Rays' All-Star starting pitcher is 'definitely' worth rotation spot in free agency

The Tampa Bay Rays are typically a quiet team during the offseason, making small, underrated moves instead of signing big-name free agents. 

Last winter, they signed right-hander Nick Martinez to a one-year, $13 million contract, and he's been more than the Rays could have hoped for. 

The 36-year-old has been a swingman for most of his career, spending time in the rotation and bullpen with the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, and Cincinnati Reds. 

But Tampa Bay placed him near the front of its top five, and it resulted in the best season of Martinez's career. 

"Martinez is 15-4 with a 2.94 ERA (144 ERA+) and 1.07 WHIP in 171 ⅓ innings in his first full season as a starter. He's been a valuable swingman before, but never this productive as a rotation man, and he earned his first All-Star berth as a result," Matt Snyder of CBS Sports wrote. 

"Martinez is 36 years old, so he's not going to break the bank or anything here, but he's definitely deserving of a multi-year deal and a guaranteed rotation spot after this season," Snyder added. 

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Considering he could make a lot more money in free agency, it would be foolish for Martinez to accept the mutual option. 

Age is a factor here. Martinez turns 37 next August and has already thrown a career-high 171.1 innings. 

The Rays need him to be on his game for the postseason, but you have to wonder if the workload is starting to get to Martinez. 

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