Earlier this month, the Red Sox took what can probably best be described as a low-risk gamble by signing former Cardinals All-Star pitcher Carlos Martínez to a minor-league deal. It was not low-risk in the sense that it almost certainly would work out, but rather because the cost was so low that even if it didn’t work out there was not much of a loss beyond a minor-league roster spot. Well, it’s only been a short period of time but it has already not worked out. Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reported on Tuesday that the team had already cut ties with the right-handed pitcher, releasing him just two starts in to his tenure with the organization.

It’s certainly not a decision that came without merit as Martínez struggled mightily in his two starts. Only lasting 4 1⁄3 innings combined in the pair of outings, the 30-year-old allowed a whopping 10 earned runs, good (bad?) for a 20.77 ERA. He did strike out nearly a batter per inning, but that’s a lot easier to do when you’re facing an average of about six batters per inning, as evidenced by his mediocre 16 percent strikeout rate.