Rays Round Out Starting Rotation with Versatile, Dependable Veteran

He did post a slightly grisly 4.45 ERA in 165 2/3 innings last season. That translated to a 103 ERA+. He only struck out 17% of batters while walking batters at a 6.1% clip. His numbers over the last two seasons (3.83 ERA, 3.81 FIP) look better. Martinez was a starter in the early years before transitioning into the bullpen and now becoming more of a swingman. Something else in his favor: the ballpark Martinez will now be pitching in. His road ERA in 2024 was almost half as low as at Great American Ball Park in Ohio. 

Opting For Durability

The Martinez signing indicates that the Rays aren’t necessarily confident that the rest of their rotation can stay healthy. Think about it, they committed around $20.5 million combined with Martinez and Steven Matz to solidify the back end of their starting pitching staff. That’s a lot of money for the Rays when it comes to their free agent spending habits.

Returnee Shane McClanahan has a ton of health questions since he hasn’t thrown a pitch for the Rays in nearly three years, and his workload will surely be monitored this season. Don’t forget that his injury was so mysterious last summer that even Rays President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander admitted they were mystified about the malady. Ditto for Drew Rasmussen, with his history of elbow injuries and the fact that he set career-highs in innings and games started last season. Ryan Pepiot doesn’t have a long injury rap sheet. He still had to be carefully monitored as the 2025 season wound down because of his own workload record.

The Rotation Appears Set

Between those four and Matz, the Rays appear to have raised the ceiling on a rotation that underwent a major transformation this winter. The Martinez signing bumps everyone down a peg in the rotation. Now the younger pitchers can take a deep breath and understand that they aren’t necessarily being counted on to perform at a high level. Matz doesn’t need to do anything more than he is comfortable with. He, too, has experience in both the bullpen and the starting rotation. Joe Boyle is now the first level of depth at Triple-A if everyone gets through camp healthy.

Another added benefit is that his group has plenty of postseason experience. Pepiot is the only one in that projected group without any taste of October baseball. It would be nice if the Rays could just use that to make the playoffs themselves, but fans will take anything they can get.