The Astros released 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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Astros' Francis Martes: Clears waivers
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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 Astros' Triple-A club.
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Astros' Francis Martes: DFA'd by Houston
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Martes was designated for assignment by the 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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Astros' Francis Martes: Completes suspension
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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 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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Astros' Francis Martes: Back in camp
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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 Astros going forward.
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Astros' Francis Martes: Out due to protocols
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Manager Dusty Baker said Friday that 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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Astros' Francis Martes: Suspended for PEDs again
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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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Astros' Francis Martes: Makes full-season debut
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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 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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Astros' Francis Martes: Officially placed on IL
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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.
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Astros' Francis Martes: Visa issues resolved
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Martes (elbow) has had his visa issues resolved and is traveling back to Florida, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Martes underwent Tommy John surgery last August and isn't likely to take the mound at any point this season as a result. However, Rome also noted that Martes will be added to the team's 40-man roster soon, a noteworthy development.
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Astros' Francis Martes: Remains on restricted list
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Martes (elbow) has completed his 80-game suspension, though he is still on the restricted list due to visa issues, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.
Martes underwent Tommy John surgery last August and isn't expected to pitch for the Astros this season anyway, per Kaplan.
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Astros' Francis Martes: Continues throwing program
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Martes (elbow) progressed to throwing from 90 feet on flat ground Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery back in August of 2018, and it seems like everything in his recovery process is going as planned. As things stand now, Martes is hopeful that he'll be able to get back to game action in August or September of 2019.
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Astros' Francis Martes: Undergoes UCL reconstruction surgery
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Martes underwent UCL reconstruction surgery in his right elbow Wednesday, which will keep him out of action for 12-to-16 months, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Martes made just four starts for Triple-A Fresno this season, posting a 6.75 ERA and an 18.1 percent walk rate before hitting the disabled list in late April. He'll now miss the rest of the season and likely all of next year as well. He was highly rated as a prospect despite command issues, and even if he's out until 2020, he'll still be just 24 years old.
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Astros' Francis Martes: Shut down with elbow
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Martes (elbow) has been shut down and will not return to competition until late July or early August, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Martes made four starts at Triple-A Fresno before landing on the disabled list in late April with a right elbow injury and is not expected to begin throwing until early July. It would be easy to dismiss his 6.75 ERA and 17 walks over 18.2 innings as a result of the injury, but the right-hander has struggled with command for years and has not good at the upper levels of the minors or in the majors.
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Astros' Francis Martes: Plays catch without incident Saturday
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Martes (elbow) was able to play catch Saturday at the Astros' spring training facility with "no issues," according to general manager Jeff Luhnow, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Martes was shut down with right elbow discomfort in late April after walking 17 batters and posting a 6.75 ERA and 2.31 WHIP across 18.2 innings with Triple-A Fresno. He underwent a follow-up MRI in Houston that revealed no structural damage, but the Astros aren't eager to rush the righty back to Triple-A. He'll likely remain at extended spring training to build up his arm for the next couple of weeks before the Astros map out a return date for him.
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Astros' Francis Martes: Optioned to minors camp
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The Astros optioned Martes to their minor-league camp Sunday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic Houston reports.
Though he was trimmed from the roster, Martes will rejoin the Astros on March 24 for his previously scheduled Grapefruit League start against the Red Sox, according to Kaplan. Martes, who has impressed this spring with a 1.93 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 9.1 innings across four appearances, is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Fresno, where he'll continue his development as a starter. Despite his prospect pedigree and strong spring, however, Martes won't necessarily be first in line to join the big-league rotation should an injury hit the starting ranks, as Collin McHugh and Brad Peacock likely top the list of replacement options.
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Astros' Francis Martes: Shows room for improvement
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Martes accrued an ERA of 5.91 across 53.1 innings in 2017 with the Astros.
The young right-hander saw his first big-league action this season, although it's obvious he's still a work in progress. After starting four games, Martes was moved to the bullpen, where he struggled down the stretch. Over his last 22 innings pitched, he gave up 21 runs and allowed 17 walks. Surprisingly, Martes earned a K/9 of 11.31, indicating that he has the talent needed to succeed. He just needs more experience. It's unlikely that the 21-year-old will see any key innings during the playoffs.
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Astros' Francis Martes: Spoils McHugh's outing
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Martes (3-1) allowed three runs on two hits, a hit batsman and a wild pitch over two-thirds of an inning in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Tigers.
Martes had appeared to find himself in the bullpen, having struck out 10 and walking two over four scoreless and hitless appearances. The silver lining is that he didn't walk anyone, but he missed location on several pitches and spoiled an encouraging start by Collin McHugh. Martes' spot on the active roster could be in jeopardy over the next 24 to 48 hours. If the Astros get busy before the trade deadline, it's likely they'll add a pitcher. Whether that be a high-end starter like Sonny Gray or a left-handed reliever, the team will need to clear a roster spot, and Martes' is the most logical.
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Astros' Francis Martes: Picks up win in long relief
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Martes (3-0) allowed one walk while striking out two over 2.1 scoreless relief innings to pick up the win in Houston's 8-4 victory over Baltimore.
When Collin McHugh faltered in the fifth inning, manager A.J. Hinch called on Martes, who navigated the middle innings, bridging the gap to the Astros' late-inning corps. Martes has settled into a long-relief role, having struck out nine and walked two over 6.1 hitless and scoreless relief frames, spanning three appearances. The control problems that bedeviled him as a starter haven't been there when Martes pitches as a reliever. Despite the positive impact out of the pen, his stay with Houston may be coming to an end when Dallas Keuchel (neck) is ready to be activated off the disabled list, which could happen as soon as Friday.
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Astros' Francis Martes: Pitches in relief Saturday
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Martes struck out two over 1.2 scoreless innings of relief in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Twins.
Martes is one of the organization's top starting prospects, but has been moved to the bullpen after making four starts for the Astros. Saturday's bullpen effort was the best of his four relief appearances, and the first scoreless one. With both Collin McHugh (elbow) and Dallas Keuchel (neck) making rehabilitation starts this week and nearing their returns to Houston's staff, Martes will likely head back to Triple-A Fresno, where he can resume his routine as a starter.
