Second strike
Martes out after failed drug test.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Astros pitcher Francis Martes was suspended for a full major league season after testing positive for Boldenone, Major League Baseball announced Monday.
Martes’ 162-game suspension will start at the beginning of the 2020 regular season, one in which the former top prospect seemed set to help the major league team. At the very least, Martes was in contention for a bullpen spot on the roster. He also was in the competition for the fifth starter’s job with Josh James, Austin Pruitt and Framber Valdez.
Instead, Martes’ free fall continues. Before the 2017 season, Baseball America ranked the Dominican righthander as the sport’s 17th-best prospect. He was, without doubt, Houston’s best prospect at the time.
Monday’s drug suspension was Martes’ second in 11 months. In March 2019, he was suspended 80 games after testing positive for Clomiphene — an ovulatory stimulant often used by infertile women. Boldenone is an anabolic steroid.
“Throughout our system, players are educated through MLB’s Drug Prevention and Treatment Programs,” the Astros said in a statement. “It is disappointing when any player is in violation of the policies that are in place. We hope that Francis will learn from this experience moving forward.”
Martes, who has 541⁄3 innings of major league experience, underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2018 and missed most of the 2019 season. He threw in some minor league rehab assignments toward the end of last season, inspiring hope he could impact the 2020 major league team.
Monday dismissed any such thought. Martes’ suspension clears a spot on the 40-man roster, which now stands at 39.
Veteran Hughes given minors deal
The Astros added a durable veteran arm to their bullpen mix, signing righthander Jared Hughes to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to major league spring training. Hughes was in West Palm Beach on Monday and worked out with the team following the announcement of his addition.
The 34-year-old is a veteran of nine major league seasons. He split time last season between the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, appearing in 71 games and tossing 711⁄3 innings. He’s thrown in at least 67 games during each of the last five seasons and has a 2.88 career ERA.
“I love the state of Texas and love the people in it, so I’m excited,” said Hughes, who makes his offseason home in Dallas. “I feel like I’ve got a lot of experience, but I’d like to gain some more postseason experience, which is why I’m here.”
Hughes’ arsenal is predicated upon sinkers and a slider, though he will throw an occasional splitter. Hughes hoped the Astros and pitching coach Brent Strom could assist in elevating his fourseam fastball, which he’s thrown sparingly throughout his career.
Hughes spent his first six seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he was teammates with former Houston pitchers Gerrit Cole and Charlie Morton. Hughes and Cole went to breakfast during the Astros’ trip to Cincinnati last year, when Cole gave the Astros’ staff glowing reviews.
“They both loved it here,” Hughes said. “(Cole) had nothing but good things to say about the pitching department here and what they were teaching him.
I’m looking to learn.”
Springer sidesteps extension discussion
On the first day of full-squad workouts, outfielder George Springer, an impending free agent, reiterated his affinity for Houston and its fan base but declined to speculate about a possible contract extension.
“We’ve discussed a lot of things between me and my representation,” Springer said. “At the end of the day, whatever happens will eventually happen. It’s way too early to make that decision.”
In January, owner Jim Crane said he’d “made it clear” to Springer and his agents that the team hoped to work out a longterm deal. The Astros avoided an arbitration hearing with Springer this offseason, settling on a oneyear, $21 million deal.
The Astros worked out three extensions in spring training last season with reliever Ryan Pressly, third baseman Alex Bregman and starting pitcher Justin Verlander. Asked if he’d entertain extension discussions during the season, Springer said only that he is looking forward to 2020.
“The fans have been great to me my whole career in Houston,” said Springer, whom the Astros picked in the first round of the 2011 draft. “The city has been great to me. I’ve grown up as an adult there, I guess. I’ve been in this organization since I was 21 years old. This organization has been very special to me, but time will tell.”
Baker big believer in player rest, too
A hallmark of A.J. Hinch’s five-year tenure in Houston was his devotion to resting players, ensuring they were not worn down or overworked through a grueling season.
The former manager often drew fans’ ire by sidelining healthy position players in the middle of a season. It was Hinch’s way of preparing the club for a postseason run and preventing injuries. Given the Astros’ ample depth, the tactic was a success with little to no drop-off.
“How do you know he didn’t get (mindset) that from me?” Dusty Baker quipped.
Baker appears aligned with Hinch’s insistence on down days. The new Astros manager said this week he “believes in rest days” and will not shy from sitting his regulars when he feels necessary.
“I believe in rest, and I believe in telling guys when they have rest days,” Baker said Friday. “There’s mental rest days, there’s baseball rest days, there’s days you say, ‘Hey, man, go out and have a good meal and a couple of drinks and let your hair down a little bit, and you won’t be off for another couple of weeks.’ I know the road map through the season.”
Baker learned his rest philosophy from Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, who once told him regulars should play only about 150 games per year.
“There are 12 days out there you maybe shouldn’t be out there,” Baker said. “You’ve got to mix in some other guys to be out there, too.”
Of the Astros’ regulars, only third baseman Alex Bregman played more than 148 games last year. Neither Jose Altuve nor George Springer eclipsed the 130-game plateau, but both dealt with various injuries during the first half. Michael Brantley and Yuli Gurriel — who were relatively healthy throughout the year — played in 148 and 144 games, respectively.