Diamondbacks claim ASU product Seth Martinez off waivers from Astros

The Arizona Diamondbacks claimed right-handed pitcher and ASU product Seth Martinez off the Houston Astros’ waivers Monday.

Arizona’s 40-man roster is at 35.

Martinez became a Sun Devil after he graduated from Peoria’s Sunrise Mountain High School in 2013.

He set a career-high with 44 games played last season and has 111 appearances for the Astros over the past four years.

The 30-year-old posted a 3.59 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over 52.2 innings last season, striking out 36 while walking 18.

Martinez threw a four-pitch mix last year, with fastball use around a third of the time complemented by a slider, sinker and occasional changeup, according to FanGraphs.

After going to the Oakland Athletics in the 2016 MLB Draft out of ASU, Houston added Martinez in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft before the pitcher made his major-league debut in September 2021.

He now joins a D-backs bullpen with backend roles in question with one-time closer Paul Sewald a free agent.

Arizona also filled long relief with the likes of former starter Jordan Montgomery late in the season. Montgomery has a player option picked up but will presumably have to fight for a starting role if he is still on the roster when the season begins.

The team also declined a mutual option for Scott McGough, who struggled in 26 appearances last year.

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