Fernando Martinez, Daniel Herrera on Waivers

It looks like the Fernando Martinez era is over before it ever got started. ESPNNewYork.com reports that the Mets have placed Martinez and Daniel Herrera on waivers to make room for the blockbuster acquisitions of Scott Hairston and Ronny Cedeno.

Martinez was once such a hot prospect that he was the centerpiece of  a proposed trade for Roy Halladay in 2009 (along with Jonanthon Niese, Bobby Parnell and Ruben Tejada — the Mets were the ones who turned it down). But Martinez has been unable to stay healthy and at the young age of 23, he already has arthritis in his knees.

The Herrera move is actually a bit more surprising. He came over from the Brewers in the Francisco Rodriguez deal, and he looked pretty good when he joined the Mets late in the season — he appeared in 16 games, pitching to a 1.13 ERA in eight innings. I thought the lefty had a good chance of making the bullpen in 2012, but Adam Rubin writes that “the organization concern is his effectiveness will fade as National League East opponents become more acclimated to his screwball.”

Both players could still be back with the Mets if they clear waivers. But it is likely that someone will take a shot at Martinez to see if he has anything left, and Herrera has the option of declaring free agency instead of reporting to the minors.