Martinez accepted the Reds' $21.05 million qualifying offer for 2025 on Sunday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
The right-hander declined his $12 million player option with the Reds for 2025, but he'll remain with the organization after being extended the qualifying offer. Martinez started in 16 of his 42 appearances in 2024 and had a 3.10 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 116:18 K:BB across 142.1 innings. Given the salary bump he should begin 2025 working exclusively as a starter.
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Nick Martinez: Expected to accept qualifying offer
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Martinez is expected to accept the Reds' one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Martinez being extended a qualifying offer came as a bit of a surprise, and it sounds like the right-hander will happily accept the deal and return to Cincinnati. He held a 3.10 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 116:18 K:BB over 142.1 innings for the Reds this year before declining his $12 million player option for 2025. Martinez split time between the rotation and bullpen for Cincinnati but would figure to be a full-time starter if he does indeed return to the Reds.
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Nick Martinez: Extended qualifying offer
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The Reds extended a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer to Martinez on Monday, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Wittenmyer hears that, before the offer was extended, the two sides engaged in talks regarding a multi-year extension "without gaining much traction." Martinez declined a $12 million player option last week after posting a 3.10 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 116:18 K:BB over 142.1 innings in 2024. He could surely get more in total dollars on the open market, but locking in a $21.05 million salary for 2025 might be tempting for Martinez. If he rejects it, the Reds would receive a draft pick if the righty signs elsewhere.
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Nick Martinez: Officially opts out of deal
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Martinez declined his $12 million player option for 2025 on Friday and became a free agent.
Martinez's 3.10 ERA and 1.03 WHIP from last season both represent personal bests for the 34-year-old as he pitched a career-high 142.1 innings. Cincinnati can still give him a $21 million qualifying offer, but the right-hander will likely pursue a multi-year deal in free agency.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Expected to opt out
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Martinez is expected to exercise his option to opt out of his $12 million contract for 2025, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Martinez finished the season on a high note and did well overall in a hybrid starter/reliever role with Cincinnati. The Reds still can make a one-year qualifying offer for $21 million, but it's a good bet that Martinez will try to test the market and land a multi-year deal.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Goes eight innings in loss
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Martinez (10-7) took the loss Friday against the Cubs, allowing one run on five hits over eight innings. He struck out three without issuing a walk.
Martinez was excellent again Friday, allowing a lone fifth-inning run on a Miguel Amaya sacrifice fly. However, the right-hander would wind up with his first loss since Aug. 16 as the Reds couldn't crack Jameson Taillon in an eventual 1-0 defeat. Despite the unfortunate finish, Martinez was spectacular down the stretch, allowing just four earned runs over 32.2 innings in his final five outings. He'll wrap up the year with a 3.10 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 116:18 K:BB across 142.1 innings.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Four straight wins
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Martinez (10-6) earned the win Friday over the Pirates, allowing just two hits across six scoreless innings. He struck out nine.
Martinez was excellent Friday, recording a season-high nine strikeouts. The right-hander has now won four consecutive starts, allowing just two earned runs across 24.2 innings in that span. Martinez's ERA is down to 3.22 this season with a 1.05 WHIP and 113:18 K:BB across 134.1 innings. Martinez is currently in line for a road matchup with the Cubs next week, as he'll look to wrap up a strong finish to the season.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Picks up ninth win
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Martinez (9-6) earned the win Saturday against the Twins, pitching six innings and allowing one run on three hits. He struck out six and did not issue a walk.
Martinez stayed hot on the mound with another impressive showing and lowered his ERA to 3.37 for the season. Martinez shut down Atlanta with seven scoreless innings in his last start, and he's now won three consecutive starts. The veteran right-hander was moved into the rotation Aug. 5 and has earned his spot by allowing one run or fewer in six of his nine starts in that span.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Shuts down Atlanta in win
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Martinez (8-6) got the win Wednesday against Atlanta, allowing two hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out five.
Martinez pitched a gem Monday as he continues to settle into his new role in the rotation. Even though he had started sparingly earlier in the season, Martinez has now received eight straight starts and is pitching to a 3.12 ERA over that span. The 34-year-old veteran threw his fourth career start of seven or more innings without allowing a run, and two of those have come over his last eight starts.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Decent in abbreviated start
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Martinez didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Pittsburgh, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and no walks with a strikeout over three innings.
Martinez didn't come out for the fourth inning as he handed the ball off to Carson Spiers -- who threw four innings of relief -- after just 54 pitches. Sunday's outing was Martinez's fifth straight start, and it's unclear why his appearance was cut short. During that five-start stretch, Martinez has posted a 3.55 ERA with a 20:3 K:BB. If he pitches on regular rest, Martinez would likely match up against the Brewers next weekend. However, after tossing merely three innings, he could be available to pitch earlier if he's needed.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Hit hard in no-decision
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Martinez came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 11-7 win over the Blue Jays, coughing up six runs on six hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out three.
All the damage off the right-hander came as a result of home runs, as George Springer and Spencer Horwitz took Martinez deep in the first inning before Ernie Clement launched a three-run shot in the third. It was the first time all season Martinez has served up multiple long balls in a game, and the first time he's been tagged for more than three runs since May 22. Since returning to the rotation in early August, the 34-year-old has posted a 3.63 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 19:3 K:BB through 22.1 innings, and he'll look to bounce back in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the A's.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Picks up fourth win
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Martinez (4-5) allowed one hit over two scoreless innings to earn the victory Friday against the Rays. He struck out two.
Martinez entered a tie game in the eighth inning and shut down the Rays until the Reds took the lead in the top of the 10th. He has two wins in his last four appearances, and all four of his wins this season have come in relief after he began the year in the rotation. The 33-year-old has a 3.77 ERA in 74 innings in a swingman role for the Reds this season.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Cincinnati-Atlanta postponed
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Martinez and Cincinnati won't face Atlanta in the final contest of Wednesday's doubleheader after the game was postponed due to inclement weather.
Martinez was initially scheduled to start Tuesday. However, rainouts on consecutive days will keep him from making his first start since May 22. With an off day on tap Thursday, the Reds will likely elect to skip Martinez's turn in the rotation until a fifth starter is next needed July 30 versus the Cubs. The Reds could get Carson Spiers (shoulder) back from the injured list to start that game, in which case Martinez would likely continue to work out of the bullpen.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Takes loss as primary pitcher
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Martinez (2-4) was the losing pitcher in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Guardians. He allowed three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two over 1.2 innings.
The last two times Martinez was used in a bullpen game, he had authored 9.1 scoreless innings (both against the Dodgers), but it wouldn't be the same Tuesday. He followed opener Brent Suter and, initially, it looked like Martinez would last longer than five outs. The right-hander needed just six pitches in a 1-2-3 second inning, but the bottom third of Cleveland's lineup got to him in the third. He issued a 10-pitch walk to Brayan Rocchio leading off the inning, followed by a double and a nine-pitch Steven Kwan single that produced two runs. Two more singles plated a third run, and Martinez was done after 39 pitches.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Should work behind Suter on Tuesday
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Martinez is expected to operate as a primary pitcher out of the bullpen behind opener Brett Suter in Tuesday's game against the Guardians, Greg Kuffner of SI.com reports.
Martinez looks poised to fill the open spot in the rotation that was created when Graham Ashcraft was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday. Though he's previously made five starts this season, Martinez has been roughed up by opposing hitters to the tune of a .348/.378/.527 slash line across 25.2 innings. Martinez has been far more effective when working in relief (.141/.158/.239 opponent's slash line in 26.2 innings), so the Reds will keep him in the bullpen Tuesday with the hope of coaxing better results from him. The right-hander should be capable of offering plenty of length behind Suter, as he hasn't pitched since Friday, when he needed just 11 pitches to retire the side during an appearance against the Cubs.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: In line for start Wednesday
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Martinez is listed as the Reds' probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Padres in Cincinnati.
After Nick Lodolo (groin) went on the injured list, Martinez stepped into the vacant rotation spot last week in Los Angeles. He was deployed in bulk relief behind opener Brent Suter in Thursday's 7-2 win over the Dodgers, tossing five shutout innings while allowing one hit and no walks. Barring a late change of plans from manager David Bell, Martinez looks poised to operate as a traditional starter Wednesday, and he should have a higher innings ceiling as a result.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Picks up first win
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Martinez (1-2) earned the win over the Dodgers on Thursday, pitching five shutout innings in relief while allowing one hit and striking out four.
Martinez relieved Justin Wilson to open the bottom of the third and proceeded to retire 15 of the 16 batters he faced while generating 12 swings and misses. Martinez has been outstanding in a relief role and carries a 0.87 ERA to go along with a 9:2 K:BB through 10.1 innings in May over four appearances.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Option to start Thursday
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Martinez is a candidate to start or work in bulk relief in Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Nick Lodolo (groin) was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, leaving an opening in the rotation for Thursday. Unless the Reds choose to bring aboard a starter from the minors, Martinez would be the likely to choice to cover the bulk of the innings Thursday. He would be available on three days' rest after he had a 1.1-inning relief appearance Sunday. He remains relatively stretched out, having made four starts for the Reds this season, with the last one coming April 30.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Returns to relief role
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Martinez made his most recent appearance as a reliever in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Orioles, striking out two and allowing no hits and one walk over two scoreless innings.
Martinez's prior two appearances came as a starter, but he moved back to the bullpen over the weekend in anticipation of Frankie Montas' (forearm) return to the rotation. With the Reds officially activating Montas from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks, Martinez should stick in the bullpen moving forward until one of Cincinnati's five starters succumbs to another injury.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Mediocre results versus former team
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Martinez (0-2) took the loss Tuesday against the Padres, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out three over five innings.
The Padres first got to Martinez in the third with a run and then would plate four more in the fifth with a bases loaded double by Manny Machado being the big hit in the inning. It hasn't been smooth sailing for Martinez to begin his tenure with the Reds, as he's given up at least three runs and six hits in all four of his starts thus far while managing to get to six innings once. The 33-year-old owns a 5.46 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 20:3 K:BB in 28 innings. If Frankie Montas (forearm) is able to return when first eligible next week then it's likely Martinez returns to a long relief role in the bullpen for the foreseeable future.
