Cubs option Jose Martinez to make room for Billy Hamilton
Once the Chicago Cubs claimed speedy outfielder Billy Hamilton off waivers from the New York Mets on Monday, the club needed to make room for the 29-year-old. Chicago did that on Tuesday by optioning infielder/outfielder Jose Martinez to the team's alternate training site.
Martinez joined the Cubs via a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays ahead of this summer's trade deadline, but Chicago temporarily halted the experiment after the 32-year-old went 0-for-14 with three strikeouts during his brief stint with the organization.
According to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Chicago manager David Ross suggested Martinez could rejoin the main roster if he finds his swing at the alternate site.
"In this weird season it's hard to give somebody consistent at-bats when they feel off and their timing's off," Ross said before Tuesday evening's outing against the Cincinnati Reds.
"So just giving him an opportunity to go down there, get regular at-bats, get his timing back and come back and be the guy that we really need."
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