ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) \u2014 Nick Martinez and the Tampa Bay Rays finalized their $13 million, one-year contract on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The 35-year-old pitcher gets a $9 million salary this season, and the deal includes a $20 million mutual option for 2027 with a $4 million buyout payable on Dec. 15.<\/p>\n
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Martinez went 11-14 with a 4.45 ERA in 26 starts and 14 relief appearances for Cincinnati last year. The right-hander threw a career-high 165 2\/3 innings.<\/p>\n
Tampa Bay had a 77-85 record in 2025, its second consecutive losing season. The team signed left-hander Steven Matz<\/a> to a $15 million, two-year contract and traded right-hander Shane Baz<\/a> to Baltimore in December.<\/p>\n Martinez was selected by Texas in the 18th round of the 2011 amateur draft out of Fordham. He made his major league debut with the Rangers in 2014.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n He pitched in Japan for four seasons before signing with the San Diego Padres in March 2022<\/a>.<\/p>\n Martinez is 48-59 with a 4.16 ERA in 151 relief appearances and 129 starts over eight years in the majors. He had his best season in 2024, when he went 10-7 with a career-low 3.10 ERA in 42 games with the Reds.<\/p>\n Right-hander Manuel Rodr\u00edguez, recovering from right elbow surgery on Aug. 8, was put on the 60-day injured list to open a roster spot.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n