The Tampa Bay Rays continued an active offseason by adding veteran right-hander Nick Martinez on a one-year, $13 million contract for the 2026 season. While Martinez has filled both starting and relief roles in recent years, the club has already decided how it plans to deploy him.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Rays intend to use Martinez exclusively as a starting pitcher next season.
Tampa Bay rotation taking shape for 2026
“The plan is for Nick Martinez to be used solely as a starter in the Rays’ rotation,” Nightengale reported, noting that Martinez split time between the rotation and bullpen with the Cincinnati Reds last season.
Martinez, 35, joins a projected Rays rotation that includes Drew Rasmussen, Shane McClanahan, Ryan Pepiot, and Steven Matz. With several of those pitchers returning from injury or recent workload limitations, Tampa Bay appears focused on adding durability and experience to its starting staff.
Martinez offers that reliability, even if his recent performance suggests a trade-off in effectiveness.
Starter results lag behind bullpen success
Martinez appeared in 40 games for the Reds last season, making 26 starts. He finished the year with a 4.45 ERA overall, though his effectiveness varied significantly by role.
As a reliever, Martinez posted a 3.61 ERA across 20.2 innings. As a starter, he logged 145 innings with a 4.72 ERA, a noticeable drop in run prevention.
That trend has carried over in recent seasons. In 2024, Martinez recorded a 3.84 ERA across 16 starts and 89 innings, while delivering a dominant 1.86 ERA in 26 relief appearances covering 53.1 innings.
Rays betting on innings and stability
Despite the splits, Tampa Bay’s decision reflects both need and financial commitment. After allocating $13 million to Martinez, the Rays appear intent on maximizing his workload as a rotation piece rather than using him in a swing role.
The move carries some risk, given Martinez’s stronger results out of the bullpen in recent years. Still, the Rays value his ability to take the ball regularly and provide length, a critical factor for a pitching staff that has dealt with frequent injuries.
For better or worse, Martinez will enter the 2026 season as a full-time starter, with Tampa Bay betting that his experience and durability can outweigh recent performance concerns.