<
        >

          New York Mets

          F-Mart to the Houston Astros

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterJan 11, 2012, 02:36 PM ET
            Close
              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
              Follow Adam on Twitter »  Chat archive »
            Follow on X

          Fernando Martinez

          Fernando Martinez

          #26 RF
          New York Mets

          2011 STATS

          • GM11

          • HR1

          • RBI2

          • R3

          • OBP.261

          • AVG.227

          One-time top Mets prospect Fernando Martinez is now a Houston Astro.

          Houston, which has first dibs in waiver claims by virtue of its MLB-worst record in 2011, selected the 23-year-old outfielder.

          "I will always be grateful to the Mets, but now I'm an Astro," Martinez told ESPNDeportes.com's Enrique Rojas. "I hope the change of scenery will help me revive my career. I'm anxious to begin this new stage. ... If I'm healthy and I'm given the opportunity, I'm going to hit. Now I'm healthy and only waiting for my work visa in order to go train in Miami and then spring training. ... I'm a young man. Sometimes they say as if I'm a man of 35 years, but I'm only 23 and am ready to begin again."

          The Mets needed to clear 40-man roster spots for the additions of Scott Hairston and Ronny Cedeno, and chose to put Martinez as well as left-hander Daniel Herrera on waivers.

          Because Martinez has an option remaining, he needs to remain on Houston's 40-man roster, but can be optioned to Triple-A in spring training if he does not make the major league club.

          Martinez is a lifetime .183 hitter with two homers and 12 RBIs in 131 at-bats spanning the past three seasons. His biggest obstacle has been injuries, including an arthritic knee that severely limits his mobility, even when technically healthy. Including his major league activity, Martinez has averaged only 77 games a regular season since 2006.