Blue Jays: It would be a mistake to trade Orelvis Martinez this offseason

Ranked as the Blue Jays #2 prospect, infielder Orelvis Martinez signed with the organization back in the summer of 2018 for $3.5 million dollars, one of the largest deals in franchise history for an international free agent.

Spending the 2019 season in the Rookie League with the Gulf Coast Blue Jays at 17 years old and not playing in 2020 due to COVID-19, Martinez played all of last season in Class A ball, starting the season in Low-A with Dunedin before being promoted to the Vancouver Canadians in High-A towards the end of the campaign. He would slash .261/.345/.549 between both teams and would crush 28 home runs with 87 RBI, 43 walks, and four steals with a .895 OPS. Martinez would suit up at shortstop for a majority of the campaign but sprinkled in some games at third base as well, sporting .916 and .850 fielding percentages respectively.

Hailing from the Dominican Republic, the soon to be 20 year old has always been one of the younger players on any team he has played with since turning pro. His hitting ability is what keeps driving him forward, as he possesses a plus hit tool and raw power that has him well ahead of other internal prospects his own age, facing more established pitchers as he continues to climb the minor-league ladder. He did strike out 113 times through 395 at-bats which is something he will need to work on as he keeps progressing but a full season of minor league ball showed the Blue Jays and those around the league that Martinez is a threat at the plate and athletic infielder with potential to be in the major leagues in the near future.

The Blue Jays are heading into an interesting offseason, one that hopefully sees top prospect Orelvis Martinez remain in the organization come spring.

While the rumour mill will be in full effect this offseason as the Jays try to improve the major league roster, the club did reportedly explore deals for Jose Ramirez and Robbie Grossman earlier this season. Ramirez would be an excellent addition to the club if the price is right but to get any deal done will most likely have the Cleveland Guardians asking for at least Martinez or Jordan Groshans as part of the prospect package for Ramirez.

It should be interesting to note that multiple teams did talk to the Blue Jays in regards to deals involving Martinez this past trade deadline but the “conversations started and stopped there,” as reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The front office ended up dealing top prospects Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson instead, opting to keep both Groshans and Martinez in the farm system for the time being.

I don’t disagree that adding someone like Ramirez to the organization would be a great asset to the roster and while some disagree that there should be no untouchable prospects, I believe Martinez fits into the category of being not available for trades alongside fellow prospect Gabriel Moreno. Given his athleticism and hitting ability, Martinez has the potential to be an everyday player and could bode well beside the current young core of Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Teoscar Hernandez to form an even more powerful lineup.

If Martinez can continue to develop at third base, a noted area of uncertainty heading into next season as to what the Blue Jays plan to do, the righty-batter has the ability and potential to run the minor league table next season and should be in either AA or AAA by the end of next year. It won’t be a walk in the park however, as he does have competition with the likes of Groshans, Santiago Espinal, Otto Lopez, Kevin Smith, and Miguel Hiraldo also looking for their shot at the major league level over the next few seasons. Espinal should be the frontrunner for the hot corner heading into Spring Training if the club doesn’t acquire outside help but Smith and Groshans could be right on his heels next year if he struggles or lands on the injured list.

Given that the front office apparently has the confidence from ownership to spend money in either trades or free agency, it should be a very interesting offseason.

I do hope the club continues their previous mentality of not entertaining any trades for Orelvis Martinez this winter as I think his future is bright with the organization. If they do include him in any deal, it better be for Ramirez or another high-level player with contract control, otherwise, the Blue Jays fanbase who still aren’t over the Martin/SWR deal will be up in arms once again.