The Astros once had J.D. Martinez on their roster. Then they didn’t. It’s quite a simple story.
Or is it?
Eh, it is kind of a simple story.
Martinez was one of the three Astros’ prospects promoted to the major leagues near the 2011 trade deadline, which unofficially started the complete rebuild of the franchise. Jose Altuve and Jimmy Paredes were the other two prospects that made the jump from Double-A. As you all remember, Hunter Pence was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies shortly followed by Michael Bourn to the Atlanta Braves at the 2011 trade deadline, so the Astros were in need of outfielders.