Joe Martinez

Martinez relieved in five September games for the Pirates last year, allowing three earned runs in 8.2 frames. Acquired by the Pirates at the summer trade deadline from San Francisco for Javier Lopez, Martinez was flipped to the Indians in January. The right-hander has shown good control in the minors, compiling a 3.63 K/BB ratio, something that hasn't yet translated to the majors. He holds a lifetime 6.16 ERA, 1.872 WHIP and .338 BAA in 49.2 big league innings. From a fantasy perspective, Cleveland won't likely give Martinez enough late-inning opportunities to make much of an impact.

Martinez missed most of last season after taking a line drive off his head in April, and he didn’t fare very well when on the mound, either, recording a 7.50 ERA and 1.933 WHIP. There’s a chance he finds a role in middle relief, but there’s no way the Giants will consider him as an option in the starting rotation again, and there’s no guarantee he’ll even make the big league club coming out of spring training in 2010.

Martinez finished the 2008 season with a 10-10 record over 27 starts at Double-A Connecticut, while posting a 112:37 K:BB ratio (148.0 innings) and a very nice 2.03 G/F mark. His ability to induce grounders, keep the ball in the yard (six homers) and miss bats suggests some potential for long-term success, but he'll turn 26 in February and is set to begin 2009 at Triple-A.

A 12th-round pick out of Boston College in 2005, Martinez has average stuff but throws strikes and gets groundballs. He finished 2007 with a 4.26 ERA and 1.279 WHIP in High-A San Jose, but his 151:36 K:BB ratio over 162 innings does reveal some upside. He will move up to Double-A next year, where we'll get a better look at his skill set, but he should at least draw attention as a sleeper and possible breakthrough candidate.