Nick Martinez becomes free agent after contract options declined

SAN DIEGO -- Pitcher Nick Martinez has become a free agent after the San Diego Padres and the right-hander declined options for 2024 and 2025.

San Diego turned down options at $16 million annually, and Martinez declined options at $8 million per year.

Martinez made $10 million in 2023, his second season with the Padres, when he went 6-4 with a 3.43 ERA in nine starts and 54 relief appearances.

The 33-year-old went 4-4 with a 3.47 ERA and eight saves in 10 starts and 37 relief appearances for the Padres in 2022.

He spent the previous four seasons in Japan with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters and then the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.