Thursday, July 2, 2015

Atlanta Reliever Cody Martin Traded to Oakland for International Bonus Pool Slot

By Peyton Wesner

Congratulations Oakland! Because you are now officially living "The Suite Life with Cody" since this afternoon the Athletics acquired Atlanta Braves' reliever and Minor League starter Cody Martin for the fifty-third international bonus pool slot. 

Martin, a seventh round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, excelled very early in his career as a closer with Danville in the Rookie League and Single-A Rome before transitioning to the rotation as a starter the following season. In his first year as a starting pitcher (2012), the Gonzaga University product continued his success by going 12-7 with a 2.93 earned run average and one hundred and twenty-three strikeouts in one hundred and seven and one/thirds innings for Single-A Advanced Lynchburg, which claimed him the honor of being named an MiLB.com organizational all-star. 

In 2013, Martin continued his climb through the Braves' system by performing well at Double-A Mississippi (3-3 record, 2.82 earned run average, and seventy-one strikeouts in sixty-seven innings pitched) resulting in a promotion to Triple-A. The twenty-five year old would then stay one step away from the Majors at Gwinnett until this season when he broke camp with Atlanta and made his Major League debut on April 7.

As a relief pitcher for the Braves, Martin pitched twenty-one and two/thirds innings in twenty-one games while going 2-3 with an earned run average of 5.40. 

The Braves ultimately decided to part ways with the pitcher because Oakland was offering the fifty-third international bonus pool slot (set at $388,400 this year) and Atlanta needs to increase their bonus pool amount due to them offering seven-figure signing bonuses to outfielder Christian Pache and infielder Derian Cruz, two of MLB.com Top Thirty International Prospects. 

After the transaction, Oakland optioned Martin to Triple-A Nashville for him to continue pitching as a starter. The Athletics enter today's play with a 36-45 overall record, which puts them eleven games back of American League leading Houston. 



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