Cardinals GM: Carlos Martinez will have 'clean path' to rotation spot

After two lackluster seasons in the bullpen, Carlos Martinez will finally get the opportunity to establish himself as a starter.

St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday on MLB Network Radio that the 23-year-old right-hander will have a clean path to the rotation spot that opened Monday when the club shipped Shelby Miller to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Jason Heyward.

Mozeliak stressed, however, that the onus is on Martinez to come into spring training prepared to handle a starter's workload after spending the first two seasons of his career in a relief role. Since debuting with the Cardinals in 2013, Martinez has made just eight starts while logging 71 relief appearances.

Often referred to as "Little Pedro" - a flattering moniker drawing parallels to three-time Cy Young award winner Pedro Martinez - the young right-hander has underwhelmed throughout his brief major-league career. Martinez crafted a 4.03 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP over seven starts and 50 relief appearances last season, posting a 21.8 percent strikeout rate while allowing just four home runs over 89 1/3 innings.