Astros Claim Fernando Martinez

Fernando Martinez is now Houston’s problem. ESPNNewYork.com reports that the Astros have claimed the one-time can’t-miss-this-time-we’re-sure prospect off of waivers.

The man who was supposed to roam right field for the Mets for the next decade finishes up his time in Flushing with a sterling .183 batting average, with two home runs and 12 RBIs to go along with 26 strikeouts in 131 at bats. But he did make it onto the disabled list a record 74 times.

I really hope Martinez can get healthy and have a productive career. Think about how sure the Mets are that that will never happen — they chose to release him from the 40-man roster instead of getting rid of D.J. Carrasco. D.J. Carrasco! Enough said.

So Martinez joins the growing list of highly-touted Mets prospects who never were. At least the Mets were able to get something for Alex Escobar (even if it was Roberto Alomar) and Lastings Milledge (two starters in Ryan Church and Brian Schneider, although had they traded him a year earlier when he was still hot they could have gotten much more). For Martinez, the Mets get nothing except medical bills.

On another note, Omar Minaya’s favorite writer, ESPN’s Adam Rubin, tweets that Daniel Herrera cleared waivers and will remain with the Mets as a non-roster player. I thought he looked good late last season and had a shot to make the bullpen in 2012. I still think that is a possibility — more of a possibility than D.J. Carrasco making the team. D.J. Carrasco!