Dodgers Sign Fabio Martinez Because The Lookouts Need Players

The Dodgers have signed right handed minor league pitcher Fabio Martinez today, according to a tweet from Matt Eddy of Baseball America. Martinez is the power right hander that the Angels originally signed out of the Dominican as a free agent in 2007. The Indians claimed him off waivers last season, and he was pitching for the Akron Aeros of the double-AA affiliate Eastern League, and the North Carolina Mudcats of the Carolina League, which is the single-A affiliate of the Indians.

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Fabio Martinez (52) delivers a pitch in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Angels won 8-3. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Martinez was actually demoted to the Mudcats in 2013, I’m guessing because of his control problems, but I don’t know for sure. Martinez has been unable to capture his potential despite having a powerful arm. The 24-year-old has had a long history of control problems. Last season Martinez pitched in 20 games for the Mudcats, and whiffed 37, but walked an astonishingly bad 30 batters in just 25.2 innings of work. If you also count the three games he pitched for the double-A Akron team, he has 38 whiffs, and 35 walks. That gave him a whiff per nine rate of 12.6, and a walk per nine rate of over 10. For his minor league career, Martinez has a 11.6 whiff per nine rate, and a 6.7 walk rate. Martinez is 18-17 with a 4.55 ERA in 103 games, and 58 starts. Reports say Martinez has a powerful upper 90’s fastball, and a slider. He’s had a bout with shoulder soreness, but I would expect for the Dodgers to give him a nice token invite to spring training before assigning him to the minors.

I would assume the Dodgers would have Martinez start spring training with Chattanooga, or Albuquerque. Martinez should be nothing more than more minor league fodder. But you know what they say, the Lookouts need players too.