocrisy
Oh boy. Too bad what’s happened to his career
Too bad? This was all under his control. It was pretty stupid & he may have ruined his own career. No one to blame but himself
At least he was still able to make 50 mil+. “Too bad” isn’t the term I’d use at all, “well done” seems more appropriate. Probably saw where it was going and took the risk to cheat. All on him, go kick rocks and give your spot to someone else, which he’s done twice already this season anyway…
I mean “too bad” in that, his career could’ve been a good one if only he’d made better choices.
what a fall from grace…
He should get a refund for that purchase. Nothing of his performance was enhanced..
Ohhh nooooooooo
I doubt he is helping the Giants this year. An even higher risk signing than they knew.
He’s not on the Giants anymore. They split back in April.
He was with the Giants in Spring Training. Which was a perfect fit considering Frisco is the Steroid Capital of MLB
“Frisco”
…how to say something without saying something.
Probably Meth and Heroin capital too
Oooh! Dont forget weed! Oh, and probably lsd and mushrooms too!
Sin capital? Perhaps that covers it best?
Nah, that’d be home of the 2024 A’s – Las Vegas
Yeah you all got it right. We LOVE our drugs here. PEDs, bring em on. Weed? Nah, not strong enough. As Fox News reports, we only due meth, H, coke, and X around here. When I travel to NYC (Yankee Clipper) or San Diego (where NOT TGwynn is from) or wherever Johnnyno is from, I have to take any extra suitcase for my stash, cuz I can’t get my goodies in those other cities.
Seems like someone may have struck a nerve
Giantphan: I’m surprised if you can’t get drugs in NYC. Perhaps you’re venturing into the wrong areas. Seems like an unwarranted risk packing your own narcotics for a flight though, imho. I’d recommend asking one of the NYC cops – they can probably tell you all the areas where dealing is prevalent. Plus, they’re used to giving directions to tourists.
Frisco, TX is the Steroid Capital of MLB? That’s odd since they only have a Double-A team.
Gbs: They’ve got to get an edge to advance somehow, eh?
Maybe thats the beauty of the plan?
Well considering he was released by them and then was a Red Sock for 10 days before getting cut again, I don’t think the Giants will worry too much.
But what will the giants think
Oops. Forgot that he isn’t helping the Red Sox now.
Won’t be helping the Mud Hens either, but maybe the California Prison League if he plays his cards right.
Wish I was surprised. Dude is really talented. Too bad he has no work ethic.
Good to know you were at all his in season and out of season workouts and training…love this site for all the insider info!
A simple Google search of Cardinals beat writer articles on his work ethic is all you have to do to verify this information. It’s been pretty widely reported on.
If you pay attention you can learn a lot.
I mean, come on you don’t need to know his exact schedule. He absolutely had no work ethic from the eyes of a cards fan. He always came in to camp overweight. They even tried once or twice to give him a specific offseason workout that he just seemed brushed off. There were overtures about his work ethic in the cardinals media. He was immature. He just didn’t seem to care and relied on his natural ability, which was so very incredible at times. I remember Pedro Martinez comparisons when he came up. He had so much potential but he also got into troubles at strip clubs.
I wish the best for him.
Can we get an 80-day moratorium on Carlos Martinez articles?
Ibutamoren, also known as MK 677 and Nutrobal, is a substance that increases the levels of Human Growth Hormone (hGH) in the body.
From what I am reading elsewhere, the test he failed happened in spring training. Not sure why it took so long to suspend him.
PED suspensions usually aren’t made public until the player actually begins serving the suspension. If I had to guess, he was issued the suspension during spring training after the positive test came to light, then he appealed it. Now, he has either lost the appeal or dropped it.
His 15,16,17 were incredible.
Wut?
His 13′ 14′ were incredible after that he messed up his shoulder and was alright before becoming a bullpen arm? He was good till 17 like the article says
I guess this explains why Boston released him 2 weeks ago. MLB shouldn’t allow teams to release players when a suspension is forthcoming. It’s not like they are going to be paying them anyway.
He wasn’t on the 40 man roster so really what difference does it make?
I know it’s just bookkeeping but the team should just let the process play out, then release the player.
He pitched horrible, had nothing to do with the suspension. He got lit up
Understood, He was horrible but at the time he was released, the Red Sox knew the suspension for on the horizon.
free agents get tested too. why must it have happened while he was in the BOS system.
Good point.
It probably didn’t. The test likely happend during spring training with the Giants. Probably from something he did prior to training camp. There is usually a delay from failed test to suspension
I mean point being is it’s all speculation. There is no reason to assume anything ill was done by Boston in this situation.
What makes these clowns think they can get away with this stuff?
He had nothing to lose at this point. Guess he thought he bought “The Clear”.
Because he had nothing to lose and millions to gain
Because unfortunately a lot of them *do* get away with it.
Was a huge fan of Carlos Martinez used to have a devastating change up. Sad to see this
Body by Atlas…..brain by Fischer Price. What a waste of talent.
Crazy Carlos living up to the moniker. Just doesn’t get it and probably never will.
It was obvious to many Cards fans years ago while he had value that while Uber talented he was a head case. They should have traded him then.
Add Alex Reyes, Paul Dejong, Dylan Carlson, and the latest flash in the pan, Nolan Gorman to your should have traded while they had value list.
What’s wrong with Carlson and Gorman?
Lol. One week of Nolan Gorman and he’s already a “flash in the pan”
As a Cubs’ fan, I would gladly trade Wilson Contreras and Kyle Hendricks for Nolan Gorman in what would be the steal of the decade. Although I do hope that the Cubs will extend Contreras.
I do think that that Alex Reyes is past his usefulness.
I agree with every one of they should have been traded when they had value in the minors.
Now—— What the heck is the actual reason for O’Neal going from Riches to rags this season???
He was always rags. One season of riches.
Injuries and sickness destroying a career.he just a wants to get healthy and get back on the field and all is failing and it is slipping away from him forever. He takes a chance to enable another chance at continuing the dream. I understand it and can’t say I wouldn’t do it.
At this point, we should just call it Dominican Juice since almost everyone who’s been caught since testing started is from the DR.
I’ve not spoken with Carlos but I can safely report he has no idea how this got into his system and he will dedicate the rest of his life to finding Nicole’s killer.
Domini-can’t
I am reminded of what Dallas Braden said when Frankie Montas was suspended: “ it’s a business decision. These guys feel like they have nothing to lose by rolling the dice.”
“This is yet another setback….” My gawd, the guy is a PED cheater. This is more of a revelation or confirmation of what kind of player he is, if not what kind of person.
Is it just me or have there been more of these this year than usual?
He learned in the RedSuck organization
Why did his picture have to be in a Cardinals uniform??? Head Case from day one!
They pride themself on legacy~ once a cardinal, always a cardinal.
He’s like the bitcoin of baseball, career is in freefall!
Lol always knew he was shady when he played for St. Louis and now this? Makes total sense now if you look back. Also would explain why he have anger issues.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes I guess.