Cubs News: Team acquires Jose Martinez for two PTBNL or cash

The Chicago Cubs acquired Jose Martinez for two players to be named later or cash considerations–likely cash–for the designated hitter. And he will be a DH.

The Chicago Cubs gave David Ross another designated hitter option, swapping Jose Martinez with two PTBNL or cash considerations. Martinez is an outfielder and a first baseman by trade, but the time spent with the Cubs will be a designated hitter with a little infield and outfield sprinkled in.

He debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals and then was dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays.  His best year was with the Cards in 2018, slashing a .305/.364/.457 with an OPS of .821 with 17 home runs and 83 RBI in 152 games. With the Rays, he’s played 24 games hitting .239 with two home runs and 10 RBI.

”He’s hit his entire career,” Ross said. ”We have a DH spot that makes sense for him. He hits lefties, and that will be a big help for us, but he can hit righties as well.

Minus this year with COVID-19 and 2020, he’s hitting. 298/.363/.458 with an OPS of .821 with St. Louis. Martinez developed a bad habit swinging at the first offering he sees. But he seems to work the count and get his pitch. But make a note, in 128 games, he struck out 82 times. This year he’s climbing past that, nearly striking out 120 times in 120 games–if we went that long.

The Cubs added Andrew Chafin, Josh Osich and Cameron Maybin at the deadline. Small deals. But they had to add some depth to match Kyle Ryan from the left side. If not, they would be pitching Ryan about 50 this season.

Let’s see if the Cubs’ can make it happen with this group. They’re in first place, but barely. The Cincinnati Reds made some moves. The St. Louis Cardinals held pat, and the Milwaukee Brewers dealt David Phelps. And the Pittsburgh Pirates will take longer than anticipated through the building process. That’s it. Let’s see what they do with that.