SAN DIEGO — The Padres are taking a major step toward fortifying their pitching depth, poised to bring right-hander Nick Martinez back to San Diego.
Martinez and the Padres are close to an agreement, sources said Tuesday night. The club has not yet confirmed the deal, which is pending a physical.
Martinez was due $19.5 million over the next three years of his contract when he opted out of his previous deal ahead of last Thursday’s deadline. That opt-out was something of a formality while the two sides restructured a contract, sources said. Martinez was always hopeful to return to San Diego.
He is expected to do so in a starting role after having served in multiple capacities last season. The Padres needed to fill out the back end of their rotation behind Yu Darvish, Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove. Martinez is the first step toward doing so.
After he’d spent four years pitching in Japan, the 32-year-old right-hander quickly became a versatile weapon on the Padres’ staff in 2022, posting a 3.47 ERA in 47 appearances. He started 10 games, finished 15 and served in just about every spot imaginable.
“He filled a valuable role for us this year,” said general manager A.J. Preller at his GM Meetings media availability last week. “The conversations with him have been getting a sense of what he wants to do, but also the need of our ballclub. Starting, for us, is something we really want to explore with him and something he wants to do. We also know throughout the year, depending on what happens in the offseason, he’s got the ability to do some different things.”
Martinez began the 2022 season as a starter, spent time working in long relief, pitched hugely important innings down the stretch and even served as closer when Josh Hader was temporarily removed from that role in mid-August. He was lights out in the postseason, too, posting a 0.82 ERA, including scoreless ball against the Dodgers and Phillies.
Part of the appeal for the Padres in bringing back Martinez was his versatility and flexibility. While the Padres shuffled his roles, Martinez often said he cared exclusively about winning and would pitch wherever the team needed him.
Still, as the contract talks began, Martinez made it clear he’d like to start in 2023. Good news there. The Padres needed starters. They didn’t have to look far to find one.