{"id":563718,"date":"2026-02-10T06:51:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T06:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/563718\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T06:51:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T06:51:01","slug":"rays-rotation-shaping-up-after-reported-signing-of-vet-starter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/563718\/","title":{"rendered":"Rays Rotation Shaping Up After Reported Signing of Vet Starter"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Tampa Bay Rays are using every last second of the shot clock to complete their roster heading into 2026. There are no extra credit points awarded if you sign a successful free agent in November or February. Everything counts the same, and the key is finding the right player for your clubhouse. The Rays may have identified that pitcher as they signed former Cincinnati Reds starter Nick Martinez<\/a> to a one-year, $13 million deal, according to Jon Heyman<\/a> of the New York Post.<\/p>\n

The Rays appear to have a full projected rotation. Of course, no modern baseball franchise only uses five starting pitchers over the course of the regular season. However, if the season opened today, the Rays could feel comfortable with the current projected starting group.<\/p>\n

Report: Rays Sign Veteran Hurler Nick Martinez<\/p>\n

Martinez just wrapped up a two-year stint<\/a> in Cincinnati with solid production. Prior to Cincy, Martinez spent two years with the San Diego Padres and another four in Japan. It\u2019s quite the whirlwind for the native of Miami after he was drafted in the 18th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Martinez is the owner of a 4.16 career ERA, but much of that damage was inflicted earlier in his career.<\/p>\n

Hearing guarantee for Martinez is around $13M from #Rays<\/a> between 2026 salary and buyout. At that investment, expect him to be in their rotation. https:\/\/t.co\/qkegK21UNz<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Opting For Durability<\/p>\n

The Martinez signing indicates that the Rays aren\u2019t 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<\/a> to solidify the back end of their starting pitching staff. That\u2019s a lot of money for the Rays when it comes to their free agent spending habits.<\/p>\n

This is tidy work by the Rays.<\/p>\n

Gives off Michael Wacha vibes.<\/p>\n

Will pitch in a much better ballpark, too. https:\/\/t.co\/nnZ1JhhLYY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) February 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Returnee Shane McClanahan<\/a> has a ton of health questions<\/a> since he hasn\u2019t thrown a pitch for the Rays in nearly three years, and his workload will surely be monitored this season. Don\u2019t forget that his injury was so mysterious<\/a> last summer that even Rays President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander admitted they were mystified about the malady. Ditto for Drew Rasmussen,<\/a> with his history of elbow injuries and the fact that he set career-highs in innings and games started last season. Ryan Pepiot<\/a> doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

The Rotation Appears Set<\/p>\n

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\u2019t necessarily being counted on to perform at a high level. Matz doesn\u2019t need to do anything more than he is comfortable with. He, too, has experience in both the bullpen and the starting rotation. Joe Boyle<\/a> is now the first level of depth at Triple-A if everyone gets through camp healthy.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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