Martinez (knee/back) declined an outright assignment to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday and elected free agency.
Martinez missed the entire season while dealing with knee, shoulder and back issues. He hopes to play winter ball this offseason, which could help him secure a contract, but he might be stuck looking for a minor-league deal given that he's 33 years old and owns a .251/.325/.386 slash line since the start of 2019, which isn't nearly good enough for a player who provides very little defensive value.
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Mets' Jose Martinez: Could play winter ball
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Martinez (knee/back) plans to play winter ball if he feels good early in the offseason, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.
Martinez began a rehab assignment in early September while recovering from knee and shoulder issues, but he was shut down after he sustained a lower-back injury. It's not yet clear whether he'll be ready for spring training in 2022, but his participation in winter ball would be an encouraging step in his recovery.
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Mets' Jose Martinez: Resumes rehab assignment
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Martinez (knee/shoulder) resumed his minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday and went 2-for-12 with a double and a walk in his first three games back in action for the affiliate.
After hyperextending his left shoulder, Martinez was pulled off his rehab assignment for about a week before the Mets cleared him to rejoin the Triple-A club. Though the shoulder is seemingly no longer a concern, Martinez will still need to pick up at-bats in the minors and prove that his surgically repaired left knee doesn't bother him when playing the outfield. The righty-hitting Martinez could be a short-side platoon mate in left field for Jeff McNeil or Michael Conforto once he's reinstated from the 60-day injured list.
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Mets' Jose Martinez: Rehab assignment shut down
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Martinez (knee) had his rehab assignment shut down recently after he hyperextended his left shoulder on a swing, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.
Martinez exited Thursday's game at Triple-A Syracuse due to the injury, and he'll return to New York to be further evaluated. The 33-year-old appeared to be close to making his season debut after he missed the start of the year following offseason surgery to address a meniscus injury in his left knee, but it's not yet clear how his recent setback will impact his return timetable.
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Mets' Jose Martinez: Rehab moves to Syracuse
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Martinez (knee) went 1-for-7 with a solo home run and a walk across two rehab games at Triple-A Syracuse over the weekend.
Working his way back from the surgery he required in March to address a meniscus injury in his left knee, Martinez kicked off his minor-league rehab assignment at Low-A St. Lucie on Aug. 8 before getting moved up to High-A Brooklyn on Aug. 15, and then Syracuse for this past weekend. Martinez played seven innings in right field Saturday and the full game at the position Sunday, so he would seemingly have a realistic chance at returning from the 60-day injured list later this week. The righty-hitting Martinez could make sense as a short-side platoon mate for either of the Mets' lefty-hitting regulars in the corner outfield, Dominic Smith and Michael Conforto.
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Mets' Jose Martinez: Transfers rehab to High-A
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Martinez (knee) moved his rehab assignment to High-A Brooklyn on Sunday and went 0-for-3 with a walk while playing seven innings in right field.
After playing in three rehab games at Low-A St. Lucie, Martinez was cleared to make a jump in competition to close out the weekend. Since he's been sidelined all season while recovering from left meniscus surgery, Martinez will likely need to play several more games in the minors before the Mets reinstate him from the 60-day injured list. Once activated, Martinez could serve as a short-side platoon option for one of the Mets' three lefty-hitting everyday outfielders (Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo and Dominic Smith).
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Mets' Jose Martinez: Starts up rehab assignment
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Martinez (knee) began a rehab assignment at Low-A St. Lucie on Sunday, starting right field and playing three innings while going 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
Sunday's appearance marked Martinez's first game at any level in 2021 after he had been shut down since the spring while recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The Mets plan to deploy Martinez in both corner-outfield spots during his rehab assignment, which will likely last more than a week while he attempts to get his timing back at the plate following his lengthy layoff. Compared to earlier in the season, the Mets are relatively healthy in the outfield and have Pete Alonso locked in at first base, so Martinez likely won't be in line for anything more than a minor role off the big-league bench once he's activated from the 60-day injured list.
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Mets' Jose Martinez: Resumes jogging Tuesday
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Martinez (knee) did some light jogging at the Mets' spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla. on Tuesday, Jacob Resnick of SNYtv reports.
It marked the first time Martinez has run since tearing his left meniscus during spring training. He still figures to have a long way to go in his recovery process; per Tim Britton of The Athletic, the club is hoping to have Martinez back at some point in September. New York inked Martinez to a minor-league deal during the offseason after he struggled to a .182/.265/.295 slash line while playing in 34 games with the Cubs and Rays a year ago.
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Mets' Jose Martinez: Placed on 60-day IL
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Martinez (knee) was placed on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Martinez underwent knee surgery in March that is expected to keep him sidelined for at least four months, and his move to the 60-day injured list will open up a spot on the 40-man roster. It's not clear whether Martinez will have a role with the major-league club once he returns to full health.
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Mets' Jose Martinez: Undergoes knee surgery
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Martinez underwent surgery to address the torn meniscus in his left knee Friday, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.
The surgery was reportedly successful. Martinez is expected to miss four months while recovering, which will keep him out until the second half of the season. He doesn't have a major-league deal and didn't appear to have a path to anything more than a bench role prior to his injury.
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Mets' Jose Martinez: Out four months with torn meniscus
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Martinez was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee Monday and will undergo surgery and miss approximately four months, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Martinez suffered the injury while diving for a groundball Sunday against the Marlins. He was merely in camp as a non-roster invitee, but the injury now means he won't be appearing for the Mets until the second half of the season, if he appears at all. He was unlikely to serve as much more than a bench bat, so the injury shouldn't shake up the Mets' depth chart.
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Mets' Jose Martinez: Sent in for tests on knee
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Mets manager Luis Rojas said Monday that Martinez underwent tests on his injured left knee, but the team doesn't have an update on the status, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.
Rojas said that Martinez is dealing with some stiffness in his left knee, an injury he picked up while lunging at a ground ball during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins. The Mets are viewing Martinez as day-to-day until the results of his follow-up tests become available.
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Mets' Jose Martinez: Dealing with knee injury
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Martinez suffered a knee injury during Sunday's spring game against the Marlins, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The 32-year-old sustained the injury while lunging for a groundball down the line, and manager Luis Rojas called the injury a "twisted left knee." Martinez could undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury, which could complicate his path to an Opening Day roster spot.
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Mets' Jose Martinez: Signs with Mets
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Martinez signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Thursday which will pay him $1 million if he makes the big-league roster, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Unless the universal designated hitter winds up returning for the 2021 season, it's hard to see Martinez earning much playing time in New York. Even if it does return, Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith would seem to have the first base and DH spots very well covered. Both Smith and Martinez can play the outfield corners, but neither does so very convincingly. It's also not clear whether or not Martinez still has what it takes at the plate, as he struggled to an awful .182/.265/.295 slash line in 98 plate appearances for the Rays and Cubs last season. Still, this represents a low-risk investment for the Mets in a player who has been a solidly above-average hitter at times in his career.
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Jose Martinez: Non-tendered by Cubs
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Martinez was non-tendered by the Cubs on Wednesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Martinez was traded from the Rays to the Cubs in 2020, but he struggled mightily in Chicago. He went 0-for-21 with one walk while appearing in 10 games and was unable to solidify himself as the designated hitter. The 32-year-old will now become a free agent following his disappointing campaign.
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Cubs' Jose Martinez: Optioned again
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Martinez was optioned by the Cubs on Friday, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Martinez doesn't have a single hit in 21 plate appearances as a Cub. With just three days remaining in the regular season, it appears as though he'll end the season hitless for his new team. Patrick Wisdom was called up in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Jose Martinez: Receives promotion
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Martinez was recalled by the Cubs on Sunday.
Martinez will return to the Cubs' active roster after spending just under two weeks in South Bend at the alternate training site. The 32-year-old failed to generate much production in his first stint on Chicago's 28-man roster this season but could serve as a designated-hitter option against southpaws.
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Cubs' Jose Martinez: Sent to secondary site
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Martinez was optioned to the Cubs' alternate training site Tuesday.
Martinez has accomplished very little since joining the Cubs at the deadline, going 0-for-14 at the plate for his new team. He's hitting just .198/.286/.321 on the season. Billy Hamilton was called up in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Jose Martinez: Sitting again Monday
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Martinez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.
Since making his Cubs debut Sept. 1, Martinez has started in only three of the Cubs' eight games. Martinez should occupy a regular spot in the lineup versus left-handed pitching, but Cubs manager David Ross may prefer to rotate a number of other players in at designated hitter when the team faces right-handed starters.
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Cubs' Jose Martinez: Sitting for afternoon game
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Martinez will be on the bench for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.
Martinez has yet to record a hit in his first 10 at-bats since joining the Cubs at the deadline. Kyle Schwarber will be the designated hitter in the first game of the day, though Martinez could return for the nightcap.
