Grant Brisbee (via WHYG Zane Smith) speculates that the Pirates could claim outfielder Fernando Martinez, who the Mets recently placed on waivers.
There's a chance that Fernando Martinez clears waivers, but let's be honest, there are teams that just live for players like this to come on waivers. Some of them may or may not be named after people who attack and plunder ships at sea.
I had a similar thought when Martinez was cut - this one has Neal Huntington written all over it. Martinez is still only 23, and he's hit reasonably well at Class AAA.
He's been a disaster in limited opportunities in the majors, and he hasn't developed much. Looking back on his performance record, a lot of his status as a top prospect was tied up with age relative to league. He also hasn't had a lot of mobility recently due to his injuries, so he's probably a liability on defense. He probably isn't ever going to be very good. But, you know, that's why he's available on waivers. Huntington loves former top prospects, and he loves guys he can get cheaply, so it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him put in a claim here. The Bucs don't necessarily need another outfielder right now, but I could certainly see Huntington grabbing him and putting him at Class AAA.
Update (by Vlad): Martinez was claimed by the Astros, who were first in line for waiver priority.
0 recs | 91 comments
Why not?
cocktailsfor2 - January 10, 2012
sign me up
always wanted him, he has never panned out but lets give it a whirl eh?
C Shint - January 10, 2012
don't we have a similar OF'er
in Gorkys Hernandez?
BadAndy - January 10, 2012
this
gonfalon - January 10, 2012
Because we're absolutely certain that...
Gorkys Hernandez is going to turn out as we expect?
Much like the Mets used to think about a guy named Fernando Martinez.
Low risk, potential reward. Little to lose, so why not?
Bishop1973 - January 10, 2012
Not really, no. Gorkys gets his value from being an elite defensive CF, while Martinez is a corner guy who’s being projected mostly on his bat. Also, Gorkys is a RHB, while F-Mart is a LHB.
Vlad - January 10, 2012
this!
if you could melt them together, pretty damn good ballplayer
white angus - January 10, 2012
Or...
FTFY.
Bishop1973 - January 10, 2012
the only funky thing about them
would be the smell
BlindSquirrel - January 10, 2012
Kind of a shame
that such genetic experimentation hasn’t been legalized yet…well, we gotta start somewhere.
NastyNate82 - January 10, 2012
Well,
they are getting close.
Link.
Wizard of Woz - January 11, 2012
in AAA
it’s a good idea to stick him there for certain. Depending on how things go our extreme OF depth might get traded for future franchise 1B so having too much talent at any position is of course never a bad thing
Mingy - January 10, 2012
Cost/benefit analysis
Benefit: Adding a high upside player who could still pan out in a big way and won’t cost anything if he continues to flop
Cost: Removing someone like Duke Welker from the 40 man
Advantage: Benefit.
Raybin - January 10, 2012
no need
to remove anyone if they decide to make a trade with their OF or MI depth
C Shint - January 10, 2012
they would have to deal before aquiring Martinez
white angus - January 10, 2012
They could DFA a guy on spec, and try to deal him later.
Vlad - January 10, 2012
"they would have to deal before aquiring Martinez"
“One scout guaranteed to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark that at least five teams will claim Mets outfielder Fernando Martinez, who is now on waivers”
So correction: The Pirates would have to trade with the Mets, in order to acquire Martinez. Since it’s pretty obvious that at least one of those 5 teams will waiver priority over the Pirates – who are #8, in the waiver pecking order.
So, if Huntington wanted to acquire Martinez, trading someone like Nunez or Welker for him would solve that whole 40-man roster problem.
Midnight Moose - January 11, 2012
Probably not, since the Mets probably waived Martinez in order to clear their own roster spot.
WTM - January 11, 2012
They may find someone we have and are willing to deal more interesting
Worth a call
glass0941 - January 11, 2012
I'm not sure F-Mart is worth a call.
WTM - January 11, 2012
Well...
A trade was the only way he was going to become Pirates property. It’s all moot now, though.
Midnight Moose - January 11, 2012
Aren’t they still in the market for a MI?
SuperBaes - January 10, 2012
pirates or mets?
we apparently still want a Utility guy, I was speaking in a general sense if we deal from depth to any team, although if you mean the Mets i do believe they were looking for some MIs yes.
C Shint - January 10, 2012
Referring to this tweet from Robo from last week. After 100 or so comments here, I think I’m over that speculation.
SuperBaes - January 10, 2012
Actually, I think Harrison might be the next guy to get cut. I think the decision to bring in McGehee displays a lack of confidence in Harrison’s abilities, and IF PT at Indy is going to be hard to come by.
Vlad - January 10, 2012
not to mention the trade for yamico navarro
johnnycuff - January 10, 2012
A fair point
McGehee, Navarro and Nunez could spell the end for Harrison
Raybin - January 10, 2012
Which would be a minor shame
I don’t expect JH ever to start, but he could be a useful, above-average bench guy at the league minimum for a few years. The other guys to me seem more like fliers – more upside than JH, but also reasonably likely to provide zero (I worry about McGehee. although he obviously has a solid MLB ceiling).
I won’t gnash teeth, but I also wouldn’t be surprised to see him provide more value than any of those guys.
JRoth95 - January 10, 2012
agree completely
white angus - January 10, 2012
This is exactly how I felt/feel
about Pedro Ciriaco.
SuperBaes - January 10, 2012
That may be the nicest thing ever said about Ciriaco on this site
Superstar25 - January 11, 2012
according to wilbur's article over at Pirates Prospects
at the moment brandon boggs is inline for a starting job at indy. i think we could probably make an accommodation there for f-mart.
17.4%, 22.6%, 24.0%
those are his K percentages over the last 3 seasons in AAA. he’s got to turn that trend around if he’s going to amount to anything. his walk percentage did rise last year though.
johnnycuff - January 10, 2012
Boggs may have an out clause, though.
WTM - January 10, 2012
40-man
Isn’t it nice to not have 5 guys on the 40-man roster that seem to be completely worthless? Really, it does become a bit challenging to add people. I actually think the worst player on the 40-man is the rule 5 pick.
I’ve followed F-Mart for a few years as I own him in a keeper rotisserie league. He has had numerous leg injuries, and last season it came out that he has already experienced arthritic symptoms in one knee that may never go away. I dropped him this season because he will never be the runner he was projected to be, and his power seems to be suffering due to his knee issues. That said, he wouldn’t be a terrible pickup with an eye toward working first on his health and strength, which seems to be something Huntington does understand and focus on.
ballparkfranks - January 10, 2012
This statement...
reminds me eerily of NH’s Clement experiment. It’s always possible they try him as a 1B.
Nate Wilder - January 11, 2012
Grab him
Very little risk and possible high reward if things work out even mildly well for him.
Marte, Gorkys and Martinez in the Indy OF would be nice.
Brakeman8 - January 10, 2012
Oops
Got ahead of myself on the Marte at Indy part.
Brakeman8 - January 10, 2012
Huh?
Why were you ahead of yoursef? Marte will be at Indy…
KentuckyPirate - January 10, 2012
OK
Maybe I didn’t. Forgive my excitement for causing me to be a bit foggy. lol
Brakeman8 - January 10, 2012
It's fine
I was just confused…didn’t know if I was foggy and didn’t notice something.
KentuckyPirate - January 10, 2012
Nope
you are good. Marte played all of last year at AA, crushed, and he’s healthy. He’ll be in AAA.
Few guys I’m interested in their placement are..
Jarek Cunningham – A+ or AA
Stetson Allie – SS or A-
ZVR – A- or A+
Zack Dodson – A- or A+
Dilson Herrera – DSL/VSL or GCL
Really hoping to see Cunningham in AA. I think he needs to be challenged. ZVR should be in A+. I think Allie needs to stay in SS and I really want Herrera to come stateside. I’m not sure what to do with Dodson.
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 10, 2012
I have a few more names
Heredia, SS or A- or back to GCL?
Hurtarte, that 1B i mentioned a while back where reports said signing him included him coming stateside. so looking for him in GCL?
Cabrera, depends on Sanchez, either A+ or AA
Sanchez, AA or AAA
Cole, A+ or AA
C Shint - January 10, 2012
Ya
the catcher roulette is interesting. I guess I just assumed Heredia will go to SS.
I was under the impression that it’s been decided that Cole will start in Bradenton because it’ll be warmer.
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 10, 2012
i thought
thats just what were assuming here, no gurantee that happens or that he moves along to AA as we move into summer. More or less I’m saying we’ll see if he spends the year at A+ or not.
C Shint - January 10, 2012
I thought
I read somewhere that the Pirates planned on sending him to Bradenton for 4-6 weeks then onto AA.
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 10, 2012
oh
if thats the case then very good, i havent seen anything on the subject though
C Shint - January 10, 2012
Quick-and
-dirty research shows I have no idea what I’m talking about. Looks like its all speculation. I’d like to see him do a few weeks in Bradenton and the rest of the year in AA. Maybe get a taste of AAA, but start again in AAA in 2013 with a early or mid-season call up.
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 10, 2012
From what I understand...
…that’s the hoped for scenario
5 or 6 starts in Bradenton that he’ll hopefully dominate, a callup to Altoona to finish out the season, start at Indy in 2013 with a June callup.
Best case scenario, obviously, but aren’t the Bucs due for a best case to work out someday?
Raybin - January 10, 2012
Overdue
JRoth95 - January 10, 2012
@ Pirate Fest
NH said (in an interview with the Fan via radio)that he thought Cole would start at A+ (Bradenton) – maybe you heard that & ur not crazy
Danatural08 - January 10, 2012 via mobile
I'm
not crazy!
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 10, 2012
sure
that’s what all the crazy ones say
johnnycuff - January 10, 2012
I'm totally crazy
JRoth95 - January 10, 2012
I think anyone posting on this site in the middle of January is crazy.
Present company included.
Midnight Moose - January 11, 2012
Can't argue
But this is the only sports site I can visit without reading/seeing anything about my Steelers, and that wound’s too fresh.
SuperBaes - January 12, 2012
why start Cole in AAA in 2013??? Indy is cold in April too.
just start him in Bradenton each season and call him up in May
white angus - January 10, 2012
He may as well get used to pitching in cold weather.
It’s not like God is going to move Pittsburgh 800 miles south any time soon.
Thunder - January 10, 2012
well i mean
global warming by 2013…
C Shint - January 10, 2012
its climate change
karreemofwheat - January 10, 2012
climate warming
cooling challenged
white angus - January 11, 2012
"No, we're not delaying his call up for arb purposes"
“We just figure that, by next year, it’ll be 65° on Opening Day in Pittsburgh.”
JRoth95 - January 11, 2012
ha!
if that were true, im all for climate change
white angus - January 11, 2012
except it will be 130 degrees in the dog days of summer
karreemofwheat - January 11, 2012
throw in a few more casinos, a magic show and lots of boobies
and you got East Vegas, babyyyyy
white angus - January 11, 2012
+1`
karreemofwheat - January 11, 2012
Via
WTM..
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 10, 2012
Herrera was in fall instructionals. That almost always means he’ll be in the GCL.
WTM - January 10, 2012
Yep
just read that in your article. Thanks WTM.
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 10, 2012
I think Hurtarte
was too wasn’t he?
KentuckyPirate - January 10, 2012
really
im really really looking forward to seeing him
C Shint - January 11, 2012
Wouldn't
be a bad pick-up, but I would have been much more excited about an opportunity like this two years ago when we didn’t have fair-to-solid OF depth throughout the system.
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 10, 2012
We have good CF depth, but not many corner guys, and none in the upper minors (unless you like Lambo, which I really don’t at this point).
Vlad - January 10, 2012
It wouldn't hurt us to claim him
so I wouldn’t be upset (plus we’d be lucky enough to read another “dumpster diving” column by Bob Smizik) but I wouldn’t expect this move to really help the team much, if at all.
KentuckyPirate - January 10, 2012
Fair
enough. I don’t disagree it’s worth it. Just pointing out (and it’s a good thing) that two years, picking up a 2012 F-Mart would be super-exciting.
That’s cause we had Cutch, Tabata, and Gorkys and that was really about it. Since then, Marte, Grossman, and Presley have all broken out and we grabbed Bell in the draft, although Gorkys has seen his stock plummet. Plus we’ve added lesser guys such as Mel Rojas, Dan Grovatt, Harold Ramirez, and Elvis Escobar, plus youngin Jose Osuna had a good year (although he may be a 1B) and Willy Garcia has shown some promise, plus Wes Freeman returned from the dead.
Of those guys, the only true CF I see are Cutch, Marte, and Gorkys anyway (and further down Harlod Ramirez), so I consider Tabata, Grossman, Presley, and Bell as our corner depth. Again, in winter of 2009-2010 it was Tabata and that was about it.
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 10, 2012
very nice
white angus - January 10, 2012
The Buccos could almost field an entire line-up of past top prospects
so logic would dictate that we win the whole enchilada this year
michaelbro8 - January 10, 2012
it would
until you saw Andy LaRoche, Jeff Clement, and Lastings Milledge in a Pirates uniform.
BadAndy - January 10, 2012
well at least Clement is still around
whew, that was a close one
white angus - January 10, 2012
we are so loaded with talent
maybe we should branch off into two MLB teams.
pineapplepete - January 10, 2012
Perfectly matched pair
We’ve got a third baseman that closely matches his qualifications…why not make it matched pair…go for it Neal.
oldjoe - January 10, 2012
This was also literally the first thought I had
When I saw the Mets cut him. One of these days Neal Huntington has to hit on one right? I’m not sure that Martinez is the guy but you never know.
rj.reynolds - January 10, 2012
we are due for some good luck!
karreemofwheat - January 10, 2012
speaking of not connecting
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/phillies-release-john-bowker.html
karreemofwheat - January 10, 2012
and
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/minor-moves-chris-bootcheck.html
karreemofwheat - January 10, 2012
I'd take him in a second.
Kosstic518 - January 10, 2012
NH gets turned on by these types of players
CO_Bucs - January 11, 2012
He's been claimed by an NL Central team...
https://twitter.com/#!/Enrique_Rojas1/statuses/157157690928414721
Cheap Beer - January 11, 2012
ah, looks to be the Astros
Cheap Beer - January 11, 2012
NL Central buccos were close
BigB2323 - January 11, 2012
thanks for the translation
karreemofwheat - January 11, 2012
We signed Doug Slaten though!
raise the jolly roger!
BigB2323 - January 11, 2012
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