Corbin Martin Called Up To Fortify Cubs' Bullpen

[Steve Drumwright]

 

Veteran right-hander Corbin Martin had his contract selected from Triple-A Iowa and will be in the Chicago Cubs' bullpen for Saturday's game against the New York Mets.

Martin was called up after closer Daniel Palencia went on the 15-day injured list just before Friday's game with a strained left oblique. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed starter Cade Horton was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL. Horton underwent Tommy John surgery Thursday and will be out the remainder of the season.

The 30-year-old Martin had appeared in just two games for Iowa this year, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and three strikeouts in two innings. The Cubs will be the fourth MLB team for Martin, who made his MLB debut in 2019 with the Houston Astros. He also pitched in 2021-22 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in 2025 with the Baltimore Orioles. 

He has appeared in 34 games, including 10 starts, across those four stops with a 6.95 FIP (5.79 ERA) with a 12.8% walk rate and 20.7 strikeout rate.

 

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[Bertz]

It pretty much had to be Martin or Hollowell.  Martin was generally the most positively viewed of the ST NRIs (along with Snider, who after a brief return to form in early ST has had his velo leave him again).

You'd prefer him come up in circumstances where he could hang out in low leverage for several weeks, but he'd be much less of a surprising breakout than Drew Pomeranz or Tyson Miller were at the time they got added to the pen.

[BigbadB]

If we think the Cubs roster has been depleted of pitchers, I can't imagine what it's looking like in Iowa right now.