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Angels Sign Richie Martin To Minor League Deal

By Nick Deeds | January 14, 2024 at 7:14pm CDT

The Angels have agreed to a minor league deal with shortstop Richie Martin, according to the transactions log on Martin’s MLB.com player page.

Martin, 29, was selected 20th overall by the A’s in the 2015 draft out of the University of Florida. Martin struggled at the plate early in his professional career but seemed to enjoy a breakout season at the Double-A level in 2018, when he slashed .300/.368/.439 in 118 games at the level. Despite that strong performance and his pedigree as a former first-round pick, the A’s declined to protect Martin from the Rule 5 draft that winter and he was selected by the Orioles.

Baltimore retained Martin on their roster throughout the 2019 season and he appeared in 120 games for the club as a part-time player at shortstop. In 309 trips to the plate, Martin struggled badly with a .208/.260/.322 slash line, but the performance was enough to keep a spot on the 108-loss Orioles throughout the season, earning Baltimore the unrestricted rights to Martin’s services in future seasons. Unfortunately, Martin’s development was further thrown off course by the shortened 2020 campaign. Martin suffered a fractured wrist less than two weeks before Opening Day, ending his season before it began.

When Martin returned to action in 2021, he found a new role as a depth option for the Orioles and spent the majority of his time at the Triple-A level. He received just 138 plate appearances in the majors across the 2021 and ’22 seasons and slashed a paltry .219/.263/.289 across his 50 games with the big league club. In 2022, Martin’s numbers at the Triple-A level were respectable despite his weak big league performance as he posted a 96 wRC+ in 80 games at the level while playing solid defense at second base, shortstop, and all three outfield spots. That performance wasn’t enough for Martin to retain a spot on the Orioles’ big league roster, as they designated him for assignment in early September.

Upon electing minor league free agency that offseason, however, Martin did find interest from other teams on minor league pacts. The then-28-year-old infielder first signed with the Reds last winter but was released shortly before Opening Day and caught on with the Nationals back in April. Martin ultimately did not make an appearance in the majors and slashed just .217/.329/.314 at the Triple-A level. Now that he’s signed on in Anaheim, Martin provides the Halos with middle infield depth in the upper levels of the minors entering the 2024 campaign. With Luis Rengifo and Zach Neto expected to handle everyday duties in the middle infield for the Angels next year, Martin figures to compete with the likes of Kyren Paris and Michael Stefanic for a role on the club’s bench this spring and could act as non-roster depth if he fails to break camp with the club out of Spring Training.

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Los Angeles Angels Transactions Richie Martin

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View Comments (55)
Post a Comment

55 Comments

  1. Lefty_Orioles_Fan

    2 years ago

    Now here is a name i have not heard for a while
    I wish Martin luck
    I always liked his skill set

    7
    Reply
    • TrumboRedux

      2 years ago

      Seeing his name automatically made me think of Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin.

      4
      Reply
    • Dotnet22

      2 years ago

      He Bangs….yes I know it’s not Ricky.

      6
      Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      2 years ago

      Me either. I was just a little kid when Living La Vida Loca came out.

      3
      Reply
      • TrumboRedux

        2 years ago

        I imagine that song to play in Anthony Rendon’s head on loop all season.

        3
        Reply
        • Yankee Clipper

          2 years ago

          Well, the hospital bed does get lonely, Trumbo…

          3
          Reply
        • TrumboRedux

          2 years ago

          I can’t believe you would mock a man as sickly as Rendon! The poor guy has bed sores on BOTH batting hands!

          7
          Reply
        • Yankee Clipper

          2 years ago

          LOLOL – “bed sores on both his hands” hahahahaha

          3
          Reply
        • TrumboRedux

          2 years ago

          He got frisky with one too many X-Ray techs so they made him sit on his hands for extended periods of time. It hasn’t been the vacation for Tony that most think.

          4
          Reply
        • nukeg

          2 years ago

          We need to change Tony 2-Bags internal song.

          Alexa Stop.
          Alexa, play I’m a Loser by Beck.

          1
          Reply
  2. DarrenDreifortsContract

    2 years ago

    The man who will protect Trout in the lineup!

    2
    Reply
  3. King123

    2 years ago

    I remember he had a good spring training with the Reds. I believe his grandpa played in the Negro Leagues.

    2
    Reply
  4. Halo11Fan

    2 years ago

    As long as he doesn’t take a spot on the 40 man roster no harm no foul.

    3
    Reply
    • carllafong

      2 years ago

      Another exciting Angel move. Every guy signed is followed by the question, Who? OR… Wasn’t he released last year? OR… Isn’t he coming off surgery?

      3
      Reply
    • prov356

      2 years ago

      You know he will though. This is Squid without the defense. The A’s will finally have a shot at 4th place in the AL West this season.

      Reply
      • Halo11Fan

        2 years ago

        No the A’s won’t. The Angels don’t have a bullpen and could use a top of the rotation starter, but the have an interesting team.

        I’m looking forward to watching the first six innings of every Angel game.

        1
        Reply
  5. Larry Brown's crank

    2 years ago

    “not my Richie”!!!

    4
    Reply
    • DarrenDreifortsContract

      2 years ago

      Why not you Bob?!

      Reply
      • Larry Brown's crank

        2 years ago

        God took the wrong son!

        Reply
    • TrumboRedux

      2 years ago

      Anybody seen Richie!!

      1
      Reply
      • DarrenDreifortsContract

        2 years ago

        Anyone know why Richie did Bobby Lupo?

        1
        Reply
        • TrumboRedux

          2 years ago

          Where you from fanook? You must not be from Brooklyn cuz we don’t talk like that down here.

          1
          Reply
        • Larry Brown's crank

          2 years ago

          I’m gonna keep coming back…till somebody remembers something!

          2
          Reply
  6. erickohli

    2 years ago

    Another blockbuster deal for the Halos.

    5
    Reply
    • letsgooakland123

      2 years ago

      I don’t know how they expect to compete, running back a 73-win roster minus an 18-WAR player.
      I get that there’s still time but you have to imagine the offers for Snell/Montgomery (pitching) and Martinez/Soler (DH) keeps getting higher. The Halos also probably have to pay more than any other suitor because who in their right mind would play for that team over really anyone else who is willing to give out big money this offseason.

      1
      Reply
      • Plugnplay

        2 years ago

        Yes, players almost always go to the highest offer in free agency, well done. 😉

        Reply
  7. MacGromit

    2 years ago

    Hope Ritchie can unlock some of the potential that those teams including the O’s saw. An improvement from “paltry” to “meager” might be enough to earn him a super utility spot with the A’s. Behind 2024 runner up AL ROY, Darrell Hernaiz.

    Best of luck to Martin continuing his Big League dream.

    1
    Reply
    • letsgooakland123

      2 years ago

      Just wild that our (Oakland’s) best acquisitions came from the least valuable pieces – Hernaiz for an AAA starter, Medina/Waldichuk/Sears from injured Frankie Montas.
      Meanwhile Olson gets a borderline average catcher in Langeliers, Murphy gets a 4th outfielder type in Ruiz, and Chapman, Manaea, Bassitt get basically nothing.
      And Gelof was an A’s draft pick. Way to botch a rebuild.

      Edit: Forgot to mention Boyle for Moll as one of the steals.

      1
      Reply
  8. billwood23

    2 years ago

    What are the Angels doing? Tank year?

    6
    Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      2 years ago

      More like tank decade….

      7
      Reply
  9. Probably "Rick hahn"

    2 years ago

    He’s livin Lavida Loca

    3
    Reply
  10. TrumboRedux

    2 years ago

    They need to trade back for Fletch!

    4
    Reply
    • Rexhudler86

      2 years ago

      That would be a angels move to get fletcher back and give them all the money owned on his contract.

      1
      Reply
  11. Birdieman2

    2 years ago

    Oh good, print the playoff tickets

    3
    Reply
  12. bkbk

    2 years ago

    Arte got to be gearing up to sell the team, the angels havent been in on anything

    3
    Reply
    • Johnny Bravo

      2 years ago

      I Believe Angels an Arte Moreno doesn’t have Bally sports West deal bankruptcy I believe the angels will be up for sale this spring training he’s a very unpopular owner can’t blame Angel fans he pushed all the wrong buttons in baseball.

      6
      Reply
  13. Ubaldo Jimenez

    2 years ago

    Richie has solid potential. What his stat line doesn’t show is that he makes some incredible defensive plays at times, and when his bat sparks, he can win a game on his own. He’s also fast. Angels are a good fit for him, maybe he’ll get that next opportunity. Even in his Rule 5 year with Baltimore, he started putting it together with the bat in Aug-Sept and then that injury the following spring was a total derailment. He was a standout in ST both in 2022 for the O’s and last year for Cincy. Abrams’ performance is, I’m convinced, the reason he never got more of a chance in Washington. This is the first time I’ve seen his AAA stat-line from 2023 – but, that’s not the only time I’ve seen a promising player do terribly in the Nats’ system.

    1
    Reply
    • Birdieman2

      2 years ago

      Talk about putting lipstick on a pig…….

      2
      Reply
      • Ubaldo Jimenez

        2 years ago

        Nonsense

        Reply
    • carllafong

      2 years ago

      Potential at 28, or failed potential? Seems our entire system is filled with potential. What we need is established league average or better players. We seem to have a significant shortage there– especially on the mound.

      2
      Reply
      • Ubaldo Jimenez

        2 years ago

        28 isn’t too old to have potential… cough Joey Meneses cough cough

        Reply
    • johnnyangel

      2 years ago

      Richie’s agent chimes in

      Reply
  14. angels24

    2 years ago

    Playoff bound!

    3
    Reply
  15. scottbour

    2 years ago

    The guy can’t hit his weight against MLB pitching.

    Reply
    • MacGromit

      2 years ago

      @scott

      that make you feel better to post that?

      give the guy a break,

      1
      Reply
  16. Informed Sportsball Discussion

    2 years ago

    The scouting report says his defense has upside, but it’s inside out.

    (…Had to try for a “Livin’ La Vida Loca” joke no one else had made yet.)

    Reply
  17. kdub53

    2 years ago

    Angels not messing around this off season!

    1
    Reply
  18. dutchdestroyer

    2 years ago

    Big splash!

    Reply
  19. FunGhoul

    2 years ago

    This move has got to make them the Favorites now in the west.

    1
    Reply
    • TrumboRedux

      2 years ago

      Best in the West?? More like World Series Shoe-In’s! Shohei made a bad move… Long live Trout!

      1
      Reply
  20. JAD

    2 years ago

    FINALLY……..this signing proves the Angels intend to compete this year.

    Reply
  21. Johnny Bravo

    2 years ago

    We need a change of ownership. This could be a successful franchise for a new owner with the fundamentals like building, a grade A farm system with superior player development program with top coaching staff build a young team. Arte Moreno has spent a lot of money on hitters, but never on pictures where has that got him seven years of consecutive, losing superior pictures will shut down superior hitters. Pitching is the name of the game in baseball for some reason Moreno doesn’t understand this theory most angel fans want him to ride into the sunset and never be seen again involved in the Orange County scandal Arte should’ve took the money and run last year if this is how we continue for the next several years as much as I don’t want to trade my trout. Now I’m in favor of trading him to a winning team. let them have a chance to compete in a World Series.

    Reply
  22. Johnny Bravo

    2 years ago

    I think Perry Minasian should resign you don’t wanna be Arte Morenos puppet do you

    Reply
  23. MLB_Angel

    2 years ago

    Dollar Tree special!

    Reply
  24. ReefAce

    2 years ago

    This could be it. This could be all we need.

    Reply

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