Jan
24
2012

Why Did Front Office Give Up On F-Mart?

An article by Joe D

Anthony DiComo of Mets.com tackled a question on the recently waived Fernando Martinez in his mailbag feature today.

Why waste a roster spot for Scott Hairston and let go of Fernando Martinez? Give F-Mart all those at-bats and actually see what he has to offer the team. He still is very young.
– Lou G., Kenosha, Wis.

Effectively cutting Martinez was an extremely difficult decision for the Mets, who do not like giving up on premier prospects any more than fans do. Had the Mets believed at all that Martinez might still blossom into a productive Major Leaguer, they would have kept him. Certainly, they do not want to see him finally fulfill his potential with the Astros.

That said, the Mets have been scouting Martinez more closely than anyone for nearly a decade. They have watched him struggle through an endless string of injuries and determined that, like a startling number of “can’t miss” prospects, Martinez has missed. At some point, the Mets became unwilling to sacrifice other players for the benefit of lost potential.

Why waive D.J. Carrasco, for example, paying his full salary in exchange for roster space, if they believe Carrasco may have something of value to offer the 2012 Mets? Why waive Armando Rodriguez if he might help the bullpen at some point in the future? Why give Martinez the benefit over any such player?

It was a bold move. From a public perspective, it was a risky move. But the Mets did not consider it particularly risky, because they did their due diligence on the situation. They examined Martinez backward and forward and backward again, and they do not envision him developing into the player he was supposed to become.

The Houston Astros claimed Martinez off waivers with the hope that a fresh start will be good for the one-time elite prospect. If Martinez lands a spot on the Astros’ 40-man roster, they will pay the Mets the standard waiver price of $20,000 for him.

I think losing F-Mart was also symbolic that this was Alderson’s team and not Omar Minaya’s. Ridding the team of Reyes, Beltran and K-Rod was his way of putting his stamp on this team. It’s another reason why I think Wright’s days are numbered. Alderson is going to want his own player to be the face of this franchise.

About the Author: Joe DeCaro

I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.

12 Comments + Add Comment

Donal January 24, 2012 at 9:25 am

I don’t think Alderson was trying to get rid of Martinez just to put his own stamp on the team. Otherwise, he just would have left him off the 40 man roster prior to the Rule V draft.

And guys like Harvey and Niece wouldn’t feature so prominently.

Perhaps Martinez asked to be released? Maybe something happened to make the front office think it was finally time to move on?
- NJstuckinTX January 24, 2012 at 9:34 am
  
  Yeah, agree that this isn’t a “putting his stamp on his team” thing. I think it was a degenerative knee thing.
  - Donal January 24, 2012 at 9:50 am
    
    The timing is just weird. Something must have happened just prior to his release.
Alan January 24, 2012 at 9:48 am

F Mart was sent packing because he has shown almost nothing as a hitter in the major leagues and not a whole lot in the field or on the bases. Add in his soft physical condition and he too is a risk of injury….
- Donal January 24, 2012 at 9:52 am
  
  Still, the timing is off. If they truly believed that, why protect him from the Rule V draft, when they could have gotten something for him?
  
  I think we all figure he was on his last chance, I just figured he’d start the season in the organization.
  - srt January 24, 2012 at 10:07 am
    
    Interesting point about the Rule V draft.
    
    I wonder if right after that, when they picked up those 2 players that put them over the 40 man roster, if they just didn’t look at all scenarios and just finally say ‘enough’.
    At some point they had to have made a decision about Martinez’s potential going forward and maybe that was just the point at which they decided to no longer protect him and move on.
Mike Lloyd January 24, 2012 at 12:17 pm

The crazy thing is, if the Mets are looking for a LH outfield bat, why let the kid go? For as long as he’s been a prospect, if this team is trying to save money, they could have given him another look in ST. They protect him from Rule V than let an arm like Rhiner Diaz go, who throws about 100 miles per, protecting Martinez, than just waive him off the 40 for roster space when the knew they needed spots on the 40 for Rauch and Francisco? Now they want to sign a LH hitting outfielder for 1 or 1.5 mil when this kid could have been making the minimum? If he was so hurt why did the first team available (hou.) put in a claim? Somethings amiss about the whole thing. If the Mets are running around crying poor, reducing payroll, why wouldn’t you keep this kid, give him a shot and save the million? He’s only 23, regardless of his injury history, give him a shot…
Lifelongmetsfan January 24, 2012 at 1:08 pm

It is a bit strange. Why release Martinez now as opposed to after Spring Training?
Last spring didn’t Martinez play very well and almost make the team? Why protect a roster spot for ? who….?
Gregga January 24, 2012 at 2:01 pm

He was let go basically, because he sucked. He was injury prone, I don’t think he’s played in more than 80 games a season. Plus during his time here, he showed nothing special, he certainly didn’t hustle like a young kid should. Once agin the Mets front office over hyped somebody, and the fans bought into their nonsense.
- Mike Lloyd January 24, 2012 at 3:10 pm
  
  But if you are basically leaving him on the bench using him as a lefty PH and 5th outfielder you minimize his injury risk, and, I think the whole ‘he sucked’ thing is unjustified. The sample size is too small. He was always thrown into situations where he had too many expectations. Maybe it was too much for the kid. Lot of pressure when the expectations were sky high.
Rich S January 24, 2012 at 10:46 pm

i liken it to bellicheck’s comment when cunduff missed the game tying fielgoal. Bellichek said “goo players are good in meaningful spots… it’s the NFL…” by sandy cutting F-Mart, he’s sending a message to his team that it is performance, not pedigree/
- Lifelongmetsfan January 25, 2012 at 9:08 am
  
  I don’t think major league baseball players who have scratched and crawled their way up the ladder competing against other professional athletes for roster spots along the way need a life lesson.
  Do you?

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