The Athletics made a minor shift, technically their first swap since the Corey Brown deal, as they packaged 21 year old shortstop, Hiram Martinez, to the Marlins as he now joins Tony Thompson as the second Oakland player headed to South Beach for 2014. Martinez, a wiry 6'1", 143 pound Mexican prodigy, was inked alongside Chih Fang Pan during a hectic international offseason that saw Renato Nuñez, Vicmal De La Cruz, Shawn Duinkerk, Argenis Raga, Andres Avila, Rodolfo Polano, and the aforementioned CFP don the green and gold. He initially began in the AZL, with the organization feeling confident enough in the then 17 year old to bypass the Dominican academy. However, indicative of his issues with the bat; profiling as a more defensively oriented prospect, Martinez would struggle at the plate and has since as he spent 2011 and 2012 inbetween Santo Domimgo and Papago. In 2013, the Athletics loaned him to the Tigres in Quintana Roo and would return the youngster to Oakland this previous September. It was suspected Hiram would be in contention for Vermont should be have remained in the A's organization, however, Oakland opted rather to be reimbursed for their investment in him four years ago as he shifts towards the Marlins GCL ranks. Including his stint with Quintana, Martinez has hit a paltry .188/.226/216 in approximately 125 PAs with a 11:36 BB/K and six doubles (0 3B/HR).
Not an earthshaking transaction for A's fans to fret over, but consider it a definitive win for the Athletics, as they receive compensation for an asset that would likely otherwise be released within the next couple years.
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