Rotoworld has him at 249. MLB has him at 225. If you look at his baseball cards he was fit at one point, no gut. no flab. And then something changed along the way.
He has a lot of ability, and most of his short comings are things that he can fix. There is really nothing "wrong" with him other than things he can control. He holds velocity in later innings, he has 3 MLB pitches and he has a good feel for the game. There are a lot of things to like about him.
The Astros always expected Martes to be heavy, they knew that he would fill out and have weight issues. Scouting reports at the time said he was likely to be heavy, but a deceptive athlete. The weight issue isn't a problem discussed if he is performing well. The problem is that when you are not performing well, and have been stubborn and continue to gain weight; well fans are going to question is dedication and desire. FWIW I haven't heard anyone say he isn't a hard worker at the craft of pitching, and he is considered very bright. The problem is that he doesn't listen to his coaches.
From a pure stuff standpoint I was actually quite impressed with Martes. That breaker is as advertised. That being said, hopefully Strom can work with him on his mechanics. Delivery wasn't repeated at all.
So, to summarize... an overweight kid who has talent, is smart, but doesn't listen to his coaches (which isn't all that smart). Also, his AAA numbers apparently are exactly where they should be... but the Astros should think twice about trading him because he still has a lot of talent and 3 possible MLB pitches. He's quite the conundrum thus far...
So, he's now the next Cueto? Knowing what we know now, would'nt the Reds have been better off trading Cueto for proven pitching at a time where they had a slight window of contention?
He doesn't just have talent, he has #1 starter talent and his issues are correctable. If the Astros can deal him for a number 1-2 starter, I am sure they would do it. The issue is that he is a single piece, of a number of prospects required.
Not denying any of that. Most top 100 ranked prospects, that are starters, have tremendous stuff. Just seems like Martes has a tad more criticism being attached to him, which is surprising considering the glowing attachment and reluctance there was to trade him a few short months ago.
Pitching prospects have problems. Proven pitchers have problems too sometimes, though with them it is usually a much bigger problem as they have a lot more value to lose and less time to make it up. Martes, as bad as he has been, pitching for the Astros justifies the reluctance to trade high minors/young MLB pitchers unless the Astros get a good or an at least reasonable deal. Astros are strapping the bottom of the barrel calling up Martes when he isn't going to be good until he gets his mechanics sorted out.
Most top 100 prospect pitchers don't have the raw stuff that Martes has. Martes also wasn't struggling a few months ago like he is now. By the end of last year he had made the suggested changes to him mechanics (or was trying to) and was having success. Not sure why it is surprising that Martes would be getting criticism now that he is struggling, especially when the cause is something he personally has control over.
So, he's choosing to be a bad pitcher? Of course he has a chance to get better. Nobody is denying that. He's just nowhere close to being the can't miss, high value, future ace prospect that some here claimed would be just as good now (and in the future) as any possible established pitcher.
Nobody claimed he was can't miss and nobody claimed he was as good as any possible established pitcher. Just stop. Interesting to note that Jose Quintana has a 5.30 era and a negative WAR.
