The Cleveland Guardians could use some depth on their pitching staff. They have a strong rotation with more than enough options to start, and their bullpen is solid, but reinforcements may be necessary.
That’s particularly the case in the wake of Luis L. Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase being indicted for their alleged involvement in a sports gambling scheme. Their confirmed continued absence leaves some voids to fill.
With that in mind, MLB Trade Rumors predicted that the Guardians could land free agent pitcher Nick Martinez.
“Martinez has spent the past four years as baseball’s ultimate swingman. He’s capable of decent results as a back-end starter or as a high-leverage reliever. That continued in 2025 with the [Cincinnati] Reds. Overall, he gave the Reds 165.2 innings with a 4.45 ERA. That included a 4.72 ERA in 26 starts and a 2.61 ERA in 14 relief appearances. His ERA crept up, his strikeout rate fell and he’s a year older. Still, his ability to pitch either as a starter or reliever or both makes him a fit on just about any club. That may make him popular enough to secure a nice two-year deal for himself,” MLB Trade Rumors wrote.
Truth be told, it’s hard to argue with that logic. Martinez has plenty of experience, and — more importantly for Cleveland — he shouldn’t require too much money to sign.
The 35-year-old can take the mound in almost every situation. He can be a setup man, a long reliever, or a starting pitcher.
As things stand now, the Guardians should be more than set in terms of the starting rotation. If anything, manager Stephen Vogt will need to make some room for rookies Parker Messick and Juan Brito, who each closed the year on a high note.
Injuries are always part of the equation. So, this team needs to ensure it has enough resources.
Martinez may not be an All-Star, but he can get the job done. If the price makes sense, the Guardians could add him to the staff.
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