Texas Rangers option Nick Martinez to AAA Round Rock

The Texas Rangers have optioned starting pitcher Nick Martinez to AAA Round Rock, according to John Blake on Twitter.

With Martinez being sent down, this would seem to suggest that A.J. Griffin has claimed the fifth starter job for the Rangers.  Phil Klein and Cesar Ramos are also still in camp and were among those vying for the job, but Ramos has been working more out of the pen, and Klein never really has been on the radar.  My guess is either Ramos or Klein -- probably Klein --  opens the season in the bullpen as the long man, and then is a possibility to be sent down when the Rangers add their fifth starter on the fifth day of the season.

Martinez will join Chi Chi Gonzalez in the rotation for Round Rock, part of a stacked AAA club that will also likely include Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara, Jurickson Profar, Lewis Brinson and Patrick Kivlehan.