Former All-Star pitcher Carlos Martinez gets 85-game suspension for violating MLB violence policy

Steve Gardner, USA TODAY
·1 min read
22

Free agent pitcher Carlos Martinez has been suspended 85 games for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.

MLB made the announcement Thursday, saying Martinez has accepted the punishment retroactive to June 19. Martinez will also undergo an evaluation and enter a treatment program, MLB said.

Martinez, 31, played nine seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2013 to 2021 and was selected to the NL All-Star team in 2015 and 2017.

He signed a minor-league contract with the Boston Red Sox this season and made two starts at Class AAA before being cut. One week later, he was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a banned substance.

Carlos Martinez was a workhorse starter for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2015-17, posting a 42-27 record and 3.24 ERA over 94 appearances.
Carlos Martinez was a workhorse starter for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2015-17, posting a 42-27 record and 3.24 ERA over 94 appearances.

Over his nine seasons in the majors, Martinez had a 62-52 record with a 3.74 ERA in 967 innings. Due to injuries, he transitioned to a reliever in 2018, taking over as the Cardinals closer and recording 24 saves in 2019.

However, injuries and ineffectiveness plagued his final two seasons in St. Louis as he moved back to the rotation and made just 21 starts. The Cardinals released him after he completed the five-year, $51 million contract extension he signed in 2017.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Carlos Martinez, former Cardinals All-Star, suspended 85 games by MLB