Carlos Martinez Getting Closer
6 years agoSt. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez (shoulder) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Saturday and the team is leaning toward sending him to Florida to face hitters this week at extended spring training. That means that Martinez could be a week away from the start of a rehab assignment. The Cardinals will also have to make a decision early in his rehab work as to whether they want to use him as a starter or reliever when he returns. “Right now, I feel stronger,” Martinez said. “Right now, I feel like I’m getting ready. I just want to be smart. Sometimes I want to throw hard (and) I have to take care of myself. I’m trying to be quiet, trying to be healthy. I’m so excited.” Martinez's future role might depend on how well the current Cardinals starters are faring when Martinez is ready to return. He has plenty of strikeout upside when healthy, but Martinez was also on the injured list three separate times last year with shoulder trouble. He obviously won't have nearly the fantasy appeal if he's in a relief role.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold