Free-agent catcher Russell Martin, a hot commodity as baseball's hot stove season warms up, is reportedly off the market. In a surprising move, he's agreed to join the Toronto Blue Jays for a five-year, $82 million contract, according to multiple reports.
Martin had many suitors this November, including his most recent team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, who gave him a $15.3 qualifying offer. The Chicago Cubs were reportedly after him hot and heavy as well. The Los Angeles Dodgers were another rumored destination.
As recently as Sunday night, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal said the Cubs were offering Martin four years and $64 million, but added that the Blue Jays might still be in pursuit.
Turned out they were, upping the ante and unseating the Cubs. We don't know yet how the contract works out year by year, but Martin's deal with the Blue Jays is an average annual value of $16.4 million. The fifth season, however, is likely what made Toronto's offer the most appealing.
Peter Gammons cryptically said a deal was done between the two sides Monday and that the Blue Jays were throwing "McCann money" at Martin. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported the deal was for five years. The New York Yankees signed catcher Brian McCann last year for five years and $85 million.
McCann's career numbers are better than Martin's, though Martin was better in 2014. He hit .290/.402/.430 — a career-high on-base percentage, and his best batting average since 2007, when he hit .293 with the Dodgers. Martin hit 11 homers for the Pirates last season with 67 RBIs. In two seasons in Pittsburgh, Martin went to the playoffs twice, a pattern the postseason-starved Jays would like to repeat. They haven't been to the playoffs since 1993.
Beyond the offensive numbers, Martin, 31, is looked at as a great guy to have in the clubhouse and is good behind the plate. He should complement the Blue Jays' core well. With Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion in the lineup, the Jays won't rely on Martin as a source of power, but they'll want him to keep that on-base percentage high.
Martin was also born in Toronto and raised near Montreal, so returning to Canada to join the Blue Jays should make Canadian baseball fans forgive him for leaving Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic. Especially if he helps the Blue Jays get back into the postseason.
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