Nick Martinez, a right-hander, has agreed to the Cincinnati Reds’ qualifying offer of $21.05 million.
Martinez has told the MLB players’ association that he will accept, according to agent Scott Boras on Monday.
After a stellar season in which he finished 10-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 42 games with 16 starts and struck out 116 batters in 142⅓ innings, the 34-year-old Martinez decided to stay put.
Players have until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET to accept or reject qualifying offers.
In 240 games (103 starts), Martinez has a 4.09 ERA and a 37-45 record with the Reds, San Diego Padres (2022–23), and Texas Rangers (2014–17).
Martinez played four seasons in Japan following four years of mediocre performance with the Texas Rangers. In 2021, he excelled with a 1.60 ERA in 140⅔ innings. He learned an outstanding Vulcan-grip changeup in Japan and brought it back to the United States along with increased fastball velocity.
After the Padres rejected their two-year, $32 million club option, Martinez chose to forego the last two years of his San Diego deal, which would have paid him $16 million, prior to joining the Reds.
In 2023, he agreed to a two-year contract with the Reds that contained an opt-out clause following the first season.