Manny Sarmiento

Manuel Eduardo Sarmiento Aponte (born February 2, 1956) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher who played with the Cincinnati Reds (1976–79), Seattle Mariners (1980) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1982–83) in Major League Baseball.

Sarmiento played for four years with Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine". While with the Reds, he posted a 14–8 record with 138 strikeouts, six saves, and a 4.12 ERA in 132 appearances (including five as a starting pitcher).

In 1980, Sarmiento was injured while with Seattle, requiring season-ending surgery. Sarmiento was traded in early 1981 to the Red Sox, where he played the entire season at their AAA affiliate, Pawtucket. He was purchased by Pittsburgh after the 1981 season. For part of 1982, he switched from the bullpen in an emergency move and had a 9–4 record with 81 strikeouts and 3.39 ERA record before returning to relief duties in the 1983 season.

In a seven-season career, Sarmiento compiled a 26–22 mark with 283 strikeouts and a 3.49 ERA in 513 innings pitched.

Trades and transactions

 * March 25, 1972 - Signed as a non-drafted free agent by Cincinnati Reds
 * August 3, 1976 - Recalled by Cincinnati Reds
 * April 2, 1980 - Released by Cincinnati Reds
 * April 14, 1980 - Signed by Seattle Mariners
 * April 8, 1981 - Traded by Seattle Mariners to Boston Red Sox in exchange for Dick Drago; waived by Boston, assigned to Pawtucket Red Sox (IL)
 * October 23, 1981 - Sold by Boston Red Sox to Pittsburgh Pirates
 * April 4, 1982 - Outrighted by Pirates to minor league camp
 * February 7, 1984 - Signed by Pirates to a two-year contract
 * April 7, 1985 - Assigned to Hawaii Islanders (PCL) by Pittsburgh
 * 1986 - Signed by the Cordoba Cafeteros (MX) as a free agent.

Quote
"Sarmiento was a fine fielder with a lively split-finger fastball and a singing voice good enough to once sing the National Anthem before a game. As a 20-year-old rookie in 1976, the slender Venezuelan helped the Reds to a World Championship with five relief wins". - Ed Walton, at Baseball Library.