Cincinnati Reds' newcomer Nick Martinez has made it clear that he wants to be in the team's starting rotation this year.
He would accept a bullpen role if the team decides to go that way, but he wants to be in the top group.
Per MLB.com:
“When it comes to depth and competition, I welcome that stuff," said Martinez, who was a starter and reliever for the Padres in 2022-23. "I think it brings out the best in us. … I haven't been shy in saying that I prefer starting, but I also find a lot of things I am passionate about as a reliever.”
The 33-year-old Florida native is a six-year Major League veteran who has played for the Texas Rangers and Padres. He also did a stint in Japan and went from 2018-2021 without pitching in the majors. As stated above, he has served in both roles during his career. He started 68 games for the Rangers from 2014-2017 and then started 19 more over the last two years for San Diego.
The Reds have a bevy of arms competing for rotation spots including Andrew Abbott, Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Frankie Montas, Brandon Williamson, Graham Ashcraft and Connor Phillips.
The Reds will be a trendy pick this season to make the playoffs. They boast one of the best young position player cores in all of baseball and added to it this year by signing Jeimer Candelario. On the pitching side of things, they added Martinez, Montas and reliever Emilio Pagan.
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