Topic: Andy Marte

Andy Manuel Marté (born October 21, 1983 in Villa Tapia, Dominican Republic) is a third baseman in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians.

Marté signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves in 2000, and succeeded at every level of the farm system. In 2005 Marté hit .275 with 20 home runs and 74 RBI in 109 games in Triple-A, but hit only .140 in 57 at bats with the Braves. As the Braves chose to sign third baseman Chipper Jones to a contract extension, and lost shortstop Rafael Furcal in free agency, Marté was traded by the Atlanta Braves on December 8, 2005, to the Boston Red Sox for shortstop Edgar Rentería and cash considerations. Later that off-season, on January 27, 2006, the Red Sox traded him to the Cleveland Indians along with relief pitcher Guillermo Mota, catcher Kelly Shoppach, Randy Newsom, and cash considerations for center fielder Coco Crisp, catcher Josh Bard, and relief pitcher David Riske.

Marté initially received little playing time with the Cleveland Indians, but after the Indians traded Casey Blake on July 26, 2008, he had the third base job to himself. Seemingly in response to his mediocre performance, the Indians traded for Mark DeRosa to play that position in 2009.