Jose Martinez has been traded to the Cardinals. Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
The St. Louis Cardinals acquired outfielder Jose Martinez from the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Martinez , who was playing for Triple-A Omaha this season, has been assigned to the Triple-A Memphis roster.
To make room for Martinez on the team’s 40-man major league roster, the Cardinals transferred right-handed pitcher Mitch Harris (right elbow) from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.
Martinez, 27, was batting .298 with three home runs and 18 RBIs with a .356 on-base percentage in 37 games with Omaha this season.
Martinez won the Pacific Coast League batting title last season with a .384 average while also posting a league-best .461 on-base percentage. His 2015 All-Star season also included a career-high 10 homers and 60 RBIs.
The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Martinez has played 800 career games in the minors, batting .296 with 53 homers, 354 RBIs and 63 stolen bases. Martinez, who was originally signed as non-drafted minor league free-agent by the Chicago White Sox in February 2006, also played in the Atlanta Braves’ organization before joining the Royals in 2105.
The right-handed hitting native of Le Guaira, Venezuela, is the son of former major league outfielder Carlos Martinez.
