Blue Jays sign Russell Martin to 5-year $82M deal
- Thread starter Corsi
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Thats quite along time to sign an 31 year old catcher with that kind of mileage behind the plate. Good luck with that.
Didn't realize Martin was 290/402/430 last year. Still, never been a huge fan--5/82 isn't going to end up being worth it, I don't think.
DanoooME said:
Yadier wasn't a FA. Not really apples to apples. McCann's contract is a better comp. Martin's two years older at the time they signed, and their three year OPS+ split is identical (108). McCann was much better career-wise, though. Giving Martin a nearly identical contract is a pretty big gamble. 2014 Martin is worth that deal; 2013 is not worth that deal.
That's a lot of money for a guy whose offensive surge in 2014 can be almost wholly attributed to an infield hit% fueled spike in BABIP.
Way more than I thought he'd get, and surprising that it's Toronto. Is C really where they needed to spend?
I hope it's just a limited supply issue, or the money that the best FAs are going to get (Lester) might reach the stratosphere.
I hope it's just a limited supply issue, or the money that the best FAs are going to get (Lester) might reach the stratosphere.
Well, the first guy that the Cubs were the favorites for signed elsewhere. Let's hope the same can be said about Lester.
This makes Dioner Navarro available as they will probably keep Thole to catch Dickey. Craig for Navarro perhaps?That would take Encarnacion off first base platoon with Smoak.
edit maybe not the right surface for Craig. Maybe WMB he has always killed in Skydome.
edit maybe not the right surface for Craig. Maybe WMB he has always killed in Skydome.
Cameron had Martin as his 3rd biggest FA bargain at an estimated 5/75: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-bargains-of-the-2015-free-agent-class/
Considering he is one of the best pitch framers (although numbers did decline the last 2 years) and his great plate discipline this does not strike me as an overpay.
Considering he is one of the best pitch framers (although numbers did decline the last 2 years) and his great plate discipline this does not strike me as an overpay.
A year too long and a few million too many, but it's hard not to like this move for Toronto. Every championship team in recent years has had that rock behind home plate (save maybe the 2013 Red Sox). I know it's hard to just label a guy as a winner (though I think a catcher is the most appropriate position where that label can apply), but Martin has been a part of a winning formula everywhere he's been.
I can't help but think the Cubs will be the target destination for the loser of the Swihart/Vazquez tandem next year.Pedro 4 99MVP said:
Once again the main take away is that we don't understand how much money is flowing around baseball looking for a home.
This is the major screw up not signing Lester etc, the Sox totally missed where the wage inflation in baseball was going. What Martin and Stanton and frankly Lester would have signed for a year ago is being blown away.
You will not get prime free agents hitting the market very often any more.
This is the major screw up not signing Lester etc, the Sox totally missed where the wage inflation in baseball was going. What Martin and Stanton and frankly Lester would have signed for a year ago is being blown away.
You will not get prime free agents hitting the market very often any more.
Martin's going to get one of the all time standing ovations when the Blue Jays play their weekend of games in his hometown, Montreal.
Definitely more money and years than I would have wanted the Red Sox to give if they were in this position. However, TB is looking to regress. Red Sox and Yankees are questionable. And with Orioles looks like they overachieved and may not be as good in 2015. So Blue Jays need to take a risk and go for it, heaven knows Rogers has plenty of money.
Quality post right there.gryoung said:
Martin had over 5 WAR last year, and that ignores framing. Yes it was most likely a career year, but Steamer still projects 3.8 for next year. Let's knock it down to 3.5, then figure in age-related decline of .5 WAR for the following years, and they are paying less than 7 mill per win over the live of the contract, which seems very reasonable. And you are still ignoring pitch-framing, no matter how much weight you put into it it counts for something.
He is not gonna be worth 17 mill in year 5, but that happens with any longterm contract. It could also be an albatross. But with the info we have now it looks perfectly reasonable.
MakMan44 said:
Votto is tied up long term with the Reds, Morneau has at least another in Colorado, Saunders is pretty settled in for the Mariners and they already have Lawrie, so Martin probably is the best C available.Minneapolis Millers said:
And my guess is Rogers will find a few more dollars for a high profile player at that position...
(Don't forget, Martin is more than willing to play a few innings at SS, too...)
Martin has fought the stigma of being "cooked" ever since being non-tendered by the Dodgers following Grady Little and Joe Torre's attempts to run him into the ground. Teams appear to have reevaluated his long-term durability and 3-4 years was going to happen. Not too surprising a team went 5 years to get him into the fold this early in free agency, prior to the Winter Meetings, etc,
The Cubs have Schwarber who they're hoping can stick at catcher, and he'll be in AA next year. If Schwarber sticks, the Cubs don't need a catcher.Hee Sox Choi said:
JohnnyK said:
Good luck with that Toronto. If the Sox had done this deal, this board would be nuclear. Except for a few ......
The contract breakdown certainly makes sense. He doesn't start to get really expensive until Buerhle, Bautista and Encarnation are potentially off the books.
If Russell is getting 5/82, there's no chance that Panda doesn't get 6/100+. Huge overpay for Martin, but good for the Jays to go all in. Window is closing fast.
Still need pitching, though. And lots of it. They can bash with the best of them.
I'd also be interested in bringing Navarro to Boston.
Still need pitching, though. And lots of it. They can bash with the best of them.
I'd also be interested in bringing Navarro to Boston.