The 2022 season was already going rough for two-time All-Star pitcher Carlos Martinez. Now, things are even worse.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Friday that Martinez, who’s currently a free agent, has been suspended for 80 games for the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs.
Free agent pitcher Carlos Martinez, who was recently let go by Red Sox, received an 80-game PED suspension.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 27, 2022
Martinez was a two-time All-Star with the St. Louis Cardinals. While his production dipped over the 2020 and 2021 seasons, his stuff was never the problem. The issue was that Martinez would too often be his own worst enemy. Unfortunately for him, this suspension only further feeds that narrative — something MLB fans were quick to point out.
If there was ever a guy who had amazing talent but couldn't get out of his own way, it is this guy.
— Brenden Schaeffer🎳 (@bschaeffer12) May 27, 2022
Remember when some Cardinal fans got offended at Cardinal fans who said Cmart could never get his head on straight? https://t.co/6PDKMUZtGb
— STL Dysfunct.⚾ Fan | Ready for Reg SZN (@STLfan006457) May 27, 2022
Carlos Martinez is the definition of wasted talent. Had some of the best stuff I’ve ever seen, but he was always a head case. https://t.co/p849zdC8sJ
— NJcardsfan5 (@njcardsfan5) May 27, 2022
Maybe the head case idea wasn’t wrong after all. https://t.co/wmae7ThSX7
— Bruce Thoele (@BruceThoele) May 27, 2022
The Cardinals remain the only Major League team Martinez has ever pitched with.
In 2022, Martinez signed a minor-league contract with the San Francisco Giants in March but was released in April, having not appeared in any games for the organization. He was subsequently picked up by the Boston Red Sox on another minor-league contract but was released after two poor starts for the Double-A Worcester Red Sox. In those outings, he pitched a combined total of 4.1 innings, allowing 10 runs on nine hits, and three walks.
Over the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Martinez posted a 6.95 ERA with a 1.515 WHIP and had a strikeout ratio of 6.5 per nine innings. That was a far cry from 2013-2019, when he had a 3.36 ERA, 1.276 WHIP and an 8.9 K/9 rate.
We can’t definitively say that this PED suspension will end Martinez’s career. He’s only 30 and teams have taken shots on pitchers with his track record before. But given this suspension, his recent drop in production and that he’s currently not signed by any organization, Martinez will face an uphill battle back to the majors.
