The Diamondbacks have agreed to a 5-year, $18 million dollar contract with relief pitcher Justin Martinez. Solidifying a closer for the future.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!There was a bunch of praise for Martinez, as D-backs bullpen coach Wellington Cepeda mentioned, “He’s worked his tail off during the offseason to be more consistent.” (per: Arizona Sports). Justin Martinez, just 22 years old, gets a rightfully deserved long term contract. The kid is a stud, we all know that. Now, we get to see him grow as well. The Diamondbacks know what they want, the fans seem to reciprocate the feeling, and now it is just a matter of the front office putting the product out there.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Justin Martinez (63) walks off the field after giving the Milwaukee Brewers a two-run lead in the 10th inning on Sept. 15, 2024 at Chase Field in Phoenix. © Owen Ziliak/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
This is another team friendly contract it seems like, dealt from the hands of general manager Mike Hazen and owner Ken Kendrick. Whether it’s Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll, or now Justin Martinez.. they see talent, lock it up, and make it ours. Solidifying a closer for the foreseeable future seemed to be on our radar, and we can all feel relief knowing this kid is bought in, and bringing the heat. That might just be how a culture is built, I don’t have a blueprint though on this though, I’m just a musician.
Sep 10, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Justin Martinez (63) throws against the Texas Rangers in the ninth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images © Owen Ziliak/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Does this mean that Justin Martinez is the closer of the Diamondbacks, only time will tell. Torey Lovullo has always relied on J-Mart in certain games, as per his matchup requirements. Sometimes the beauty of baseball relies on instincts, analytics, and the trust in your staff. Lovullo has obviously shown all of that before, and it led us to a World Series appearance.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
