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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Francis Martes: Cut loose by Houston
The Astros released Francis Martes on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.A former top pitching prospect while coming up through the Houston farm system, Martes made his big-league debut in his age-21 season in 2017. Since then, his career has been derailed by the Tommy John procedure he required in August 2018 along with two lengthy suspensions for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Now 25 years old, Martes struggled mightily in a relief role at Triple-A Sugar Land this season, giving up 17 earned runs on 10 hits and 20 walks over 11.2 innings. He'll look to reboot his career in another organization with Houston electing to pull the plug on him.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Astros' Francis Martes: Clears waivers
Francis Martes will stay with Triple-A Sugar Land after going unclaimed on waivers, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.Martes' 10.80 ERA through 8.1 innings with Sugar Land this season didn't appeal to any other organization after he was DFA'd, so he will remain with the Houston Astros' Triple-A club.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Astros' Francis Martes: DFA'd by Houston
Francis Martes was designated for assignment by the Houston Astros on Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.The 25-year-old spent the first couple months of the season on the restricted list while serving a PED suspension, and he's now lost his 40-man roster spot. Martes has made seven appearances at Triple-A Sugar Land and surrendered 10 runs on eight hits with 13 walks and nine strikeouts over 8.1 innings.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Astros' Francis Martes: Completes suspension
Francis Martes (suspension) was activated from the restricted list and optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.Now that he's done with the PED suspension, Martes has an opportunity to begin carving out a role for himself in the Houston Astros organization. Barring any injuries, the righty is unlikely to crack the big-league starting rotation this season, but Houston's bullpen has struggled quite a bit and could certainly use Martes down the road if he impresses at Triple-A.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Astros' Francis Martes: Ramping up at Triple-A
Francis Martes (suspension) was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.Martes has thrown a total of just 25 innings since the start of 2018 due to Tommy John surgery and a pair of PED suspensions, though he's still just 25 years old and was once an exciting prospect. His latest suspension, which comes after he tested positive for Boldenone in February of 2020, will expire June 19. He could help out the Houston Astros as either a starter or reliever once he's back at full strength, though it may take some time to get him there given how little he's pitched over the last few years.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Astros' Francis Martes: Back in camp
Francis Martes (undisclosed) has returned to camp, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.Martes had been away from the team due to the league's health and safety protocols, but he's now back at the club's spring training facility. The right-hander tossed a scoreless frame during his spring debut and should be available for the Houston Astros going forward.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Astros' Francis Martes: Out due to protocols
Manager Dusty Baker said Friday that Francis Martes is away from the team due to the league's health and safety protocols, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.Martes delivered a scoreless frame in his spring debut but will need to clear the COVID-19 protocols before retaking the mound. The 25-year-old was suspended for the entire 2020 campaign after a second violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, and he hasn't pitched in the majors since 2017.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Astros' Francis Martes: Suspended for PEDs again
Francis Martes was hit with a year-long suspension Monday after a second failed test for performance-enhancing drugs, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.Martes picked up an 80-game suspension at the start of last season after testing positive for Clomiphene in March. After testing positive for Boldenone this time around, he'll miss a full 162 games. His stock will be quite low when he's eligible to return in 2021, as a combination of failed drug tests and Tommy John surgery will have conspired to limit him to just 25 total innings from 2018 to 2020.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Astros' Francis Martes: Makes full-season debut
Francis Martes (elbow) made a rehab appearance Sunday for Low-A Quad Cities, tossing 2.2 innings and giving up two runs on one hit and three walks while striking out three.Making the third appearance of his rehab assignment and his first for a full-season affiliate since undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2018, Martes generally fared well in the outing, with the exception of giving up a first-inning solo shot. The 23-year-old is unlikely to make it back to the Houston Astros as a September callup, but he'll presumably enter next spring with no restrictions now that he's already resumed pitching in a competitive setting.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Astros' Francis Martes: Officially placed on IL
Francis Martes (elbow) was reinstated from the restricted list and placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Round Rock, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.He served an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug and then remained on the restricted list due to visa issues. Now he is officially on the IL as he works his way back from UCL reconstruction surgery, which he underwent a year ago. Martes probably won't return until 2020, but it's possible he could play winter ball.