Updated 9:35am CDT, Oct. 15 – Jesse Sanchez provided an update on the situation between the Cubs and Giants over Eddy Julio Martinez.
According to Sanchez, Martinez did sign with the Cubs for $3 million. On Oct. 8, Martinez signed and filed the term sheet with the Cubs. The problem is Martinez also agreed to terms with the Giants on Oct. 3. The deal with the Giants was for $2.5 million and Martinez’s father was looking for a $3 million contract. The Giants “submitted the paperwork” the day after agreeing to the deal with him. According to Sanchez, Martinez did not sign the Giants’ term sheet “or the sworn statement that says a Cuban player is in compliance with Section 515.05 of Cuban Assets Control Regulations in order to sign with a Major League team.”
Eddy Julio Martinez does have two sets of representatives as Jon Heyman reported. Jesse Sanchez explained Martinez “is represented in the Dominican Republic by trainers Aldo Marrero and Amauris Nina.” In the United States, Martinez is represented by Beverly Hills Sports Council. Marrero and Nina agreed to the deal with the Cubs, according to Sanchez, and the Giants made their deal with Beverly Hills Sports Council.
According to a report from Jon Heyman, Major League Baseball is expected to resolve the issue between the Giants and Cubs as to which team has the rights to Cuban outfielder Eddy Julio Martinez.
Jon Heyman reported Wednesday that Martinez “should find out which team he’ll be playing for in the not-too-distant future.” Heyman explained the Giants and Cubs “have laid claim to Martinez, and MLB officials are hoping to sort out which team owns his services.”
The issue could be resolved this week.
Eddy Julio Martinez appears to have “multiple people laying claim to the role of his agent … one sanctioned player agent and multiple buscones, or street agents.” One of the agents may have agreed to terms with the Giants and another agent may have negotiated the deal with the Cubs. Heyman explained that it is actually unclear how many street agents he has.
The Giants would not comment on the matter to Jon Heyman. And Heyman was unable to talk to anyone with the Cubs about Martinez.
The Cubs would not confirm or deny a deal being in place with Martinez last week.
Reports surfaced almost two weeks ago from Jesse Sanchez, Ben Badler and Jon Heyman that Martinez agreed to terms with the Giants on a $2.5 million contract. Keith Law reported two days later that Martinez had not signed with the Giants and he was still talking to other teams. At that point reports indicated Martinez was looking for a $3 million contract and the Giants were not willing to pay him the additional $500,000.
Last Thursday, Jesse Sanchez reported the Cubs had an agreement in place with Eddy Julio Martinez for $3 million. Sanchez’s report was confirmed by Jeff Passan and Keith Law. Plus, Law said the deal with the Cubs was pending a physical before it became official.
Giants’ GM Bobby Evans addressed the reports that the Cubs signed Martinez during a radio interview the following day (Friday). Evans said the Giants were still talking to Martinez’s representatives and he did not have an agreement with the Cubs.
Jon Heyman provided the first reliable update on the Martinez situation in five days.
The Giants think their deal is binding because it came before the one he is believed to have with the Cubs.
- Full Report from Jesse Sanchez
- Full Report from Jon Heyman
- Report: Giants Still Talking to Eddy Julio Martinez’s Representatives [Oct. 10]
- Cubs Reportedly Have Agreement in Place with OF Eddy Julio Martinez [Oct. 8]