The Cubs announced Thursday that righty Corbin Martin has been designated for assignment. His roster spot will go to fellow right-handed reliever Gavin Hollowell, who has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa.
Martin signed a minor league deal with Chicago back in January. His contract was selected to the major league roster in mid-April, and he’s appeared in seven games with sub-par results. The 2017 second-rounder (Astros) started out nicely, with four shutout innings, but he’s allowed runs in three consecutive appearances and only completed one inning in that time. Over those three outings, Martin has faced 11 batters and yielded four hits (two of them homers) and four walks en route to six earned runs.
Now 30 years old, Martin was a highly regarded prospect, going from Houston to Arizona as part of the 2019 Zack Greinke blockbuster. Injuries have consistently hampered him, however. He’s pitched in parts of five major league seasons between Houston, Arizona, Baltimore and now Chicago, totaling 80 2/3 innings with a 6.81 earned run average. Since being drafted, he’s undergone Tommy John surgery and surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his lat. The first procedure wiped out his entire 2020 season and a good portion of the 2021 campaign. The second cost him all of the 2023 season.
The Cubs will have five days to trade Martin, place him on outright waivers or release him. Outright waivers are a 48-hour process, meaning his DFA will be resolved within the next week.
He got hammered the last couple of times out. Almost cost em the game last night. Had to go.
The worst part was his inability to throw strikes. It seemed like he was consistently putting himself into poor positions to pitch.
Not surprised after last night. It worked out for the Cubs. They walked off the Reds for the 3rd straight game. First time since 2009 but prior to that l, the last time the Cubs did that was 1946 vs Boston Braves. Yes the Boston Braves. That’s how rare it is.
Also Monday and Tuesday walks off wins was 5 years to the day that the Cubs last had back to back walk off wins.
And the way things are going—-last night JD predicted a pitch clock violation walk off this afternoon. He is so under the radar funny during games.
Pretty sure he knew this was going to happen as soon as he walked off the mound last night.
The recent revolving door of fringe Cubs relievers figures to continue until their counted upon injured ones all return healthy AND until Jed Hoyer can find a reliable veteran starting pitcher or two to fill their decimated rotation. The latter will be easier said than done nearly three months ahead of the summer trade deadline and in the current sellers market.