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Martinez had spent the previous three seasons pitching in the Mexican League, but prior to that, the 34-year-old righty enjoyed a productive nine-year run in the majors with the Cardinals. A two-time All-Star selection, Martinez retires with a lifetime 62-52 record and 31 saves to go with a 3.74 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 274 appearances (139 starts).
Out of baseball since being released from his minor-league deal with the Red Sox in mid-May, Martinez had recently finished serving an 80-game suspension for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drugs policy. Since his latest ban is retroactive to June 19, the 30-year-old Martinez should be eligible to compete again at the beginning of the 2023 season, but the nature of his latest ban in addition to his stark downturn in performance on the mound over the past few years makes it unlikely that he'll get another opportunity in affiliated ball.
NEW YORK -- Former All-Star pitcher Carlos Martínez was suspended for 80 games Friday under baseball's minor league drug program following a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance ibutamoren, which increases human growth hormone. The 30-year-old right-hander signed a minor league contract with San Francisco on March 19. He was released and signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox on May 7. Martínez made a pair of starts for Triple-A Worcester, at Toledo on May 8 and against Rochester on May 14, going 0-2 with a 20.77 ERA in 4⅓ innings. He was released May 17. Martínez pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2013 to '21, going 62-52 with a 3.74 ERA in 139 starts and 135 relief appearances. He was an All-Star in 2015 and 2017, and made five relief appearances in the 2013 World Series loss to the Red Sox. He was 4-9 with a 6.23 ERA in 16 starts for the Cardinals last season. Martínez is the 23rd player suspended this year under the minor league drug program. His suspension will start when he signs with a major league organization. Six players have been suspended this year under the major league drug program: Milwaukee pitcher J.C. Mejia and Brewers catcher Pedro Severino for 80 games each; Baltimore pitcher Matt Harvey for 60 games; and free agent outfielder/first baseman Danny Santana, pitcher Richard Rodríguez and infielder José Rondón for 80 games apiece.
The veteran right-hander was at spring training with the Giants before latching on with the Red Sox, but he was cut by Boston after giving up 10 runs over two appearances at the Triple-A level. Martinez will be eligible to return late in 2022 but seems unlikely to receive another big-league opportunity this season.
Martinez signed with Boston on a minor-league deal in early May, and he's been let go after surrendering 10 runs across his first two appearances with Triple-A Worcester. The veteran right-hander finished 2021 with a 6.23 ERA over 82.1 innings, and he'll need to prove himself in the minors before receiving another big-league opportunity, assuming there's another team willing to take a flier on him.