MLB insider Jim Bowden connects Twins to Reds free agent pitcher Nick Martinez
In MLB insider Jim Bowden's list of top 50 MLB free agents for 2025-26, he wrote that the Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, Athletics and Colorado Rockies are the best team fits for free agent right-handed pitcher Nick Martinez. Bowden predicts Martinez will sign a one-year, $11 million contract.
Martinez, 35, made 26 starts and 14 relief appearances for the Reds in 2025. The Twins are likely set on starting pitchers with Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, Bailey Ober, Mick Abel, Taj Bradley, Zebby Matthews, David Festa (who may miss some time, however) and Kendry Rojas, but they definitely need bullpen help after trading five relievers this past summer. If the Twins sign Martinez, they will likely mainly utilize him as a long reliever who can make spot starts when needed. If Minnesota can sign Martinez at $11 million for just one year, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey should pull the trigger and bring the righty to Minnesota.
Martinez relies on six pitches: a high-80s cutter (21.2%), low-90s four-seamer (20.8%), high 70s changeup (19.8%), low-90s sinker (17.1%), high 70s curveball (11.0%) and mid-80s slider (10.2%). Bowden wrote that Martinez's "changeup and cutter were effective but he had trouble getting his four-seam fastball past hitters" in 2025.
It's safe to classify Martinez as a journeyman at this point, and he will further prove he deserves that title if he signs with a team other than the Reds this offseason. The 35-year-old made his MLB debut as a 23-year-old with the Texas Rangers in 2014. He spent four seasons with Texas, posting a 4.77 ERA over 415 1/3 innings before going overseas to play in Japan. After four seasons in Japan, Martinez found himself back on an MLB roster, signing with the San Diego Padres in 2022. Martinez had a solid run with the Padres, posting a 3.45 ERA over 216 2/3 innings while serving as a hybrid long reliever/spot starter for two seasons. He then signed with the Reds in the 2023-24 offseason and posted a 3.10 ERA over 142 1/3 innings before re-signing with Cincinnati last offseason, serving in a similar role to the one he had in San Diego.