It's been a rough season thus far for Leonys Martin.
On Thursday, it got a little rougher.
Backpedaling to the wall at Globe Life Park in Arlington in Thursday's matinee between the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers, Martin misplayed a ball hit by Elvis Andrus that ultimately resulted in an RBI triple. Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor apparently wasn't thrilled with Martin's effort on the play, as the two proceeded to get into a heated discussion in the team's dugout, with third baseman Jose Ramirez ultimately separating the two.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Rangers lead the Indians by a score of 2-1.
Acquired from the Detroit Tigers last season, Martin played in just six games with Cleveland in 2018 before a suffering from -- and ultimately overcoming -- a life-threatening bacterial infection that would cost him the remainder of the year. In his first full season as the Indians' starting centerfielder, the 31-year-old left-hander has hit for a meager .202 batting average with 9 home runs and 19 RBIs.
His defense -- previously thought to be a strength -- has also suffered, as he has amassed a defensive WAR (wins above replacement) of just 0.2.
Between the Indians' struggling offense, Bobby Bradley's surge in Triple-A Columbus and Oscar Mercado's ability to shift to centerfield, some have already begun to speculate that Martin's days in Cleveland could be numbered. Poised to become a free agent at season's end, Cleveland wouldn't owe Martin any guaranteed money beyond this season should the team designate him for assignment between now and then.
Whether or not the Indians will or won't do that will likely be determined in the weeks to come. But Thursday's showing likely didn't help his case.