Just a month into the 2000 season, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays kicked off the trading season as they sent veteran slap-hitting outfielder Dave Martinez to the Chicago Cubs for left-handed pitcher Mark Guthrie.
Martinez had come to the Devil Rays originally as a free agent prior to their inaugural season in 1998, after having already spent 12 years in the majors with a myriad of teams. He achieved the honor of Tampa’s first hit, with a soft ground ball single that caromed off the first base bag and into the outfield.
He mainly served as the team’s starting right fielder, barely performing at an above-replacement level until the team decided to trade him.