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Phillies Claim Nick Martini, Part Ways with Odubel Herrera

By Matt Rappa |
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 16: Odubel Herrera #37 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park on May 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Brewers defeated the Phillies 11-3. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 16: Odubel Herrera #37 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park on May 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Brewers defeated the Phillies 11-3. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

The Phillies have parted ways with their lone 2016 All-Star, Odubel Herrera; fellow outfielder Nick Martini was claimed as a corresponding move.

Among the Philadelphia Phillies’ biggest offseason objectives was to decide the fate of 2016 National League All-Star outfielder Odubel Herrera, who was suspended for the final 85 games of the 2019 season following a domestic violence incident.

On Tuesday, the organization ultimately arrived at that decision, announcing they have designated the five-year veteran for assignment and claimed fellow outfielder Nick Martini off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds.

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The Phillies have seven days to either trade, release or outright Herrera; he will likely clear waivers, and, if outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he would report to minor-league camp in Clearwater this spring training.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber, the Phillies remain responsible for paying Herrera, who is owed $20.2 million through the next two seasons. Also, the Venezuela native will count $6.1 million against the competitive-balance tax this year and next, per Lauber.

Herrera, 28, slashed just .222/.288/.341 over 139 plate appearances and 39 games in 2019; overall, he slashed .276/.333/.423 since 2015, along with 60 home runs, 233 RBI, 171 walks and 544 strikeouts. In 2017, he produced the third-most doubles in the National League (42); a year prior, he logged the most putouts among National League outfielders (372), as well as the most double plays turned (4).

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Martini, 29, was recently let go by the Reds in favor of Japanese outfielder Shogo Akiyama. The Illinois native slashed just .226/.330/.323 with one home run over 109 plate appearances in the majors this past season in 32 combined games between the Oakland Athletics and San Diego Padres.

As a rookie in 2018 with the A’s, Martini slashed .296/.397/.414 with nine doubles, three triples, one home run, 19 RBI, 21 walks and 36 strikeouts in 55 games.

Martini has played primarily left field in his major-league career, but also has experience in center and right fields.

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